Exclusive Interview – Michelle Harvey aka WolfSkullJack

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Mojo

If there were a Venn diagram representing the art of Alphose Mucha, Barry Windsor-Smith, Bernie Wrightson, and Pushead, at the nexus of these overlapping circles would be the work of one of my favorite artists, Michelle Harvey, commonly known as WolfSkullJack. Her wild work often centers around -naturally – skulls and wolves, life and death, but somehow also lovingly incorporates the mysteries of the dark and the divine feminine. It truly is amazing and timeless work, and has been popularized recently by none other than Metallica, who has used some of her illustrations on their merch and tour posters.

Michelle lives and creates her art in rural England, and was gracious enough to take the time to answer some questions for me.

Mojo: Hi Michelle! Have you always drawn or when did you start drawing?

WSJ: I’ve been drawing since I was very young and ended up going to university to study and gain a degree in illustration. However, after I graduated I fell into call centre work and I did that for about 6 years before going full time with art.

What is your medium of choice and how has that changed over time?

I love working traditionally with ink pens but I’ve the past year have switched to digital art which I’m still getting to grips with. I work mostly on the iPad Pro, which is so convenient and easier when dealing with clients. I would love to master both mediums as well as colour work.

I know you’re a lover of animals. What drew you to wolves in particular as a theme?

I cannot fully explain my pull to wolves, it’s been with me since I was very little and is certainly a very integral and important part of my identity. As a kid I was convinced I was born in the wrong body and I spent a lot of my days waiting for my wolf family to come and find me. Spoiler — they never did!

However, about two years ago I found a wolf rescue charity called Wolf Watch UK where I got to meet wolves face to face and I absolutely fell in love with the place.

It sounds crazy, but a wolf feels like home to me. I cannot explain it any other way.

I’m now a volunteer and although I’m not on site much at all, I handle the online admin and go visit whenever I can.

Very cool! Your moniker WolfSkullJack seems somewhat self-explanatory, but can you tell us a little bit about how you came up with that name?

WolfSkullJack was a character in a short story I had in 2008 for my end of year project at Uni! It was about a Wolf-Skulled man who lived a mundane life working in a dead end office job that he hated. He lived in a world where Death had gone missing and the earth had became overrun with the undead just trying to get by. Nothing dramatic, just overpopulation and feeling dead inside and outside. I don’t think it was ever finished but I got a good grade though!

Wow, I would never have guessed anything like that! Now, I read that you live in the Cotswolds. Can you tell us a little about the area and how it informs your work?

I ended up settling in the Cotswolds because this is where I graduated! I like it here, the countryside is beautiful and life is easy enough. If I’m honest with myself, I really don’t take advantage of the natural beauty nearly as much as I should! I’m very much a homebody.

I absolutely love your art and was so excited to see that you caught the attention of one of my favorite bands, Metallica, who you recently did a series of illustrations for. How did that come about?

Thank you, they’re one of my favourite bands too!! The whole story of how I got the job is a weird one, but it started off with me being recommended to a merch company by another artist who couldn’t take the job. I was introduced, I got the job, but then the entire poster project was dropped. I took the sketches that I did to another merch company who I had seen work with the band previously and I was then taken onboard to design tees. Metallica’s manager liked the sketches so much he wanted posters for the S&M2 tour as well as tees, which is an absolute dream come true! I flew out to San Francisco, met Metallica’s manager, saw the concert, and then a few months later was contacted directly from Metallica HQ to design their All Within My Hands charity event! I’m still on cloud 9, it’s really weird working for a band who I idolized so much as a teenager!

That’s an incredible story! Tell me a little bit about the breadth of your work. I know you sell prints and also have bound books of your art for sale. Do you illustrate other books as well? Do you have a wish for your work?

I have self-published several of my own art books, which have all sold out and won’t be reprinted, but I hope to release a tarot deck and art book at some point this year, if I have time! I also have sold a LOT of artwork to the Anchorage Brewing Company and have had at least 12 cans of beer with my art on which is pretty neat.

