Today we’d like to introduce you to DAME.
Hi DAME, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The story surrounding DAME is really, at its core, a love story. 2 musical souls who were inspired by each other from afar, came together in a single, powerful, fated moment, and suddenly the vision for this music became clear. The entire course of my life changed after meeting Brian.
I was born to a mother and father, both well-known jazz musicians, and grew up on the road in night clubs, green rooms, and sleeping on road cases in the back of our car. So it was only natural that I was to join them on the stage, of course in this jazz setting, but really, the music that brought me to life was rock n roll, theatrical and powerful! I was obsessed and constantly listening to bands like Queen, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, The Beatles, Journey, Boston, and The Dresden Dolls! I had a poster of The Dresden Dolls on my wall at home and would dream of being in a band with and falling in love with Brian Viglione.
However, when you’re a 9-year old kid, you’re not thinking how getting up on stage and singing with mom and dad would affect the course of your destiny. And so, fast-forward 15 years, I have a well-established career touring all over the world with a record deal, appearing at the world’s most prestigious jazz clubs, but singing music that I wasn’t truly passionate about singing. Yes, jazz is where I come from and a big part of who I am, but not what I wanted for my life, and I could see my dreams fading in the rear view mirror- so I looked for ways to express that side of myself. This led to my covering The Dresden Dolls’ song “Sing” on my 2021 Jazz album ‘This Bitter Earth.’ Little did I know, Brian Viglione of The Dresden Dolls had heard my version and fell in love with my music. I received a message from Brian saying if I ever came out to LA, we should meet for dinner. From the moment we shook hands, I felt this was the night my entire life was leading to, and that our souls had been together in a past life, and we were finding each other again.
Through getting to know me, Brian could see the inner turmoil that was reaching its boiling point: a soul that was locked away, yearning to be let out. Once he had heard my original music, he ignited the fire and will to create- that if I ever wanted to pursue my dreams of singing my rock music, that it was NOW or NEVER, and so I embarked on building this dream with him over the next 5 years.
The concept for DAME became clear after I was knighted in France as Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters. Visions flooded my brain of Joan of Arc, Julie d’Aubigny, female writers and activists (like Olympe de Gouges) of the French Revolution, and legendary women artists such as Josephine Baker in the Cabarets of the 20’s. I wanted to write music that told their stories as well as mine- stories of being crushed by the system and standing up in the face of that oppression.
DAME is the brainchild of Brian and myself, and what we hope to share with our audience is not only a love for classic rock, but also the genres of classical music, medieval folk, tin pan alley jazz, delta blues. But more importantly, it is a band that prides itself on its raw, live, balls-to-the-wall performance style, with the ample technique from my opera training and the harmonic sophistication of my jazz and classical studies. We want to remind our audiences of the powerful effect live music has, and to cherish that which is made by human hands. not just minds. And that no matter how weird you may think you are, it is not your job to try and fit in. Wave your freak flag, for that is how you find the right people and the truth of who you are.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As an artist, especially these days, they will tell you that if you can make a living doing it, then that’s a success. This was not the case for me. A career where you’re making money but not doing the music you love is not a success.
When I was 22, I chose to take the stable, financially secure road which for me was a jazz career. I had 10 years of a jazz of performing and touring/recording experience at that point, but then my father died in 2016. Without him, I sort of lost my connection to the music. Then I started to see how narrow-minded and insular the industry was, it lacked any connection to the real world. I had manager after manager that did not understand me, trying to guide me in the wrong direction and mold me. One manager even tried to get me to sign a contract where the commissions were to be paid “in perpetuity” even post termination…essentially indentured servitude for all eternity.
When I start exploring my sound, performance style, and writing, finding my inner courage to venture into rock and experimental corners of my artistry, a bunch of the snobby and old white-haired jazz audience really made it their mission to put me down as if I was a “genre-traitor.” I tried to remedy this by performing jazz and rock in my sets, calling it “transgenre”(which was a nod to the trans community as I was sort of in between genres mid-transition). What ended up happening was I started feeling split between the 2 worlds, not able to fully immerse myself in Rock like I wanted. So I decided to make the full transition, and I developed my persona as DAME to take the reins and let my soul out of its cage.
I’ve had to work really hard on not listening to the older (mostly male) trolls who make it their life’s mission to bring me down. Some days, you just want to reem into them, but I have learned to take the higher road and focus on the work. I remind myself of all the great women in history who dealt with adversity 100 times worse. I follow their example, as well as the example of my partner Brian who is my guiding light. And now, I truly feel at peace with who I am, because of DAME.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Since age nine, I was always professionally known as a vocalist, but the true essence of what I do is writing and creating universes… telling stories. Singing is but one way to tell such stories, but now with my band DAME, I can tell my own story in my own words. My partner Brian and I write, produce, and direct our own music, videos, and stage shows. DAME is more than a rock band, for in our music we are pulling from classical, musical theater, medieval folk, and jazz references to put on a stage show that has a narrative, props and costumes, and audience participation. I get to use my trumpet playing, tap dancing, and recorder/autoharp talents as well in this show… it really is quite the epic musical/theatrical experience.
Because I grew up with older musician parents (my father was born in 1936 and was amongst the great bebop musicians in New York in the 50’s), my frame of reference for music is actually the same as all the 70’s bands/artists I love, rather than my being initially directly influenced by the great classic rock bands. This lends itself to the fact that DAME is really more of a contemporary of the 70’s classic bands rather than a descendant (or derivative.) At 12 years old, I was studying classical and opera scores and singing the great American songbook and bebop standards and arias before I ever even heard of Queen or David Bowie, but when I discovered that era and saw what they did with the music I grew up studying and performing, I suddenly saw myself in them, and everything clicked.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Brian (the drummer and co-founder of DAME and The Dresden Dolls) is not only my life partner and musical partner, but my mentor. I would have never thought that in a million years he would have reached out to me on instagram all because of the cover I did of his band’s song. I firmly believe that if you are true to who you are and follow your path with integrity, you will attract the right people for you at the right time.
A major factor that allowed Brian to discover me was the fact that I made the space for him, and all the opportunities that this new life would bring. I left Virginia where I was from to come to LA, I started taking less Jazz gigs so I had time to focus on my creative work.
Think on it, if you are an artist, AND you work a 9-5… sure you need to have a source of income to fund your projects, but if your 9-5 is so taxing that you have no space or energy to create, you have no art. You must close that door, in order for the others to open, and sometimes, that survivalist instinct kicks in and really catapults you in the right direction, but only if you are centered and focused, and have a source of grounding to keep you in line with your goals and reality. A mentor really helps with that, so DM your heroes, cover a song of theirs, or hit up other artists that you look up to who are “doing the thing”… you never know who will reply!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dametheband.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damebandofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/DAME-the-Band-61578041157000/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DAMEtheBand
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dame-460953521
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@damebandofficial
Image Credits
A. Rabbit
Laurent Sabathe
Djiun
Mandi Lea
Michelle Shiers
