With a new album out called Private Sessions, Sea of Tranquility Staff Writer Simon Bray thought it was high time he caught up with Hydrogyn' s Julie (just "Julie") and guitarist Jeff Westlake to talk about the creation of the new CD, their songwriting process, touring plans, and more!
SoT: Introduce yourselves to the readers of Sea of Tranquility.
Hi ...I am Julie; and I am Jeff Westlake
SoT:You have a new album called Private Sessions, what can you tell us about the recording process?
Julie: We actually did not go into any direction with the CD. We just sat down and wrote a bunch of songs that we liked first and hoped the fans would like when we were done. It seems to have worked well so far.
SoT: In my review of Private Sessions I said that some of the songs "may take some time to reveal their beauty." Was it a deliberate plan to steer the album away from the poppier end of the market?
Julie: Nothing about the album was intentional in any way. We like the music heavy but also like the big vocal hooks and melodies so when we sit down to write a song we do not look at it until the song is done and then we decide if we like the song or need to can it. If I am correct we did not can any song in this process which is a first for us.
SoT: How is the song writing divided up?
Jeff: Well on this CD it always starts with me and Julie and then our production team of Patrick Liotard and Anthony Dura also got involved for a different point of view and it was a great choice to do it that way. A lot of good collaboration came out of it and really made for a great release.
SoT: Julie is clearly the focal point of the band as far as the media are concerned. Is her obvious attractiveness a help or a hindrance in what is still a patriarchal industry?
Jeff: It is both actually but it is not something we have ever been concerned about. You never hear any bitching from other women about it but some of the male population believe it or not say we rely on her looks etc ....well Maiden relies on Eddie, Dio on the devil horns, KISS the makeup so Hydrogyn on Julie's better than average good looks ha ha ha ha.
SoT: You are selling Private Sessions through Music buy Mail in Europe. How did that come about? Have you been burned by previous record companies?
Jeff: Yeah we had a bad experience with Demolition out of the UK but that has nothing to do with our relationship with Sebastian and the people at MBM. We have known them for a while and this release it was time to work together and happy we are.
SoT: I note on you Facebook page you setting up dates for the first time in two years; where are you looking to get to and how difficult is it to tour in the current economic climate?
Julie: Very hard to tour in this climate but we are looking into the US, Europe and Canada at this time. We are itching to get back out on the road so we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will come together.
SoT: On your websites you appear to interact avidly with your fans. How important is this for you?
Jeff: It is the most important thing of all. The fans keep us going and they are why we strive to do what we do and at the highest level that we can do it at. No fans, no Music, plain and simple and we love our fans.
SoT: Also concerning the current climate, do you get much airplay in the States, or indeed elsewhere?
Julie: Yeah we get play everywhere pretty much. Of course some places more than others but we do get a lot be it traditional FM radio or internet in one form or another but we will take it all.
SoT: I know that Private Sessions has only just come out but what are your plans for the future?
Julie: We plan on touring this record into 2013 late in the year hopefully. We have a DVD in the works right now called HYDROGYN BOOTS for Bootleg and other things in the works as well but nothing to talk about or to let anyone know just yet. Jeff has a new project coming out in August through MBM as well called Audio Porn which is a great CD. So plenty going on for sure.
SoT: Is there anything else you'd like to say to our readers?
Jeff: Thanks to everyone for being fans, Sea of Tranquility for the interview, reading this interview and supporting the band. We appreciate everyone and hope to see ya out there on the road.
Simon Bray
Photos Courtesy of the Hydrogyn Website
(Click here to read our review of Private Sessions)
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