I’m not sure what my work in future, I just want to keep drawing weird shit that I enjoy!

Please do!. Are there any upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

Yes but I can’t tell anyone yet!! Everything should be revealed in the next 12 months or so!

Thanks so much for taking the time! I can’t wait to see what’s next for you!

Find WolfSkullJack online here!

Instagram: @wolfskulljack_art
Shop and Website: https://wolfskulljack.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wolfskulljack

Sharing is caring!

Exclusive Interview – Andrea Vidal of Holy Grove

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Mojo

January 2020

Off the top of my head, I can think of just a handful of singers whose raw skill and tangible passion can make my hair stand on end. Names you may know, like Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Manyard James Keenan, and a name you may not, Holy Grove’s Andrea Vidal.

Holy Grove (photo: James Rexroad)

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Holy Grove is a fuzzy, trippy, heavy duty rock and roll band in the doom/psych/stoner vein pioneered by Black Sabbath. Their amazing self-titled 2016 debut was re-released on Ripple Music in 2018, and their followup, Holy Grove II, made many “best of” lists for the same year.

Backed by riffmaster Trent Jacobs, powerhouse drummer Eben Travis and the amazing Gregg Emley on bass, Holy Grove’s thundering songs cover topics of witchcraft, fantasy and myth with a writer’s realism, taking you on a journey that leaves you feeling transformed when you return.

I was lucky enough to catch Holy Grove in Oakland on their recent west coast tour and got to see the sweaty intensity of this band’s rock and roll majesty firsthand. Singer Andrea Vidal was kind enough to answer some of my questions about her singing style, the band’s songwriting process, and what’s next for Holy Grove.

M: You’ve just wrapped up a west coast tour, how did that go? What were some highlights from the tour?

AV: Touring in general is always something we look forward to. For us, it doesn’t get much better than playing shows every night. We love meeting new people and playing with bands from other cities. Highlights include seeing old friends and family along the way, playing several new cities, including Oakland, which was easily our most favorite show of the tour.

Who drives the van when you guys are on the road? Do you write on the road?

We all swap out driving, but I really enjoy driving the van and usually jump at the chance. Growing up in Massachusetts, I love being able to see other parts of the country and drive through them. We don’t write on the road per se, but we do find plenty of inspiration for the new record as we travel and experience life.

Your lyrics are so powerful. They’re more like poetry than song lyrics. What are your sources for inspiration?

I like to take inspiration from all over. Sometimes it’s personal experiences, other times I might want to pay tribute to something that inspired me throughout the course of my life. Take Valley of the Mystics for example. I was inspired by Jim Henson‘s The Dark Crystal growing up, and felt that the tone of the film fit with the tone of the song. So I was able to write passionately on a topic that I was very close to.

<a href="http://holygrove.bandcamp.com/album/holy-grove">Holy Grove by Holy Grove</a>

Tell us a little bit about how you guys go about writing a song, what’s your collective songwriting process?

It’s a collaborative process for sure. It usually starts with a riff that Gregg and Trent build on. Once there are a few parts established, we focus on how to bring those parts together into one cohesive piece. Vocals are added once the song has been demoed and I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with it and it’s get to know the parts and get a feel for what I want to bring to it vocally/melodically.

How do you bring such passion to your performance?

We do our best to connect with the audience as much as possible — we’re there to entertain, but we’re also there to share the experience of music with the audience. Each of us have a deep connection to the music and hope to convey that from the stage. Plus it’s just more enjoyable and rewarding for us to leave it all on stage, as it were.

Tell me about how you got started singing.

I’ve been singing my whole life, but never professionally or with a band. Finally in 2012, I decided to reach out to the music community in Portland and see if anyone was interested in creating new music. I had never written a song, played in a band or performed on stage like I do now. It was the best decision I ever made.

<a href="http://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/holy-grove-ii">Holy Grove II by Holy Grove</a>

I find it crazy that you guys found each other on Craigslist, considering the chemistry you obviously have. I guess stranger things have happened. How did you all come up with the name Holy Grove?

