As longtime readers know, Romeo Void was a huge part of my teenage years. Something about Debora Iyall's brainy lyrics, coolly delivered against the backdrop of Benjamin Bossi's yearning saxophone spoke to me, like winding up at a frat party and finding the one other person who wonders how they got there too. While most remember the group for their hits "Never Say Never" and "A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)," the band actually produced three brilliant albums, each more haunting and, at times, more experimental than its predecessor.
When the group disbanded in the mid-'80s, lead singer Debora Iyall released one solo album in 1986, but has largely been out of the limelight until a reunion concert for 415 Records -- her band's old label -- was held in San Francisco in late 2009. Newly inspired, she returned to the studio to record "Stay Strong," her recently released sophomore solo album that was nearly a quarter of a century in the making. Debora and I have become friendly over the years via e-mail, and she recently took some time out -- after her morning water aerobics and taking her mom to the doctor -- to answer some questions about her new project, and life in general.
KIT212: Hi, Debora. So great to be in touch with you. As you know, I have been a huge fan since the early '80s. Nary a week goes by in my life that doesn't include a reference to a "Limp White Sweater," me "raining" on someone or mentioning that the drinks aren't stiff (but I know what is)! It's been 12 years since you recorded an album (Knife in Water's "Dialog" in 1998) -- and 24 years since your one solo album ("Strange Language" in 1986), yet your new release ("Stay Strong") sounds completely contemporary -- or like it could have come out in 1988. How do you maintain such a timeless sound?
DI: I can credit the production and composition to Peter Dunne. He keeps an open ear and is endlessly creative as he works on tracks. I am conscious of our times and do aim in some respects to chronicle it accurately. My poetic style of lyric writing remains fairly unchanged.
KIT212: Why now, after such a long break in recording?
DI: Why not? I have something to say. I still love to sing and write my own songs. I am back living in California so I have proximity to working with Peter again. The truth is I am underemployed and available after having years of being real busy working for a living as a freelance art teacher in community day schools, public schools, Boys and Girls Clubs and etc. In 2006 I went back to school and earned a Master's Degree in Teaching art in order to get a job that pays regularly and offers benefits. I taught high school students on the Navajo Nation for a few years but moved back to California when my new husband found a job here in Sacramento. Now I find that it's very difficult to find an art teacher position here in California. Rock and roll is still a great medium for me and luckily Peter was available too.
KIT212: What do you hope to accomplish with this new musical venture? How did you and Peter (Dunne) hook up?
DI: I hope I can do any number of things: Tour regionally throughout the years in short bursts playing clubs and theaters. Show the young ones a thing or two. Find my old fans and garner new ones. Tell the world my story and hopefully make a few bucks along the way. Live to create and record again. Peter and I were acquaintances back in the day when he was in Pearl Harbor and The Explosions but became friends in the '90s when we began our creative time together.
KIT212: I know you've been performing live again. Will there be any East Coast shows?
DI: I hope so!! I am doing this all DIY and have no agent, no label, no PR firm and it's a challenge I hope I can rise to. I should at least be able to get a few gigs like in New York and Boston, right? Anyone who wants to help me, please chime in with your connections.
KIT212: Tell us the truth about Romeo Void's "Bands Reunited" episode. Were people really surprised?
DI: Yes. I was surprised. VH1 told me I was meeting a producer who wanted to discuss the idea of doing something about Romeo Void. I thought I'd be meeting one person with a tape recorder. I wanted to tell (RV bassist) Frank (Zincavage) but didn't and LOVED his reaction (not wanting to let them in his house).
KIT212: It looked like a lot of fun, but the stuff with Benjamin (Bossi, RV's sax player) was hard to watch. (He is no longer able to perform because of a hearing condition.)
DI: Benjamin's tinnitus is a tragedy, pure and simple. He was such an amazingly brilliant sax player and it's heartbreaking that his condition (constant ringing in the ears) has crippled him in such a way that he can't even blow anymore.
KIT212: I think "99" is my favorite song on your new disc. Can you tell us about the recording of the album? When did you start writing the songs?
DI: I make notes and observe things as I drive and walk and those phrases and images compel me to write songs using them to describe my various emotional states and big ideas. Peter and I wrote "Fine Black Dust" over 10 years ago and it was never released so some songs are older but most are from 2009 and 2010. We recorded in Peter's tricked-out home studio.
KIT212: How does the experience of recording "Stay Strong" compare to "Strange Language"?
DI: No comparison. Our process was as a duo and occurred over years not within the time span of a month.
KIT212: Would Romeo Void have made it in the post-Napster world?
DI: You tell me. I am alienated by the degradation of the value of original music as art. It seems musicians and our recordings are deemed disposable and almost valueless. I definitely am in it for the art.
Debora Iyall's "Strong Strong" is available HERE, HERE or on iTunes HERE.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
'Stay Strong' With Debora Iyall of Romeo Void
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4 comments:
That 2004 "Bands Reunited" episode brought me to tears when Debora Iyall whispered "I love you" to her very fragile ex-bandmate.
Love her, love Romeo Void & love you (of course) & I love that you got to chat with her!!! And yes, that scene in the VH1: Bands Reunited was tragic!
Glad to see she'd still going strong.
But did you really say 'nary'?
Thanks Kenneth for the most excellent coverage. If we think it we can make it happen, a gig in NYC before too long...
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