The Dt's: The H.o.S. Interview
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UD: Likewise, Diana, the R&B tinged style of the Dt's seems to agree with your voice much more than the jazzy leanings of Madame X. It sounds like your voice is much less restrained than before, on Hard Fixed. Have you in fact found the stylistic shift to be a bit liberating?
Diana Young-Blanchard: Oh god, yes! Liberating through a process of evolution. If I went back and did the Madame X stuff now it would be much different, not that I wish it to be different because I've learned to appreciate and enjoy the process, but I have much more confidence now and a lot more support.
UD: While the influence of classic artists like Janis Joplin and Ike & Tina is obvious in the Dt's style, how much has the outout of like-minded contemporary acts such as the Bellrays affected your sound, if at all?
DY-B: Well it's funny, but after talking about getting together and trying to do a sort of soul/rock amalgamation thing for a couple of years, Dave sent me a tape recording of the first Bellrays record. I liked it right away, but I listened to it and I kept wanting them to go in a little more of a "soul" direction. That's just my personal preference, but I think they did inspire us towards actually taking the steps to do what we had been talking about doing for a while. To me it just seems like a natural progression now.
UD: I know the Dt's just finished up a tour. How did that go?
DC: Totally had a blast hanging out and playing with the Midnight Evils...complete Rock and Roll warriors. Those guys are all about the rock. Great band and great guys. Last time I had been down to the Bay area to play was with the Mono Men, so it was cool to get back down that way. Really great club there in SF called The Parkside. Looking forward to getting back down there again soon.
DY-B: It was good--we had the best time in northern California. Not in any great hurry to get back to southern Cal any time soon. though--LA is LA.
UD: Any crazy/funny stories from out on the road?
Dave Crider: We always have a pretty great time on the road...best to check out our tour diary on the Dt's weblog for details on that shit: http://www.hiptop.com/hiplog/read/4/591/
DY-B: No, nothing funny or crazy happened at all. We are very serious people. Actually, you should check out our web log for material. I don't think we ever quite finished it, unless you did, Dave? Last entry I remember was after Portland, right before Tacoma (which sucked ass by the way--Tacoma, not Portland). Portland used to suck ass but we found a good venue, finally, where people actually breathe and enjoy the music.
UD: Do you have any plans to take the Dt's show abroad (outside the northwest) in the near future?
DC: We did swing thru the midwest last summer and we are planning on going out again this summer, as well, but so far not exactly sure where--that will be in August. There is also talk of hitting Brazil in November and maybe Japan and Spain at some point this year, too. Nothing solid on those fronts yet, though...It's pretty tough for us to get out for extended periods of time but we do what we can.
DY-B: Yes, we want to get somewhere, and we are always planning and scheming, but it's difficult; the scheduling is difficult.
UD: Given the reputations of your previous outfits, did you folks feel any extra pressure to deliver with the Dt's?
DC: I can't say that there haven't been a few shows where I have felt that way but, as fucked up as this might sound, we really are doing this for ourselves, so as long as we are digging what we are doing and challangeing ourselves, then right the fuck on.
DY-B: I didn't feel any pressure at all. We never really intended it to go beyond just making some fun for ourselves and possibly playing a few shows locally. I secretly had expectations that we would eventually record something, but never felt pressure to do so. I suppose as the thing grows people form certain expectations, but we've never worried about being able to deliver. I think that the few people who are familiar with our past endeavors probably had no idea what to expect from such a collaboration.
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