It was one of many names that we came up with but the only one that we all agreed on. It had a classic feel to it and seemed to conjure a specific feeling.

What is that wild feedback at the end of Nix? I was fascinated to see you on the floor manipulating some pedal to get that.

It’s Trent’s guitar through an MXR Delay pedal. I tried a few other pedals, but MXR makes the best sounding one. Trent uses it at different points in different songs, so it has more than just the one purpose.

How has being on Ripple Music helped move you guys forward?

They’ve been very supportive of our music and did a hell of a job on the release of our second album. We were able to get song and album premieres with national coverage which certainly helped to get the word out. They’re also great people! We’re grateful to have the opportunity to work with them and certainly appreciate all they’ve done for us!

What’s next for Holy Grove?

We’re currently in the middle of writing a new album, which is one of our favorite parts of being in band. Seeing what direction the songs will take, and watching it start to take shape. We’re currently planning some touring for later in the year. We’re also playing The Psycho Smokeout in L.A. in April, along with a bunch of great bands, including Weedeater, The Obsessed, Acid King and Cough (among many others).

Last question – favorite place to eat in Portland?

Wedgehead because not only do they have a killer menu and strong drinks, but they have the best pinball machines in PDX. Good luck, don’t suck!

Thanks so much for your time, it was great meeting you on tour and I can’t wait to hear your new stuff!

Find Holy Grove on the web:
https://holygrove.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/holygroveband/
https://twitter.com/holygroveband
https://www.instagram.com/holy_grove/

Sharing is caring!

Exclusive Interview – Susie McMullan of Brume

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Mojo

October 2019

Susie McMullan of Brume (credit: Peter Prato)

Susie McMullan fronts San Francisco doom band Brume, one of the new staples of the Bay Area’s thriving underground heavy music scene, and one of the vanguards in the rise of what is nothing short of a golden age of female-fronted heavy bands. The low, hypnotically dirge-y fuzz of Brume is a solid bed for Susie’s soaring, emotional vocals. Guitarist Jamie McCathie and drummer Jordan Perkins-Lewis round out this darkly melodic power trio, which I’ve heard described as ‘if Portishead was a doom band’.

Effervescent and gregarious in person, Susie was kind enough to answer some questions for me in this exclusive interview ahead of the release of their third full length album, Rabbits.

Mojo: Easy first question, tell me a little bit about Brume – how would you describe the music and what does the name mean?

Susie: Brume means mist or fog and it describes how we wanted our music to sound. Slow, thick, enveloping music to listen to with a cup of tea and a joint.

I had thought it was a Led Zeppelin style spelling of ‘broom’, as in witch. Good to know! I was listening to your debut album “Donkey” earlier, it sounds like you guys came right out of the gate fully formed and with an established sound, which is pretty amazing. How did you three come together so quickly to come up with that sound?

Wow, thank you. I suppose we matured our sound early because Jamie was an incredible song writer and riff master before Brume, Jordan composes beats based on vibe and not technical astuteness, even though he has mastered his art; and I like to weave melodies and lyrics in and out to tell a story. The most important thing we all have is respect for one another so it makes writing a song together really easy but most of all fun.

I love that. Speaking of donkeys and roosters, is there a story behind the animal album names?

I suppose this is a question for Jordan, he names all of our albums. I can tell you a bit about Jordan though, he is sarcastic, intelligent, dependable, cranky and loves animals. He often has stories about his chickens at band practice and he glows like he’s talking about his child. Not to mention he often brings a dozen fresh eggs to practice so that is a double bonus.

“Rabbits” cover (credit: Steve Hoskins)

The last time I saw you was at the Elbo Room in Oakland, and you had Jackie Perez Gratz of Grayceon playing electric cello, which was amazing! How did that collaboration come about?

