Present yourself to the readers
Hello!! We are HER DESPAIR, a gothic rock band based near London UK. We have recently released our new EP “Exorcisms of Eroticism” and could not be happier with the finished result.
We make a loud sound and sometimes people dance.
What’s the story for EXORCISMS OF EROTICISM ?
“Exorcisms of Eroticism” is the dark and dramatic collection of six new gothic rock anthems from HER DESPAIR. Designed to unravel the mysteries of the theologic and the erotic, each song is set to a storm of symphonic instrumentation; providing the perfect soundtrack for your sorrows. The record is a real progression for us, it’s far more detailed than our previous output.
Who composes ?...How does it work in the band ?
I will compose the skeleton of the song, usually alone in the dark, then take it to the rehearsal room and we begin to work on it collectively. That’s my favourite part of the process, seeing how the songs come together from that first idea. It’s so exciting. The songwriting process is usually fairly fluid, and we’ll have a working first draft by the end of the session.
J brings in the initial structure and we make a lot of noise until it sounds like a song
Who writes the texts ?..What are they talking about ?..How does inspiration come ?
Lyrically I tend to focus on subjects of interest to me, usually religion and sex. Our previous release “Mournography” definitely had a theological focus, but this time I drew deeper from the writing of the Marquis de Sade for inspiration. “Exorcisms of Eroticism” certainly has its spiritual moments, but is perhaps more inclined towards the latter aspect of the title.
Why the name HER DESPAIR ?
Originally it was Tears of Heaven, then changed to She Drowns in Her Despair. That felt too lengthy, so it was shortened, and here we are. HER DESPAIR encapsulates the atmospheric imagery the music is designed to create.
What are your personal musical tastes and your influences ?
My single greatest influence is the Sisters of Mercy, with other particularly inspirational artists including My Dying Bride, Nick Cave, Fields of the Nephilim, and Misfits. Lyrically, I would highlight Ville Valo and Pete Steele.
Growing up, and still now, my main influences would be the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jimi Hendrix, Santana and Motorhead. Honestly there's too many to name. Recently though, I've been listening to a lot of Childish Gambino, Mastodon, The Voidz, The Do, Karin Park and Action Bronson.
In studio, what was the atmosphere for your E.P. ?…etc.…
We had a great time at Whitehouse Studios with producer Matt Bew, and he really brought out the best in us for the record. We’d worked with him previously on “Mournography,” and the sessions generally went incredibly smoothly. We were constantly getting the work done, but in a relaxed environment. The music is very dark and dramatic, but it was wasn’t quite recorded by candlelight.
Intensely erotic.
How does it work for the design of the CD ? and why this title ?
From a metaphorical perspective, the inspiration behind the EP title is about expelling erotic thoughts and desires, and one way of doing so would be finishing through sex. To put it delicately, it’s about the moment you come and your erotic desires are “exorcised,” dissipating the lustful possession that may have been previously experienced. The word “exorcism” gives a theological connotation as well, so I find it’s quite an appropriate way to link the themes.
The artwork was a spontaneous moment, now immortalised within the picture. My partner and I were taking some photos in a church, when we found the window area featured. She reached out her hands as I took the photo, and here we are.
I really liked how sudden the moment of capture was, so didn’t want to spend hours excruciating over every edit detail. I wanted the artwork to be a moment caught in time, and it didn’t require much app-editing to get to the finished design. There are also a couple of alternative covers, but ultimately we decided on this one. The others may see the light of day in some form at some stage, they may not.
How was the shooting of the clip THE EXORCISM ? and why this choice ?
We shot the video over two days in the haunted city of Southampton, where the Titanic began its ill-fated voyage. We worked with the inimitable Scott Chalmers, shooting in his studio on day one and a nearby establishment for day two which provided an entirely black room with no natural light; a perfect backdrop for our bleak music. “The Exorcism” was selected as the video single as we wanted to spread that 80s synth as far as we could, and we felt it was an appropriate song to represent the release as a whole.
With Management and booking, how do you work ? And with whom ?
We’ve worked with some great promoters and booking agents across the UK, and have also had success booking shows via Twitter conversations. Within the near future we’ll be looking into working with a booking agent again.
What are your projects ?
The main focus is HER DESPAIR, but 2020 may see me contribute to another project. There are a few arrangements to be made before the next year is fully mapped out.
What do you expect from the future ?
We are in the unfortunate position of having to replace our dear drummer Lee after his recent departure. Plans are in motion, but these things can take time to get right, and Lee was a massive part of the band so will not be replaced easily. Despite that, I have some ideas for new songs, so that will inevitably be something to keep us busy regardless.
Less fish in the sea.
What's your motto ?
Perhaps not a motto, just a thought; the only things we can ever truly know are our own experiences.
Website to remember
Follow HER DESPAIR online
herdespair.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/herdespair
twitter.com/herdespairband
instagram.com/herdespairband
Pornhub
What would you like to say to the readers ?
Thank you for all your ongoing support - it means an enormous amount to us and we adore every one of you. The way you have received “Exorcisms of Eroticism” is beyond appreciated, and we are flattered by your well wishes and kind words. Thanks for the questions!!
Get home safe. Also buy our stuff
