Warpaint Interview

Warpaint is an all-girl quartet hailing from Los Angeles, with music encapsulating elements of experiment rock, laden with hypnotic vocals, intricate melodies and accomplished guitars. After several years dazzling audiences the band are getting the recognition they deserve and will be cropping up all over the festival scene in the summer after the successful release of their album ‘The Fool’ in 2010. I spoke to Theresa Wayman (vocals and guitars) to find out about her experiences in a band that are currently making the music scene take notice.  

For those people who haven't heard any of Warpaint’s music how do you describe it to people?

It's a party of quirky, melodic, groovy, roll and rock and everyone is invited!

How did the band meet?

Meeting the girls of Warpaint was a breath of fresh air...we had all recently moved to LA and as you can imagine there are many people here that are difficult to relate to...LA has a strong Barbie culture.  So anyway, we were immediately drawn to each other.  We all played music individually so it only seemed natural to try playing together. It turned out we all approached music similarly...in an organic, let's see what comes out naturally without preconceptions kind of way. From the first time we played together it was on!

Where does the name Warpaint come from?

 It's the spirit of our music...seemed the only thing to call ourselves. 

What inspires you when you write your songs?

 Anything and everything.  This experience we're all having...you know, living...it's nice to express the feelings and situations we all go through.  As a listener it's nice to hear the ways that other people interpret their life and feelings and whatnot.  It's comforting when someone else's story speaks directly to yours...it's nice to feel understood.

Your songs get described as emotional quite often, do you think that being female helps you understand and convey your emotions easily?

 I think a lot of music is emotional and men make most of it.  I don't think that being a woman gives us a one up in that regard.    

Theresa you have a son is music something you him to do?

The other day the girls and I were at a studio practicing and I looked around and had this overwhelming blissed out sensation...I couldn't believe that I was at "work"!  I love what I do and I couldn't be happier.  I feel really privileged to be doing what I love for a living and that's what I want for my son and everyone!  If he loves playing music when he grows up then great...if he gets the same pleasure from something else then I encourage that.

  

How do you feel when you are up on stage performing?

I feel challenged, focused and excited.  Seems I run a gauntlet of emotions on stage...that's what I love about playing live.  We also really like to 'jam' on our songs, extending parts, which is particularly invigorating.  It's like I'm walking the edge of myself, don't really know where it'll go next and I got to hang on and walk it as expertly as I can.  

What can people expect from your live shows?

Well...a different energy from the album, something a bit more aggressive and alive than our recordings.  We play with a lot of dynamics.  Also, as I said, we jam a fair amount and these jams will always be unique to each show.  I think our shows have a certain vulnerability as well which could be nice to experience for some and might make others uncomfortable.