Graham Robson talks to Crysi de Milo, one-half of Sussex-based alternative cabaret duo PrissyLips, about music, influences and waving their dirty washing in public.
How did PrissyLips come about?
“PrissyLips was formed from the ashes of the cabaret band Torch Song Tragedies that my guitarist Reuben Drake and I formed in 2012. It was a disaster! We played cover versions and had a script; it was so fake and painted!”
So PrissyLips is more organic?
“It’s a reaction to when living becomes desperate. It’s an antithesis to all the current banal McMusic that Cowell is pumping into the world. It’s the voice of the beaten generation. It’s the culmination of 10 years in a metaphorical straitjacket. It just had to happen. There was no other choice. It’s my catharsis and my therapy.”
What’s the story behind the name?
“It’s a joke. Prissy means prim and proper and respectable, which let’s face it we are not. Also it means to be easily disgusted – which I am quite often but mainly at the global state of emergency. It’s ironic. We’re a mess of punk ethos and no rules. It’s also important to have a reference to lips as people comment on mine all the time, without fail. We went through several changes: I wanted to call us Dogshow at one point. I’m glad that one didn’t stick.”
How did you get together?
“I met Reuben about four years ago when we were both f***ed-up self-destruct-button-pressers and we embarked on a crazy train-wreck of a relationship and this is where we ended up. I used to stalk him too. When did you decide to form the band? Later. We realised that combining our talents would be either interesting or glorious or both.”
What are the band’s dynamics?
“The duo dynamic, especially in a live scenario, is like f***ing for the crowd; he’s the fingers and I’m the mouth. We have a psycho-sexual/intellectual bohemian kind of relationship; it’s intense, sometimes hard work, but always rewarding. Reuben is a musical prodigy. Any instrument he picks up he can play and he can always find the right mood or texture. I have been writing and collating my thoughts for years now. This is a big belch of our dirty secrets and salacious rumours right in the face.”
What do you play?
“We play post-apocalyptic new-wave protest songs on a battered acoustic guitar, with lyrics shaped from love letters, suicide notes, death threats and sh*tlists. Our sound is steeped in grunge and neo-folk and occasionally glam, but we have no rules and are ever evolving.”
Who are your musical influences?
“Alternative female rock, riot grrrl, old-school rock & roll, grunge, 1970s glam, 1980s trash, new wave/no-wave, art rock, punk, indie, 1990s, vintage, classical, gloom rock, blues, redneck campfire anthems, doo wop, the mashed potato, jitterbug, rockabilly, and all those legendary women (Marianne Faithfull, Courtney Love, Patti Smith). I surround myself sonically with beautiful, real, raw voices. Reuben translates this into our songs, adding a healthy mix of avant-garde jazz and youthful optimism.”
Where do you search for inspiration?
“I am inspired every damn day. When you live in a country run by crooks and liars, the beaten will start lighting fires! I am inspired by imperfect beauty and decadent felonies, the cult of celebrity, the kind of electronic faith in the WHY? Generation, the worm in the apple pie, depression, mental illness, psychosis, addiction… and revenge. I wave my dirty laundry and my lowest moments around because as songs they no longer have power over me. We own them. They are our Land.”
You recently performed at the Queen’s Arms and Sticky Mike’s. Describe the live show to us, and what people can expect…
“At the moment we’re playing intimate acoustic gigs, just guitar and vocal and tons of spirit! The band mantra is ‘be real, be raw and give it all’ and that’s what we can promise you. It’s sometimes enchanting, sometimes chaotic but always human and eternally grateful for the chance and for your ears! When I perform it’s like an out-of-body experience so maybe you should come and see for yourself. The show at Sticky Mike’s (with Saints of the Lot) ended with my friend Lees singing Rebel Girl while I squirted cream at the crowd and rolled on the floor.”
What’s next for PrissyLips?
“You can see us at Fag Machine at Queen’s Arms on December 5 which, if the last time we played there is anything to go by, will be very special and have that air of magic about it. Long term, PrissyLips is gaining two new members next year and will be the sl*t you can’t get rid of on the music scene in Brighton. We’ll keep ramming ourselves down your throats until you listen. Expect more music, videos and we have a couple films in the pipeline. We are gonna ride this thing until the wheels fall off, teeth bared and toting revolution.”
Catch PrissyLips at Fag Machine at the Queen’s Arms on December 5 at 9pm.
www.youtube.com/user/PRISSYLIPS
Photos by: Toms Udris
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