Kristyn Strange
Interview by Jen Morey
Issue 4, Summer/Fall 2004
I recently interviewed Kristyn Strange on her up and coming band. We talked over the phone while she was recording her song "817" at the studio, then again while she was at home. A truly talented singer and bassist, who doesn't even have permanent band members yet! For the recording of "817," she had to work with various musicians to get the song finished and downloaded on her website. "817" is an excellent song, and Kristyn's voice totally blew me away when I listened to it. Go to www.kristynstrange.com and download it. More songs are to come, and please, join the forum.
S&S: Who would you like to work with for your up and coming
band, Kristyn Strange?
K.S.: One person I know I want to keep is Michael Cox (ex- Coal Chamber
drummer) It hasn't been clarified yet if Michael will be my permanent drummer,
but I'm hoping he will be. Other than Michael, the other band members I
want are people who haven't been in a band yet. I'm still keeping my eyes
out for those people.
S&S: How about me? I play drums and electric guitar!! I suck
at both though.
K.S.: Well, if you suck then no. (laughter)
S&S: Oh, okay then. I'm not a fan anymore. Just kidding, haha.
Anyway, how do you prepare to sing before rehearsals and recordings?
K.S.: I drink a lot of water, honey, lemon, and I do a lot of breathing
exercises. I also meditate and do vocal exercises.
S&S: Most people who download "817" like it. When
do you plan on getting a CD out, and have you even considered it yet?
K.S.: I'm not sure when I'll get a CD out, but I have considered
it. It's a part of the music industry.
S&S: Would you like to go mainstream? Or would you like to
remain relatively underground?
K.S.: I'd like to go mainstream, but not the typical idea of mainstream.
The type of mainstream I'd like to be is kind of like Madonna. Her music
is so different, and everyone likes her. It would be amazing if I could
get the kind of recognition she has.
S&S: Do you play an instrument? If so, what instrument and
how long have you been playing it?
K.S.: Bass, and I've played it for six years. Before I started singing,
I was in a band called Two Hundred Pieces. We opened for bands like Coal
Chamber, Sevendust, and Blink-182.
S&S: Why did you leave Two Hundred Pieces?
K.S.: Because we weren't really going anywhere, and I played bass
when I wanted to sing. The singer and I were moving in different directions.
I think Two Hundred Pieces was just a stepping stone for each of us in our
musical career.
S&S: What is the biggest difference between Kristyn Strange
and Two Hundred Pieces?
K.S.: Well, one is that I'm singing. Two is that Two Hundred Pieces
didn't really know where they were going, while I know where I want to go
with Kristyn Strange.
S&S: Who are your influences as a bassist and singer?
K.S.: Rayna Foss-Rose (ex-Coal Chamber bassist) is my influence as
a bassist. She's the one who taught me how to play bass, actually. My influence
as a singer is Madonna.
S&S: Who are your favorite bands and/or artists?
K.S.: My favorite band is Nine Inch Nails, and my favorite artists
are Madonna, Stevie Nicks, and Marilyn Manson.
S&S: Do you have anyone to thank?
K.S.: Most of all, myself. I feel that I got myself here. Second
are the people I've worked with in my music. I don't want to start making
all these big thank-yous yet, not until my band's successful.
S&S: If you could punch one celebrity, who would it be?
K.S.: How much time do you have?
S&S: As a matter of fact, I have no life smart ass! (laughter)
Is Strange your real last name?
K.S.: Yes.
S&S: That's an awesome last name. This next question is a requested
one: Were you ever self-destructive?
K.S.: Yes, but in the later years of my life. It was more mental
than anything else, like partying too much or drinking. I kept clinging
on to things that happened in the past and was way too down on myself for
things that happened to me when I was younger, but I'm past that now.
S&S: Why did you sound surprised when I said I was fourteen?
K.S.: Because you seem really mature. And you also seem very well-educated,
like you have experience with things. Your sense of humor and sarcasm is
mature. Even the way you type and your voice make you seem older.
S&S: What do you think of me?
K.S.: I think your fucking awesome.
S&S: What did you think of the interview?
K.S.: It was perfect and fun. It was really relaxed, and comfortable
talking, not down to the business serious stuff. I liked it.
S&S: Got any questions for me?
K.S.: Yeah. How did you come across my band, and what made you so
active in my project?
S&S: I found out about your band when I was asking if anyone knew what Mikey (ex-Coal Chamber drummer) was doing now on the Pinata forum. And someone gave me the link to your web page, and I checked it out. I downloaded "817" and really liked it so I joined the forum, and saw how active you are with the fans. I really respect that, and think it's important for a musician to be active and talk to their fans a lot. I respect that.