Racine - entrevista a Wendy James

O Billy News tem o prazer de apresentar a entrevista feita a Wendy James, a famosa vocalista da extinta banda Transvision Vamp, que vem apresentar o seu recente projecto Racine ao portugueses no próximo dia 21 de março, no MusicBox (em Lisboa).



Para manter o discurso de Wendy o mais genuíno possível, aqui segue a entrevista em inglês...



Billy- Wendy, it’s great to know that you’re in action again with your recent band Racine.
Better news it’s that you are going to return to Portugal for a gig.
But I’ll start this interview by asking you about the times with Transvision Vamp, it was a successful career between 1986 and 1993 (moreless), with three albums and a lot of singles. “Velveteen” was the most popular album (Nº1 in England and stayed for 26 weeks), but I have to ask your personal opinion. What’s your favorite album, “Pop Art”, “Velveteen” or “Little Magnets vs. The Bubble Of Babble”?

Wendy- LITTLE MAGNETS… I have amazing memories of the rise to fame with the first two albums, but when I listen to any songs we did, now… I find myself most drawn to “IF LOOKS COULD KILL” on the 3rd album. Having said that – when BABY, I DON’T CARE comes on in a club or on the radio – it does stand out as literally a classic, classic pop song and I, like everyone else, sing along and dance like crazy to it!


Billy- What are the best moments that you remember about Transvision Vamp?

Wendy- Funnily enough, one of my special moments happened in Portugal on NYE – I don’t know what year, but we opened for Bon Jovi! And it was when they had a huge overhead walkway across the audience… and when LIVING ON A PRAYER was being played.. Jon Bon Jovi did his thing on the arial runway! My guitarist hated it!! But myself and the bass player just surrendered to the ‘Arena’ vibe and got into it! It was RIDICULOUS! but such a good moment! I have many like that… my favorite gig of all TVV time happened in PARIS at BERCY – when my mic broke 3 times in a row… and the audience went NUTS… it seemed to increase the tension and the energy… there are SO many moments… and I’m grateful for all of them


Billy- Later, after disbanding, you immediately decide that you’re gonna follow a solo career and in the end of the same year (1993) you released “Now Ain’t The Time For Your Tears”, with brilliant songs but very softly and differently from what you’ve done before. Maybe that’s why the general ‘music media’ didn’t pay special attention?

Wendy- So exciting, but so complicated…
Moving from a band that represented by young teenage and great fame – into singing solo songs written by another artist…
I learned a lot, I worked with some great musicians… but deep down, I knew it was a transitional moment, and not 100% me… there are moments when I shine through… but also it was me in transition from TVV to WENDY JAMES. The record did well in AMERICA… and it provided me, as life always does, with the path to the next adventure.


Billy- It’s difficult to hear a song that is more sweet and touchin’ than “Basement Kiss”.
I know that is written by Elvis Costello and Cait O’ Riordian, but put some much of you in this song that makes me believe that’s 100% yours. Do you like the song or prefer another one in that album?

Wendy- Like I said in the previous answer… there are moments when I shine through… but also there are moments when it’s ELVIS talking through me… those are HIS words… and his feelings… and sometimes I could connect and other times I couldn’t – like a movie script and an actor… you inhabit the words as closely as you can… but ultimately – the words are someone elses… the performance was mine, and the vulnerability was mine, but the intention was Elvis’




Billy- You record a second solo album “Lies In Chinatown”, all with your own compositions, but I didn’t really seen it or listened, some problem situation occurred with the record company. What really happened? I think most of your fans never heard it…

Wendy- It is a rumor! Started by hungry fans for news… the truth is – I made some demos, and I called those demos LIES IN CHINATOWN but they were literally me practicing my song writing skills… they were never destined for release… I had to literally go into the studio and put down some ideas, so I could hear, for myself… where I was at… it was simply part of the process that led me to RACINE NO.1 I don’t have a copy of them any longer…



Billy- You started Racine in 2005 and launch “Racine Nº1” in 2006. How it was for a ‘fresh start’?

Wendy- Well, I couldn’t really call it a fresh start… more a continuation of my journey as a musician…
I made the demos in my own studio in London, and then promptly moved to NYC… I found myself in a little studio in NY and just went in everyday, with no plan… and just recorded whatever came to mind that day… and that became RACINE NO.1 and those RACINE NO.1 DEMOS are what accompany my new record RACINE 2




Billy- Now you recently edit “Racine 2” in January. In my opinion “I’m Freaking Out” is one of the greatest songs in it. What will be the first single in advanced?

Wendy- YES! I’M FREAKING OUT is the first single! Whenever I write songs, it is only after I’ve stuck it on a Dictaphone, to save the idea that I realize what I have! And when I wrote I’M FREAKING OUT – I just thought – IF THAT GET’S ON THE RADIO… IT’S A HIT!
I LOVE BITTER FUNNY too…



Billy- You have a full agenda in March and April, on a Tour that includes Portugal, Spain, England, France, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Germany and more… are you (really) prepared?

Wendy- Of course! This is what I do! This is who I am! A musician. Musicians play for a living… to an audience… whether you’re a Fiddle player in Ireland, a Harmonica player in Mississippi or a big Rock n Roll star... you get on your instrument and you play songs for people, and if you’re really lucky, the emotional content of those tunes… those words… be it anger/love/passion/sadness/bravery/struggle/submission/desol
ation/loneliness or unity… if you’re lucky… you and the audience come together as one… And I have to say… it is the most sublime moment in the world… when you and the audience are bound together by common experiences… and wonderful evocative music that SOUNDS like the words mean.




Billy- Can I ask you one last request, just a few words for the Portuguese fans…?

Wendy- I am HONORED and THRILLED and SO, SO HAPPY to be able to return to Portugal with my music… what more could I wish for? I write a song in my bedroom, and it goes onto a Dictaphone, and then it goes into a Recording studio and then it goes to the Mixing studio, and then it goes to the pressing plant, and then it goes to the stores… and then, THEN – I get to play those songs to people I love.

W x


Não esquecer, quem quiser ouvir alguns temas dos Racine pode fazê-lo clicando aqui, mas já se sabe que ao vivo é sempre mais intenso! Dia 21 de Março é o 'Racine Day'...