regina spektor
Story: Monica Cady
She’s gonna bang on that piano bench with a drumstick
and giggle sweetly before going into a dangerous rant
about a boy who’s “so goddamn young.” Her pouty red
lips and glamorous curls may fool you into thinking she’s
gonna sing some kind of Celine Dion top-40 pop number,
but that’s where you’re wrong.
This Russian-born Jewish New Yorker has the spunk of
Tori Amos when she’s throwing a fit, the soulful heat of
Fiona Apple getting heavy, the fairy-innocence of Björk,
and the I’m-pretty-but-I’ll-kill-you flow of Poe. But that’s
just scratching the surface of what 26-year-old Regina
Spektor brings to her performance.
Her songs tell stories from various perspectives:
divorcees, cancer patients and love-ridden souls. Whether
the tales are autobiographical or not doesn’t really matter.
Uh, and don’t ask Spektor because she really doesn’t
want to talk about that. She prefers to think of these
characters as just that, roles that she is playing and
presenting. For that, she deserves an Oscar because
the songs seem so personal that you’d swear young
Spektor had experienced all these things herself. That’s
where she gets you – making all this seem so real and
sincere.
With her 2004 major label debut, Soviet Kitsch, Spektor
proved that she isn’t afraid to take chances, and she was
dubbed part of the East Village anti-folk movement. The
single “Us” got major airtime on VH1 and was used in a
UK advertisement, making Spektor a known name. Her
intense piano melodies, off-kilter beats and angelic vocals
partnered with honest, real life thoughts to make a
powerful statement that she was strong, au fait and bold.
Spektor even lent some beatbox-style ticks and pops, and
made racket with everything from pianos, guitars and
drumsticks.
This month, Spektor makes another artistic declaration
with her 12-track LP Begin to Hope. From the get go, it’s
clear that she has polished some of the dangerous curves
of her last record. It’s something safer for conventional
ears, but that’s mostly due to the glossy production
elements. There’s still some raunchy punch for her typical
fan base – little bags of cocaine, Wonder Bread and self-
done haircuts populate the lyric pool.
While on the West Coast, Spektor agreed to take some
time to e-mail RAG Magazine (our long distance bill could
use the break), answering our questions, telling us what’s
so cool about her latest project, and why she’d love for
you to bring her some soymilk.
——Original Message——-
From: Regina Spektor
To: Monica Cady
Sent: Mon May 22 10:49:21 2006
Subject: RE: REGINA INTERVIEW
What was the biggest artistic challenge you face while
creating Begin to Hope? i.e. Did you feel pressure (from
yourself or outsiders) to top Soviet Kitsch or make
something different?
Good question. I think for the most part I just wanted to have a
chance to really work in the studio. That had never happened
before. Everything before was always done quickly and there
wasn’t much of a chance for me to grow as a producer. I love
writing parts/arranging music, so this was my chance to do it,
but I don’t think I felt pressure to do it. If anything, I think I put
pressure on others to let me do it, haha ...
Press are saying you are not the same artist that emerged
from the NYC circuit in 2001. Do you agree? What changes
do you see in your music?
Haha, hmmm. What’s so fuckin’ different about me? Just
kidding ... I think we change all the time ... I’m not even exactly
the same person from year to year, so of course I change as a
musician. It would be pretty horrific if I was the same musician
today in 2006 as I was five years ago ... that would mean that all
my experiences touring, traveling, living, watching world events
unfold, listening to new music, looking at new art, etc. – all of
that has not left a mark. That would suck. Then again, four of
the songs on this record are some of my oldest songs,
predating Soviet Kitsch. I’ve had people tell me my new songs
are more mature than my previous records. If by mature, they
mean old, then yeah :-) I don’t know ... people are too busy
trying to classify/identify ... They should just listen, see if they
like it.
What about Begin to Hope makes you most proud or excited?
I just love the idea of people hearing these songs captured like
that. The sound of it is amazing to me – quality and the
arrangements. It’s my first time being able to see the songs
fulfilled like that – so fully arranged. It doesn’t mean that these
are the definitive versions, just that they are special versions.
With Begin to Hope, in addition to piano, you incorporate
electric guitar and drum machines. You played some guitar
live on tour. At what age did you get interested in guitar and
drums?
I grew up on the Beatles, so I always loved guitars and drums.
But I think playing a bit of guitar myself came from necessity –
you don’t get to have a piano around at any time. They are
heavy, sometimes hard to come by on the road, but there are
always people around who have a guitar.
Why was it important to you to add guitar and drums to the
record?
Well, not so much guitar. I mean there’s only two songs out of
12 with guitar on it. But drums were very important. I have a
huge love for beats, drums, loops, all that. It feels so good in
my body to have a beat. Six of the songs have drums on them,
or some sort of machines.
Your lyrics are extremely detailed, witty, fun and sobering.
Some artists say their lyrics are afterthoughts that simply
work with their melodies. How essential are your lyrics when
it comes to developing your song structures? Do you develop
the music so that it fits with the lyrics, or vice versa?
That is so kind of you to say that, about the words in my songs.
Lyrics are so important to me, usually I write everything at the
same time, though ... so it all kind of forms together. I guess
there are exceptions. Hmmmmm … I don’t know if that was a
very good answer on my part.
You have compared telling the stories within your songs to
being an actor who plays different characters. Some of your
songs are extremely effective in this sense (“Chemo Limo”
from SK). Do you enjoy playing out certain emotions more
than others?
None that I have noticed. I think I just enjoy the whole thing –
being someone else, feeling empathy, or just general exploring
of their character. It all depends on who they are.
You seem to have a great artistic relationship with The
Strokes. On this record, you work with Nick Valensi
(“Better”). What do you think it is about both your musical
styles/artistic approaches that has led to these
partnerships?
Well, even before I met them, I had such love and respect for
their music. Then they took a huge chance and took me on
my first-ever tour with them. That’s something no one had
ever done for me ... just listening to them every night – their
songs and musicianship are on such a level, that most
bands can’t come close. The counterpoint in the songs that
Julian writes is staggering, and then the band plays it with
such passion and precision. Nick is like a guitar surgeon
sometimes – so technically precise. In a lot of ways what
attracted me to their music was the same kind of feeling I got
from listening to classical music – that pulsing feeling, with
very composed/intellectual elements.
So many people dream of being a musician and playing for
crowds. What is the best part of doing what you do?
I love the amazing amount of energy I get from the people
who come to my shows. They are very giving, very respectful
and open minded. I love that I get to make something and
bring it to people, and they take the time to accept it or at
least try to accept it. I am so fuckin’ lucky.
To what do you attribute your success up to this point? (i.e.
hard work, supportive friends/family)
Wow ... all of that ... most is from always having had amazing
people around me – amazing family, teachers, friends.
Do you set goals for yourself or just let things happen/flow?
I set hopes for myself – like I hope my music gets better. I hope
I become better at life, at communicating,
at helping people – those kinds
of hopes, but nothing specific, I just go with whatever is going
on.
What do you do when you’re not thinking about or working on
music? (Read? Recommend any good books? Watch TV, Play
poker, etc.)
It depends where I am. At home, I hang out with friends and
family. I love movies. I read books, walk around a lot. I love
walking everywhere when I’m in NYC. On the road, it’s different.
I meet a lot of new people. I stare a lot. I’m a big into staring. I
visit friends I have in the cities I tour, and I end up eating a
bunch of crap on the road. I spend my time searching for
soymilk. :-)>
Thank you for your time! You rock!
Thank you very much, take care!!! – Regina
Begin to Hope hits stores June 13.
