The Marquis of Vaudeville is known for their hypnotic and captivating music. Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls describes the band as “Ziggy meets Marc Bolan outside Max's Kansas City. Makes me want to break out some sequined leggings and spit on the sidewalk. Space-age modern-age glam nostalgia.” Marquis of Vaudeville band members consist of Toby Lawhon, Geneva Arena, Parker Sharp, Camron Frederick, and Antonio Brazil.
The band was kind enough to answer a few questions for our readers.
1. Would you tell our readers about yourselves?
13 questions. How fitting. We're your all-encompassing theatrical rock ensemble that delves into alternative, punk, glam, metal, steampunk, dieselpunk, and goth. Our music is a rare concoction of old-world & modern, fusing timeworn elements of musical styles from eras long past with modern rock innovation. We compose out-of-the-ordinary musical motifs to create a kind of magical compositional world of our own. Our music contains thematic elements revolving around dreams, rebellion, wonder, love, loss, hope, understanding, oppression, outcasts, isolation, mental illness, internal struggles, perseverance, death, loneliness, misfortune, mischief, mystery, and magic. Our songs are quite often wrapped up within, & somewhat veiled behind, an imagined story dealing with some sort of fantastical ideas such as discovering other worlds & alternate universes, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, star-crossed vampire lovers, vengeful stage magicians, mysterious whimsical circuses, plundering gentleman highwaymen, intriguing labyrinthine understreets, mad scientist toymakers, or the anthropomorphic personification of death.
2. On your website, you describe your music as “melodic mischief.” What does that mean?
Our music is a bit dark, yet playful. We aim for our music to burrow inside your thoughts, to spiral round for a spell, to shake things up a bit, to poke holes in your doldrums, to plant stars in your subconscious, then set you about in the world and see how you fair. That’s mischievous, is it not?
3. Would you tell us about your most recent album, The Tragic Valentine?
‘The Tragic Valentine’ is essentially a tragic love story told through 13 theatrical tracks – somewhat of our own lovelorn fantasy akin to ‘Romeo and Juliet’, flecked with elements of mystery, magic, intrigue, and revolution. Although the album weaves this story, the lyrics were written in a very precise way to allow for dual meaning, so each song not only flows with the storyline, but also has another unique essence hidden away. The striking hourglass symbol on the album cover ties into the story as it represents love/loss, life/death, light/dark - all things relative to anyone’s life.
4. Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
In every song. We like to tell stories and spark imagination. Music, being its own language, provides a way to tell them. As we always say, we want to paint a picture inside people’s heads to give them something to daydream about, to give them hope, open their eyes, hearts, & minds, and we’ve found that messages can be more profound and persuasive when woven secretly within the melodies of music. We don’t pander to the masses. We do what we love, write what we feel, and stay true to that. Mystery is a part of that. In our writing, we don’t tend to be straightforward as we want listeners to interpret and to get what they need out of the music without being coerced into how to feel, or what it should mean to them, but there is always an intended meaning, or two, or maybe three. Omne trium perfectum.
5. Would you tell us about your band’s aesthetic?
Our visual aesthetic would fall on the shadowy side of Neo-Victorian although our videos, merch, artwork, and other images play with fantasy, rococo, British Regency, and Edwardian styles. We tend to have a quite Tim Burton-esque aesthetic.
6. Are there any musicians who inspire you?
Our music is inspired and influenced by dreams, art, literature, film, theatre; typically, indie, cult, fantasy/sci-fi, fantastical classic works, as well as, the cosmos, love, liberty, mythology, mysticism, mystery, & magic. From the musical world, we’d have to say The Cure, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Danny Elfman, Yann Tiersen, Ravi Shankar, music of other cultures from around the globe, from other centuries, other eras, 60’s psychedelic, 70’s Glam, 80’s Post Punk & New Wave. Lyrically, the most inspiration was probably garnered from Robert Smith of The Cure, Bowie, author Neil Gaiman, or Edgar Allan Poe.
7. What’s the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
Play to the audience and for the audience, not at the audience.
8. What is your favorite venue where you’ve performed?
Ye Olde Salutation Inn in Nottingham, England - a historical haunt dating back to 1240 that had acquired a sinister reputation by the 17th century, being that it was a hangout for highwaymen - namely folk hero Richard Turpin. It’s reputed to be the most haunted pub in the country, so we were right at home.
9. What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?
It’s a magical language. It can move people. It can fill hearts. It can change the world.
10. Would you tell our readers about your favorite performance so far in your career?
Some prominent ones would be the Anne Rice Vampire Ball, DragonCon, Endless Night Vampire Ball, The Witches’ Ball (Dallas), and The Witches’ Council Presents, but our favorite would have to be our twisted Alice In Wonderland sold-out spectacle, A Clockwork Wonderland: Through Aether & Mysterium. It inspired our song We’re All Mad Here, the award-winning video that has been piling on accolades from around the world since its release.
11. Do you have any advice for someone who wishes to pursue music as a career?
Don’t ever stop. Do what you love. Have vision -focus -purpose. Stay true to yourself. Be genuine.
12. What would it be if you had one message to give your fans?
Our message would be: You are not alone. You have a voice. You matter. Don’t let anyone or anything hold you back or keep you down. Be who and what you want to be. Live like you’ll never die, love like there’s no tomorrow.
13. Would you tell us about any upcoming shows or projects?
Projects: We’re currently working an upcoming album titled Skeleton Key and a new music video for our song Marionettes.
Performances: We’re scheduled to perform at SAMHAIN 2022: THE MIDNIGHT CARNIVAL hosted by the Council of Magickal Arts - https://magickal-arts.org/event-4878909
Their newest album, The Tragic Valentine, is available at our Black Rose Shop.
Comments