I’ve always lived an introspective life, but  it is these rare moments of stepping outside my head, to create things tangible to others, that I find truly transcendent.  I was reminded of that letter the hero of so many of us, Nick Cave, had written to MTV.  Apart from his refusal to be competitively evaluated, it was his gentle worship and protection of his own creative process, his crowned Inspiration, which resonated with me.  (Do yourself a favor and read it here if you’ve never:  http://www.nick-cave.com/mtv/mtv.shtml)

I had written and recorded at least ten songs before this heralded week, but knew they were only placeholders.  The next record, the next sound, was almost tangible to me and I dedicated myself to finding it.

I spent the week in a sparkling haze, seven stories closer to Heaven, and when I emerged from the frenzy, indeed ten new songs came with.  A few months later I ran away to Hollywood, and again locked myself up, this time at the base of Beachwood Canyon, to write the last few.  I worshipped at the tall pile of books I’d accumulated recently, on topics I’d been obsessed with and words that had resonated so deeply with me they felt like artistic collaborators:  Rilke, Nin, Rimbaud, Verlaine, Baudelaire, Plath.  An admittedly unhealthy obsession with the visual components of the Surrealists’ manifesto of desire.

Here it was spelled out for me:  Desire as muse.

Months later, again in the brief breaks of tours, I returned to Hollywood to record among the Pet Sounds ghosts at East West Studios, in pursuit of a bigger, darker, more urgent sound.  Sitting in the room with my favorite team of Richard Gottehrer, Sune Rose Wagner, and Alonzo Vargas, it was easy to add flesh to the skeletons I’d crafted alone.

Unfortunately, karma take it or leave it, I had to confront the reality that my voice was destroyed, and so when I left California, it was with the heavy burden of an unfinished album.  It is a much longer and boring story, but in short, it was devastating and demanded a severe detour from the future I’d anticipated.

Truly one of those disguised blessings … the extra time was a gift.

I write this now, many months later, on the up.  I have served the songs and the songs have served me.

Most of the time I feel my work creates itself; it is that classic out-of-body experience I know a lot of other artists relate to.  It is me, but it is also in possession of me.  I go back in the twilight afterward and am often surprised.

It is not pretentious to feel and create.  So much of my life has been defined, aided, and even saved by music; I am honored to give my best attempt, and I am humbled that you listen.

XXDD

]]> http://wearedumdumgirls.com/the-whole-earth-shudders/feed/ 0 http://wearedumdumgirls.com/missing-yeux-mix/ http://wearedumdumgirls.com/missing-yeux-mix/#comments Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:31:43 +0000 kelly http://wearedumdumgirls.com/?p=1946 ]]> Wrapped up in a sound –

I am multiplying in the bell jar.

It is chrysalis time in New York City.

Now driving through the autumnal bliss of New England, swimming among deciduous trees and seems like cloudburst skies, we come to bring you our song.

Speaking of which, many thanks to Faction for the gorgeous and stream-lined new site!! Check out the new design changes and the  soon-to-be-weekly mixes I’ve been making via Spotify. Send an email to info@wearedumdumgirls.com with “Mix Me” in the subject line if you’ve a theme to suggest for the next one and I’ll take a stab at it.

The long-awaited video for “Lord Knows” is now premiering on the Rookie site, http://rookiemag.com/2012/09/lord-knows/. We adore Tavi and co. Please enjoy and share the vision accompanying the sound.

And lastly, just a reminder that we are playing bicoastal record release in-stores and small shows this upcoming week. We intend to leave a lasting impression. Ringing ears, spinning eyes, holding hands. You can find the dates and ticket links as well as information regarding the next short USA jaunt on the DDG site, here.

MUCH LOVE

Dee Dee xoxo

Our guardian angel Ben looked after us and Belgian babe Elsa made her DDG sound engineer debut.

The whole gang — excluding the insomniac/ill me — rented bikes near daily and got more out of this tour than ever before. It’s easy to assume one is in each city too few hours to really get a handle on it, but the girls proved otherwise. Next time I will pack my moccasins so I can join in.

We toured a straight line, from the northern tip of Trondheim, Norway, to the southern gem of Zagreb, Croatia. Join in our nostalgia below: