THE CHANGELINGS
INTERVIEWED BY GORDON TAYLOR OF INFECTIOUS UNEASE RADIO
Band Interview
Band: Changelings
Band Member: Nick Pagan, Chandler Rentz, Damon Young, Regeana Morris, Paul Mercer,
Bands Discography: S/ T - 1996, Terra Firma - 1997, Amphibian - 1998,
Mercury -1999
Bands Web Page: http://draven.net/changelings/
<http://draven.net/changelings/>
Bands email Address: changelings@catgoddess.com
Bands Snail Mail Address: P.o. box 5583, Atlanta, Ga. 31107 Usa
Interviewer: Gordon Taylor Email Contact@infectiousunease.com WebPages http://www.infectiousunease.com
Interviewee: Nick Pagan
The name "changelings " means the substitution of a little old manikin of
the elf race, for a young child. What is every bodies favorite fairy.
Nick Pagan:
I actually got the name from a volume of Jim Morrison's poetry. I don't
really have a favorite fairy.
At what age did you all become involved in music?
Nick Pagan:
When I was 14, I heard The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and that was
pretty much it for me. I got a drum set, but couldn't coerce anyone to
actually practice with me. When I was 17, I started piano lessons and
eventually traded in my kit for an electric piano. I started one of the
first " punk " bands in the American South in 1980 - The Fanatics, when I
was 21.
Chandler Rentz:
I started playing on pots and pans when I was about 4 or 5 years old.
The majority of my family members played an instrument so I got plenty
of encouragement.
I have heard some very funny stories on how you all met. Would you like to
explain where you met and when you met and when the "changelings began."
Nick Pagan:
I was in a Celtic group called Trio Nocturna from 1992 - 1994 with Regeana
and a harp player. The harp player became increasingly irrational and
abusive towards us. He told us the wrong time to show up at the Anne Rice
Halloween Ball in 1994. When we arrived, he " fired " us both and said he
was sick of the two of us
" riding on his coattails. " We began auditions immediately and by Jan.
1995 had everyone in place except Chandler ( our drummer ) When he called
in March of that year, I said," OMIGOD! You're the best drummer in town!
We'll audition for YOU! " Thank goodness, we had enough together to get him
intrigued enough to join.
What instruments do you all play and are there any particular instrument you
enjoy the most?
Nick Pagan:
I play keyboards and if there was ANY way I could tote along a REAL
harpsichord with me - I would!
Chandler Rentz:
As far as the Changelings are concerned I play drums and occasionally
the bass guitar. On my own I can also play guitar, I sing a little, and
I do all kinds of recording/ sampling and sequencing experiments.
What creative process do you go through when composing your music?
Nick Pagan:
Someone brings in an idea and we pull it, push it, twist it, discuss it,
argue about it, polish it and work at it until it's a complete song. We
always say we're the happiest when we're beating our heads against the wall
with a new song.
Chandler Rentz:
Something similar to moulding clay. It's a gradual process, a process of
experimentation, and improvisation.
What inspires you when you write your music?
Nick Pagan:
I couldn't exactly say. Sometimes I go for a pop kind of a hook.
Othertimes I'll strive for a mood or a feeling and occasionally; personal
catharsis.
Chandler Rentz:
Sometimes a sound, at other times a drum beat, or the weather, or
frustration; it's different for each song.
Many Of your song seem to be inspired by Mythology, renaissance, medieval
history, love, despair, and nature. What is it about these subjects that
inspires you write about them. How do you go about writing Lyrics?
ask regeana
What is the inspiration behind such songs "Morning Twilight" "Oceana" "Port
Royal" "For Endymion" "Dervish" "Season Of Mist" "Awaking"?
Nick Pagan:
I wrote the lyrics to " Season of Mists. " It's what the Romantic poet
Keats called Autumn. Here in the American South, the summers are brutal.
No relief from heat, humidity, mosquitoes - it's a lot like hell. I find
them very depressing. So....
I equated Autumn with Heaven - romantic, psychic, and romantic fulfillment.
I also threw in a few lines adopted from a French film called " Baxter "
about a dog who can think ( he was on his way to Heaven ) I also personify
Autumn as a deliverer from Hell so the song almost runs like a conversation.
It's kind of a Romantic meets spiritual thing.
Chandler Rentz:
"For Endymion" was initiated by me picking up the bass guitar after
beating our heads against the wall for hours. I wanted to hear something
lush so I just started playing spontaneously and the bass line for the
whole song was just there already arranged for me and then the rest
followed. We put the drum beat in much later. So I would say the longing
for warmth and for a feeling of tranced out dreaminess inspired this
song.
"Dervish" was, to speak more simply, literally inspired by some CDs with
live recordings of the music for whirling dervishes. I believe the
music was recorded in Egypt or Turkey. It was simply mesmerizing. We had
to try to play this kind of music.
All your albums have beautiful artwork who produces the artwork for your
albums
Nick Pagan:
I found the covers for the 1st two in library books. They seemed to capture
the mood of what we were after. We didn't have any money to commission any
art so I thought it was a better solution than doing something second rate.
Thanks!
Are you influence by books, Paintings, or movies or plays. And if you are
how are you influence by these subjects and is they're a particular favorite
book, picture, movie, play that you would like talk about.
Nick Pagan:
I think we were all influenced and inspired by " City of Lost Children " and
" Nightmare before Christmas. "
Do you have any favorite bands that you like listening to?
Nick Pagan:
I listen to a lot of mid sixties ( pre hippie ) pop. Chad and Jeremy, The
Zombies, The Kinks, The Left Banke and a host of others.
Chandler Rentz:
Slowdive, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Church, Echo and the Bunnymen.
these bands have given me so much inspiration and their works have stood
the test of time proving not to be passing fads as far as I'm
concerned.
Are you currently working in any side projects?
Nick Pagan:
Sometimes I " sit in " with a local cover band called The Lizardmen. I play
organ on " Lucifer Sam " and harpsichord on " For Your Love ." Just for
kicks.
Chandler Rentz:
I was formerly working on a multi-media project whose music was a mix of
drum 'n' bass break beats with ambient brian eno-ish drones, overtones
and very smooth sub-bass lines that shook one's whole being. It was kind
of like Slowdive on supercharged adrenaline. The name of this project
was/is 'Fascia'. I left, however, to focus more on the Changelings and
to pursue ambient music on my own again. Fascia is continuing to produce
works more geared towards art gallery and museum type installations. I
am currently working with Jarboe ( formerly of the Swans ) on some
things but I can't say much about that at this time.
I understand that some of the members of the Changelings have produced their own albums would you like to tell me more about this.
Nick Pagan:
I haven't yet, but I've found this amazing girl named Ariel who plays harp,
guitar, keys and recorder. Her sound is truly timeless. I intend to do a
heavily atmospheric ( think reverb ) album with her.
Chandler Rentz:
I released an EP with Fascia well over a year and a half ago. The CD is
available on Clockwise Records; they should still have a website.
To the readers who may have not heard much of your music how would you
describe your sound?
Nick Pagan:
Classical, middle -eastern, folk, electronic, ambient pop - fusion.
Chandler Rentz:
Modern classical pop music with heavy middle eastern and ambient
elements.
How has the response been with the latest release " Mercury. "
Nick Pagan:
Not bad - the dance club DJ's seem to like it. It's probably as commercial
as we ever going to get.
Chandler Rentz:
We can't complain. The responses to all of our releases have been very
good.
What was the inspiration behind the latest release?
Nick Pagan:
It turned out to have kind of a sci - fi unearthly kind of feel to it.
> What was the inspiration behind the latest release?
Chandler Rentz:
Trying to be louder than the bands next door to us in our rehearsal
space.
I'am refering to 'Mercury' a 4 song EP which is our latest release.
How long did they take to produce?
Nick Pagan:
I guess a couple of weeks.
How long did they take to produce?
Chandler Rentz:
Not too long, our budget is limited so we work within rather strict time
limits.
What have you got planned for the next album?
Nick Pagan:
We're always very existential with our albums - we never know.
Chandler Rentz:
Returning back to the feel of our earlier works. Warmer, spacier, lush,
et cetera.
What bands have you toured with?
Nick Pagan:
We've played with the Genitorturers, Gary Numan, Switchblade Symphony and
Faith and The Muse.
Where have you toured, are you planning any up and coming tours.
Nick Pagan:
We've played NYC, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, New Orleans and of course,
Atlanta.
What gigs did you enjoy the most and what was the audience response.
Nick Pagan:
We played the Danse Macabre festival in Boston and had a flawless night - we
really COULDN'T do anything wrong that night. It was amazing! I guess the
audience was pretty enraptured - there was a great energy exchange between
all of us.
What gigs did you not enjoy?
Nick Pagan:
I don't enjoy playing here in Atlanta.
Is there anything special incorporated within your performances?
Nick Pagan:
We use a lot of Xmas lights and have enough material to provide a lot of
contrasts. We also openly improvise sometimes on stage which is good for
supplying some tension and risk to the proceedings.
Chandler Rentz:
an unmatchable intensity and playfulness
When you have a performance what goes through your mind when you are on that
stage. What is it that you feel? What sort of emotions do you go through
when the eyes of the audience are on you?
Nick Pagan:
I usually concentrate on the chemistry between the 5 of us. Walking that
tightrope between perfection and disaster. None of the stuff is sequenced
so there's always an element of risk involved. When the sound is good and
the audience is responding, I always feel it's our recompense for the hell
and grief that we have to go through to do what we do. It's the best. When
we go out of town, I feel pure appreciation, amazement and sometimes, even
rapture coming from the audience.
Chandler Rentz:
For me nothing but clarity, it's like a state of meditation. During a
good show you literally feel the presence of the audience. There is a
definite exchange between the audience and the band. I'd go as far as to
say that 50% of what we do and how well we play is dependent on the
crowd and their energy and response. When a band has a good show they
should profusely thank and congratulate the audience.
What have some of your experiences been like when touring.
Nick Pagan:
As you have probably surmised, I LOVE playing NOT here in Atlanta.
Chandler Rentz:
At times like hell when it's freezing over. But despite everything I
always come back home with a feeling that I wouldn't give up the
experience for anything. The important thing is that you had a chance
to contact your listeners in a personal way and to give and share the
appreciation of the Great Song or the spirit of music.
In Atlanta there is a festival called Dragon Con what takes places at this
festival and what is your involvement with this festival.
Nick Pagan:
We have been playing it for years and a lot of people come from all of the
world for the express purpose of seeing us. I guess we played to about 1600
last year. It's the best excuse to put out disc every year as we sell
THOUSANDS of dollars worth of merchandise in just a few days. A lot of
people with a LOT of money to spend. It's the best thing that happens in
this town all year.
Apart from the USA what countries do you get the most response from?
Nick Pagan:
Italy and Germany.
What is the gothic/ethereal scene like in Atlanta?
Nick Pagan:
No comment.
You are all animal lovers what particular animal inspires you and you love
the most.
Nick Pagan:
I love 'dem kitties!!!!
Chandler Rentz:
Cats, Kätze, gatos, me entusiasman los gatos, mein allerliebstes Tier
ist die Katze, I love cats. they are the best!
You have the song "Caterwaul" on the compilation "A Cat Shaped Hole In My
Heart" How did you get Involved with this project.
Nick Pagan:
Sam Rosenthal asked us and I thought it was an extremely worthwhile cause.
we
already had a song with a distinctly feline flavor - so it was easy!
Are you planning on making any films or making videos? Have you ever been
involved making music for soundtracks?
Nick Pagan:
We have just made two soundtracks for video games that would be extremely
appropriate for films. It's very political and we just don't'
know the right people. We'd LOVE to do it and I think we'd be VERY good at
it.
What are your future plans.
Nick Pagan:
It shouldn't come as a big surprise at this point that after the next disc
and an East and West Coast Tour, we will be leaving Atlanta. Either
separately or together. There's something VERY wrong with this place. The
South is just not ready for this kind of thing and I've had it.
Is there anything you would like to say to the readers out there?
Nick Pagan:
I truly hope that no matter where you are ( with the exception of Atlanta )
that we get a chance to play for you one day.
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