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Jymm Thomas on guitar
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They're in the thralls of compiling and creating new songs for their forthcoming CD. Moving on to Jymm Thomas we wondered if they had a title for it yet. "We do," Jymm whispered, "and it is a very, closely guarded secret." Ah, the boys are all about mystery! And finding a straight answer from Jymm and Steve is always as challenged as when I asked how many tracks would there be. Jymm replied, "Right now we're looking at somewhere between . . ." "Two and three CD's," Steve interjects. "Yeah," confirm Jymm, "we're thinking we want to do the Guns & Roses Use Your Illusion I and II thing, and I think Backstreet did that too." After a laugh he does manage to give us the real deal and then some. "We're going to put between probably 10-13, somewhere between there. And maybe some extra little goodies for people." As to when the fans can expect this little goodie? "We're shooting for the first quarter, which would be like January, February, March sometime next year," says Jymm. "It may be a little sooner but we want to miss Christmas and put it out right after that when people are over their holiday madness and can focus on buying Darling Violetta music." The focus is all about the music!
Steve McManus on drums
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And giving the fans a taste of DV live and in person! Steve McManus gave us the skinny on when a tour would be possible. This is something the band has been wanting to do for some time. "We're going to be covering the US at long last, up the west coast and making it further east than Tempe!" he tells us. "We have a lot of people in New York and Boston who have been screaming for us to come out there so we're finally going to pay them some attention. And hopefully, get across to England by the summer (of 2002) but step one is getting to see all our fans here. Maybe hop up to Canada for one or two shows." It's no lost fact that Darling Violetta is a big hit with the UK fans who have really admired and supported them since their introduction on Buffy in Season Three. Jymm shouts out in his most proper English accent, "And we love them!" Steve admits with pride that, "Europe is very vocal on our posting board and everywhere else. We have a lot of fans from England, and they're like, 'come, come come!' " That looks great for Britian but as for all the DV fans Down Under, Steve sadly offers that, "Australia will have to wait! I'm sorry but it's just too far for now, but we'll come!" Jymm suggested, "We might commandeer a raft or something." "We're looking forward to taking the show on the road," enthuses Steve, "and having people who haven't seen us finally see the glory that is DV . . . with Chris Pott!" "The mighty Chris Pott," chimes in Jymm.
They have four tracks completed already and will require another month of rehearsals before they can go in the studio and really start hammering out the recording sessions. They are very happy with their producer who is closer to the vision of what they want their music to be then anyone else they've worked with. Gerri Sutyak will return with her hauntingly brilliant Cello work, waiting till all the songs are set before coming in and laying down her tracks. Cami Elen continues to provide the inspiration with her phenomenal vocal range and style and will add tremendously to the new feel of this CD which will bring fans that much closer to who DV really is in regards to their musical stylings.
Darling Violetta with... who's that guy? Oh Seeker!
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After getting the low-dow in the interview, and Camer-dude shot off some visual damage, we knew the band deserved a break after a long day in the studio so, "Hey, how 'bout taking a break for a beer guys?" Give me a beat . . . "Sure!" "Do ya think they had to think that over?" I questioned Swoop with a smile. After the much coaxing, and arm-twisting they agreed, and we all headed down the road a couple miles to Mr. B's restaurant and bar. A popular filming spot which showed up most recently in Magnolia. While we were there downing a couple and perusing the Giants/Dodgers game, the witty banter resumed. We ended up covering every topic imaginable from Star Trek to baseball to skydiving and hockey to music. From Spider-Man and Angel to record labels, fame and fortune, ad infinitum. DV is in the running for the next edition of VH1's Band on the Run. If things go as scheduled you may be able to get an inside glimpse of the goings on of DV as they compete with four other bands on their way to pop-cultural acclaim. With glasses empty and time running short, we tipped the waitress. Tip: "You have celebrities among you, Miss!" It was a great end to a great time. We bid them farewell, snapped a couple group photos, Swoop and I both decided that success could not happen to a better bunch of people, and we both wished them utmost good fortune on the forthcoming CD . . . and then I proceeded to almost kill us in an unnecessary illegal u-turn; but that's a story for another day.
In LA later that night, we hooked back up with Nikka, Jymm and Meloney (head of DV's Street Support Team) to enjoy a rarity for Jymm, a night out on the town relaxing while someone else played the music. "They are very, very good," he stated when KANE had finished their encore. A day and night of music completed and CoA had another great story to tell the fans. There are few and far between people that grace the music industry who are down-to-earth, imaginative and have the drive that will bring them all the recognition they deserve. DV is not about the fame, it's about the music. It's real and honest and comes from within them. It's a sound that can carry a dream or desire and is thought provoking like poetry in motion. Or in this case, melody. There is more to Darling Violetta than just a 'rawking' band. They are inspiration and when you hear them, you know. It reaches to a depth no other band deserves to take you! It's a depth that will continue to develop and grow and culminate in much success.
Stay tuned for the next DV installment when we cover Jymm's first Skydive! "DV interviewed at 12,500 feet above LA"!
This CoA Happenings was co-written by West Coast Correspondent Darren Danforth and CoA Head Writer Kristy Bratton.
Would you like a piece of DV? . . . Just send CoA a returnable self-addressed-stamped-envelope and we'll send you a FREE Darling Violetta Sticker! While supplies last, U.S. residences only.
CityofAngel.com would like to thank Steve, Jymm and Chris for waking up and letting us enter their musical world for the day. You are, as always, Awesome!
Be sure to visit the Darling Violetta web site for all the latest happening about the band at: www.DarlingVioletta.com
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