Deap Vallythe blues punk duo from Los Angeles, will visit our country as part of their farewell tour, in which they also present the new edition of “Sistrionix” (Self-published, 24). We will be able to say goodbye to them properly in Madrid (May 21, La Boite) and Barcelona (May 22, Razzmatazz 2).
Deap Vally, the duo formed by Lindsey Troy (guitar and vocals) and Julie Edwards (drums and vocals), announced their retirement in September of last year, stating that their musical career and touring were becoming incompatible with their family life (both are mothers of two children) and with his mental health. Furthermore, giving concerts meant spending money for the duo that did not end up balancing the balance in terms of expenses and benefits. The Californians also re-recorded their debut album “Sistrionix” –which was released last February in a self-published form and with some extras– and they began a final tour that began in November in the United States and will conclude in June of this year. In light of all this, we chatted with Lindsey to ask her a few questions.
Although you have probably already clarified it dozens of times since you announced it, the question remains obligatory: why have you decided to say goodbye? Do you find it totally incompatible to balance your family life and personal well-being with music?
We have struggled to make a living from music even though we consider the band a full-time job and it has been a challenge for us, especially now that we both have two children. Julie wanted to leave the group and go back to studying and it was a bit strange to continue without her, so we decided to say goodbye to the group. I’m going to work on a solo album and Julie will also be doing her things, although it is also true that having children and touring is a challenge.
“I had all my belongings in storage and stayed at my friends’ houses to make things work”
In December 2013, more than ten years ago and shortly after your debut with “Sistrionix”, you spoke to us in this same magazine about opening for Mumford & Sons and about your first days with a bassist, with whom you separated because you were more used to it being alone and traveling was much cheaper for you. How have things changed since then? Do you still think the same?
That’s not exactly what happened. When Julie and I were going to start the group we had the intention of forming a trio with bassist Ashley Reeve. We did a rehearsal with her, but she had to go on tour with other artists she was playing with and we continued rehearsing, which led to us establishing ourselves as a duo.
In September of last year you announced this farewell with a long tour that began in your native California. How is the public responding? Are you noticing the support of all those people who have accompanied you during these more than ten years?
The farewell tour is being really impressive. I don’t think we’ve ever sounded so good. Our fans are the best and have brought so much energy and love to the concerts… It has been something very special.
In April you cross the border to reach Mexico and then you will land in Europe. You will play in Spain at the end of May. What can we expect from your live show? How has the experience been with the Spanish and European public in general?
Expect a super loud, sweaty, wild rock’n’roll show. You will have a great time. We love playing in Spain and Europe! We have had great times there in the past and we look forward to visiting again.
Although we do not want to spoil the songs you will play for those who are going to attend your next presentations, we know that you are giving a lot of prominence to your first album “Sistrionix”, as if you wanted to remember your origins. Looking at it with the perspective of time today, do you consider that your debut is your best album or the one that represents you the most? Knowing that you also recently re-recorded it can give that feeling.
“Sistrionix” will always have a special place in our hearts. It’s our first album and we toured the world with it. We have a lot of wonderful memories playing those songs. I wouldn’t dare say that it is our favorite album because we love all of our work and each one is special in its own way. We decided to re-record it so we could have the rights to the mastering (and to be able to monetize it) because the first contract we signed with a record label was not very favorable for us as artists and we never saw a cent of the sales of “Sistrionix”. We wanted to do something special for its tenth anniversary, plus the original vinyl edition was sold out. Now we have this “Sistrionix 2.0” to sell while we tour and we own the masters, so it’s a win-win!
We have read that, although this is your farewell tour, you are open to future collaborations. Does this mean that the door is open to return with new material or to give some more concerts in the more or less near future? Maybe when you are calmer and clearer in mind?
Well, I’ve personally put my heart and soul into Deap Vally for over a decade. I haven’t even had any side projects or anything like that, so it will be a challenge for me now to do something solo. Anyway, everything is possible in the future. I love Deap Vally so much, so I’d be open to doing something with this project again if it made sense.
One of the reasons you say goodbye is for your family and your health. We assume that having children and not being with them because you are giving concerts all over the world is not what you are looking for. At least in the next few years. Children grow incredibly fast and being away from them for a few months can make you miss out on a lot of their growth…
Yes, it is very difficult to be away from my children. I wish I had brought them on this tour, but in the end I decided it was better for their development to be at home with their dad and grandpa than to be in a car seat for five to ten hours a day. It makes me sad to miss any time with them, honestly, but I try to make the most of it.
Talking about having children and your job. What was it like filming with a pregnancy involved? We’ve seen some videos of you pregnant giving it your all on the re-recording of “Sistrionix” that was released last February. Where did you get the strength from? Honestly, as a man, I can’t even imagine it, but I don’t think it’s easy considering everything that goes into pregnancy.
I was recording “Sistrionix 2.0” for a couple of days before giving birth. It was pretty crazy. It was gigantic. I could still play the guitar, but my voice didn’t sound its best due to the reflux produced by the end of the pregnancy. It is a common symptom at that stage.
What will be your immediate plans after you finish that last concert? Although your plan is perhaps to put music in the background compared to your daily lives, I assume that after so much time it is something that is already part of your life and you will continue doing something related to it, whether it be going to concerts, meeting to rehearse occasionally (I don’t know if you live nearby for this to be possible) or even, who knows, start something solo that isn’t as exhausting as rock and roll.
I know Julie had considered going back to school, but I don’t know her exact plans. I plan to work on a solo album and spend time with my family. I’ve also started a Substack (lidnseytroy.substack.com) where I talk about touring, music, motherhood and being an artist. I’ll be working on this in addition to working on the album.
After so much time playing and touring, what has it been like working in the music industry in a changing world that fortunately seems to be more aware of the importance of women? Have you been able to live solely on music this time or have you had to work on other things?
People seem to be much more aware of the importance of women in the music industry, FINALLY! Better late than never. It has been a constant challenge trying to earn enough to survive as an artist. For several years I had all my belongings in storage and stayed at friends’ houses to make things work. That lifestyle and lack of stability took a huge toll on my mental health. Obviously, once I had children that was no longer possible. I have worked giving guitar, singing and musical composition classes to fans as a side job to the band and right now I am also working on my Substack as a source of income.
A little in relation to the above, we know that many of your fans are teenagers or young people who are looking to take the step to form their first band. Whether you want it or not, there are already hundreds or thousands of girls around the world listening to your songs who are probably thinking about forming a band or starting to learn to play the guitar or drums. What were you like fifteen years ago when Deap Vally didn’t exist yet or when you were just starting out? What would be your advice for these future generations?
I grew up making music and have been playing since I was a little girl, many years before I started Deap Vally. My advice to anyone starting out would be to play because it’s fun and makes you feel good, but I would also recommend learning something about business and accounting. When you start a musical project, you are ultimately running your own business and you will be much more confident and well prepared if you have an understanding of how to run it. It’s something I wish I had known before I was in a band.
Concert agenda
Tuesday 21 May 9:00 p.m. From €20
Wednesday, May 22, 9:00 p.m. €20