I wrote a song on piano, Blue Jay, that is coming out on Rabbits. While practicing it I often mentioned to Jamie and Jordan, “wouldn’t it be rad if Jackie of Grayceon played on this song”; but I didn’t reach out to her at that time, it was more of a daydream. One day Jackie called me and asked if Brume wanted to do a short tour with Grayceon. This gave me the courage to finally ask her to join me on a song. One thing I never told her is that I added cello synth sounds to the song demo and removed it at the last minute before I sent it to her. I’m so glad I did, she composed the most beautiful piece that is beyond my capabilities (especially on a MIDI device). What is special about her is that she has not only mastered the playing the cello, but also she is a beautiful songwriter. Jackie composed her own part on Blue Jay and recorded it on Brume’s album, Rabbits. It’s heavy. I can’t wait until it is released.

Earlier this year you signed with Magnetic Eye Records, how has that been? Has it affected how you approached recording your latest album?

MER makes a commitment and they follow through. For example, our records they funded are here on time. They do not have any say in our song writing or recording process. Ultimate creative freedom is important to us.

It’s my understanding that you only just went into the studio to begin recording your new album “Rabbits” in April or May, was it a struggle to get it finished for a November release?

That album was an emotional struggle to create. 9AM till 2AM everyday for 7 consecutive days is exhausting, period. However, if you add the emotional baggage of writing and singing personal songs, it takes its toll on you. When it was over, I had to be alone for 2-3 days straight to feel normal again. Imagine writing a lyric that says, “I’m a depressed loser” and singing it hoping to get it over as soon as possible and then you hear Billy [Anderson, producer] say, “Ok, let’s try that again”. I wanted to crawl in a hole and die at least 20 times a day.

I can imagine! What was it like working with Billy Anderson again?

Billy teaches you how to be a professional, only settles for perfection and gives as much of a shit as you do to make a great album. I’m not a “that’s good enough” kind of person, Jamie refuses to settle for anything but greatness, and Jordan is so good he pretty much has one take and is done for the next 6 days. Here is a fun fact — Jordan is done in day one because we don’t play to a click track, we track it all live, but he still stays for the next 6 days to support the band with beer and camaraderie. Pretty sweet, right?

Very! Can you tell me a little bit about the new album and how it fits in with the ongoing story of Brume? Is it an evolution from Rooster and if so how?

Rabbits is less hard and more heavy than Rooster. I think we all are less hardcore and more heavy hearted, so this album reflects our true nature better.

I hear you did some vocals on the upcoming Lowcaster album. How did that come about?

Marc with Lowcaster, whom I didn’t know at the time, sent an Instagram message, “will you sing harmonies with me?”. He sent me a demo, the song was beautiful, I said, “yes”. Their album is great, they should be very proud.

I’m really digging the photography for the new album, who did you work with on the photography and design?

Two major photographers that are big time. Peter Prato is one of the Bay Area’s best portrait photographers. His instagram feed is insane, check it out. He did our portraits you’ll see inside the album. The lovely rabbit you see on the cover of our album was taken by a photographer that specializes in animal portraits, Steve Hoskins. If you like animals, you’ll love his work. The layout and design of our album was all done by Jamie. He likes to dabble in design as a hobby. I’m kidding, he is a design director for one of the biggest design firms in San Francisco. He’s a busy dude.

Brume (credit: Peter Prato)

I can’t wait to see you guys at Parkside on the 9th! What’s next for Brume after your album release show?

Excellent, we’ll see you there! We have a Black Sabbath cover coming out in 2020 on MER’s Black Sabbath compilation. I think folks will enjoy listening to modern metal bands interpret old favorites. Except for Brume, we definitely didn’t pick an old favorite (unless you love bummer music as much as us). We chose Solitude and we are going to fuck that song up in a good way!

Thank you so much for your time! Congratulations on the new record!

Brume is playing with Grayceon and Lowcaster at Thee Parkside in San Francisco on November 9 for a double album release show (Brume AND Lowcaster!). Brume’s new album Rabbits is out on Magnetic Eye Records on November 22, 2019.

Find Brume on the web:
https://www.brumeband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/brumeband/
https://brumesf.bandcamp.com/

Other links:
Lowcaster
Grayceon
Magnetic Eye Records
Billy Anderson
Peter Prato / Photography
Steve Hoskins / Photography

Sharing is caring!