LORRAINE LEWISBy Nicky Baldrian
LORRAINE LEWIS
By
Nicky Baldrian
RETURN
OF THE SNOWQUEEN
An
Interview with Ex- Femme Fatale singer Lorraine Lewis.
Just released is
the brand spanking new album from former FEMME FATALE singer
Lorraine Lewis which goes under the monkier of SNOWBALL and
features Dave Hillis who has worked with Pearl Jam and Blind
Melon amongst others..The album is very diverse and modern and is
more DALBELLO than Lorraine's previous outfit FEMME FATALE, well
after all it's over a decade since that album came out and now
it's time for this queen to rock n roll again, and indeed
SNOWBALL is very entertaining album , so I caught up with
Lorraine and heres what went down.....
Nicky :- What style
of music are you playing at the moment?
Lorraine:- I have been working in the studio recording my solo
project of songs that I have written over the past couple of
years, also playing guitar and co-producing...very strong songs
also using some Seattle and L.A. buddies for drums etc....very
hooky and rich. Also another project called SNOWBALL that I
worked on in Seattle with Dave Hillis (famous for Pearl Jam,
Blind Melon, Afghan Whigs, etc..) He will also oversee the
finished project here in Portland.We worked on this one at the
infamous London Bridge studio in Seattle over a 6 month period.
Very hooky and big. One of the songs I penned and sang will be
coming out in a US movie called Mercy on HBO and Showtime next
month...so alot going on...
Nicky:- Tell me
about your SNOWBALL project and what style are they in?
Lorraine : - Well my solo project, first of all let me start by
saying SNOWBALL is somewhat a solo project in itself, I mean it
was basically me and Dave and some fab hired guns. I wanted to
release it for the Femme Fans since it has been so long since I
had material out, and even though it is far different from Femme,
it Rocks pretty hard on tracks like "High", "Bends
My Ear", and "Paperdoll", so I think new and old
fans will dig it.
Nicky : - The
Snowball album will suprise alot of people as it reminds me Lisa
Dalbello and Bjork, can you tell me how the album came together
and what it was like to work with Dave Hillis?
Lorraine : - I had great fun working with Dave Hillis, we
recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle in the same room
that Eddie Vedder sang in, and even though I am not a huge Pearl
Jam fan, I was still mesmerized and lucky to record in that room,
I mean what a vibe, and great stories of Vedder drinking so much
to create a voice that is now so recognizable, Dave brough alot
of hip factor to the project, he tunes his guitars in a way that
even he can't remember and really on like industrial stuff, he
got great performances out of me, of course there was always
plenty of Jack Daniels around and candles and darkness so it was
easy to perform in such a great enviorment!
Nicky :- Why did
FEMME FATALE break up?
Lorraine : - Femme Fatale broke up for more than one reason, our
support system at the label was lost when MCA restructured their
A&R departments and publicity areas. We came back from
touring with Cheap Trick and didn't recognize a soul in the
office, we knew something was going to change. The label was
interested in keeping me for a solo release but my manager became
very sick and we were unable to continue (she later passed away
due to cancer)...I left L.A. and decided to take a break and
start over.
Nicky:- So what did
you do after your release from MCA records?
Lorraine : - After my release from MCA I gave myself some time to
think things through. I could've stayed with the label as a solo
artist, but management advised me to move on, now that I look
back though that wouldn't have been such a bad thing. I still
question some of those decisions that I went along with.
Nicky:- What are
your fondest memories of the days touring with FEMME FATALE?
Lorrane : - Some of my greatest memories of the Femme days was
touring with Cheap Trick, Flying to the UK and performing at the
Marquee Club in London. Also seeing my videos on MTV!! What a
blast that was.I always loved the live thing so performing in
front of the crowds was always the best. I miss that alot!!
Nicky:- Those days
must have been pretty wild, tell me more about them?
Lorraine : - Yes, the Femme days were much fun and wild. I
remember lots of girls on the tour bus, lots of free strip shows,
and lots of booze, all the kind of stuff you see on "Behind
the Music" and shows like that, all sex, and rock and roll.
I must say though I don't remember alot of drugs, just alot of
booze and naked bodies.
Nicky:- How did you
find your visit to the UK?
Lorraine : - I loved going to the UK, the accents, the rude old
men, fabulous! and I liked the yummy beer, the press however
really stuck it to me until they saw us at the Marquee live, then
they softened up a bit, hah! we kicked them right in the ass is
what we did you know
Nicky:- I heard
rumours that you supported Bon Jovi at one stage of the game ?
What was that like?
Lorraine : - Actually we never toured with Bon Jovi. I don't know
why alot of people think that, I sat by him at the MTV awards but
that was about it, oh and our posters ran together in a magazine
and I think people just figured we were on tour together
Nicky:- You
recorded a song for the soundtrack to "Don't Tell Mom The
Babysitters Dead", this soundtrack is now very collectable,
can you recall how you became involved in the movie? And have you
ever thought of re-recording it for the fans?
Lorraine:- I did do a song for "Don't tell mom...."
didn't realize it was a collectable. I was given the opportunity
by MCA to record for the movie and was in the studio at 4am
getting started on the tracks...we had a limited time frame and I
remember actually getting it done and in the can and on a plane
by 10am to meet the deadline for the soundtrack. It was very
quick but fun...I would like to re-record it if there was time
and a good reason...If people would want to hear it, well that's
a good reason!!!
Nicky:- Where do
you draw your inspiration from and what bands inspire you?
Lorraine : - As far as inspiration everyone probably knows by now
that I was in love with David Lee Roth from the moment I saw him
on stage for his first tour, he was everything I wanted to be, so
he influenced me quite a bit, I listen to all sorts of music
though from Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Everlast, AC/DC, Tricky, T.
Rex, all across the board, hey I even dig Britney and Christina
but I draw the line with NSYNC, I cannot stomach it although I
know they work their tails off
Nicky:- How do you
see youselfand your music fitting into the music scene today?
Lorraine: - I see myself fitting into the music scene in alot of
ways, primarily my own, if I get an offer to do a sound track and
I like it , I do it, if I want to experiment with a new sound I
will, I think my Femme fans will pretty much accept what ever I
do realizing that things change, although they and I know that
those times were a blast and will never be forgotten
Nicky:- With the
recent come back success' of Motley Crue, Iron Maiden and Bon
Jovi do you think it's time to give Femme Fatale another shot?
Lorraine : - have had alot of offers to put Femme back together
but, I just don't see it happening, we have all moved on an
embrace what we did together but a Femme reunion? Just doesn't
sound right to me, but then again if it was to open up for Van
Halen with David Lee Roth I would consider it......!!!
Nicky:- Finally is
there anything you would like to say to your fans here in Europe
and the UK who have been waiting patiently for something new from
you?
Nicky : - And to my wonderful adorable Fans and Friends, thanks
so much for all your great letters and for remembering a great
time in our lives that we shared, who can forget the first time
"Waiting for the Big One" aired on MTV, wow I still
remember how exciting all that was, and you know I still have
people emailing me that they want a copy of the videos or the
music, .amazing how cool people are, please keep in touch through
my website www.lorrainecafe.com you can purchase the new cd there
if you can't find it in your record store, and I usually answer
within two days, thanks for everything and for understanding and
digging what I do.....xxxCheers for now Love you,
Lorraine..................