dum dum girls say...

With a name that’s a nod to both The Vaselines and Iggy Pop, Dum Dum Girls are a solo-project turned all-conquering girl-group and we can guarantee you ‘Will Be’ hearing a lot more of them. We got the dirt on the Dum Dum Girls from their evasive front woman Dee Dee.

Covered: Songwriting, singles, Slumberland and SxSW

Andy Ryan: When you started writing and recording at home did you ever think you’d end up being signed to a label as esteemed as Sub Pop?

Dee Dee: Never in my wildest dreams; it was just something to do to keep me busy.

AR: What does it feel like to finally have your debut album out?

DD: Very strange and very fulfilling.

AR: Is the finished album close to how you imagined it would be?

DD: I had recorded the majority of the songs before Richard Gottehrer was on board to produce and mix, so in that sense, it came out much better than I thought possible.

AR: Did you have to adapt your song writing from making singles to writing towards an album?

DD: I always want my songs to be singles, but I tried to keep the sounds of them connected, that way they fit together cohesively.

AR: Where do you draw most of your lyrical inspirations from?

DD: Life.  Vague question, vague answer.

AR: Do you still enjoy the purity and tradition of the 7” single? Will you be releasing more in the future yourself and on your label?

DD: I love the 7" single, and will put out as many as I can.  Right now, aside from the second single from I Will Be, I still have Slumberland and Hell Yes! singles in the works. I hope to put something else out on my label, Zoo Music, too.

AR: Did it take you long to gel as a band? Has the band structure seen the songs, and your own song writing evolve?

DD: We were an instant girl gang, and just now we're starting to expand a bit on the songs.  Hasn't really affected song writing as that's still a solo endeavour.

AR: How did you go about preparing your own songs to be played live as a band?

DD: Originally, I just taught everyone their parts and they played them very faithfully.  More recently, Jules and I have spent a lot of time fleshing out the guitar parts since we live close to each other, and now that we'll be touring a lot, we're going to see what tricks Bambi has up her sleeve.

AR: What were you hoping to achieve from your SxSW visit?

DD: We wanted to play well and leave an impression, and I think we did.

AR: Did Richard Gottehrer have any great stories from the bands he’d previously worked with? What do you think he bought to the songs?

DD: Yes, though I haven't heard too many yet.  The first night I met him with my friend, A&R guy Dean, we pestered him about The Strangeloves.  Amazing.  He should write a book.  I felt he really warmed up the record, and paid particular and necessary attention to the vocals, bringing them out of the fuzz.

AR: Did you ask the collaborators on your album – Nick Zinner, Brandon Welchez and Andrew Miller – to contribute with specific sounds in mind and do you think you achieved them? Did you draw much inspiration from recording with them?

DD: Andrew was the main go-to guitar player, and I actually just sent him the songs and let him do whatever he felt compelled to. It was always spot on though. Nick was the same; I had no idea what he'd do, but I loved it.  Brandon is my husband, so that was a more relaxed, in-home experience.  I played him the song, taught him the vocal melody, and then asked him to write a guitar lead as well. I am inspired by all three of them, but Brandon is my rock.

AR: What aspects of the music of the past that you are influenced by do you wish to bring to – or think is lacking from - the modern musical climate?

DD: I just appreciate a good pop song.

AR: Do you think this era of Twitter and YouTube – with so much vision and information about artists out there - has seen bands/musicians lose some of their mystique?

DD: Yes, I hate it. But it also helped me get where I am, so I can't knock it entirely.

AR: Have you consciously avoided putting so much of your true self - both with your pseudonym Dee Dee, and not revealing much of your musical past - so people just focus on the Dum Dum Girls music?

DD: I am Dee Dee, and yes, my main concern is the music speaking for me.

dum dum girls, dee dee, sub pop, sxsw