Band Members: Shirley - Vocals Lennat - Drums
Date Founded: Summer 07
Discography: None at the moment
Influences: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sleater-Kinney, The White Stripes, The Kills
Websites: www.midnightmarvel.com
Synopsis: Lennat asked Shirley to join the band when she caught Shirley singing along to Tegan and Sara, and the two have been the core of the band ever since.
Interview with Shirley and Lennet from Midnight Marvel
You just lost your string section and have now roped in Terence and Ian. Is there any chance they'll stick around with you and record or are they just a temporary addition?
Lennat: Terence and Ian are friends of the band and both Shirley and I loved Super Illegals. So when we needed a new guitarist and a bassist for the band, we naturally looked towards their direction. The boys have given a lot of creative input to the existing songs and they get the "sound" of Midnight Marvel, which makes things a lot easier. Eventually, all of us are probably going to have a proper sit-down, look inside tea cups and figure out what the future holds.
You've also had to put your EP on hold. When do you hope to have it finished? Is this going to be another Leonard Soosay production or do you have someone in mind to help you with it?
Shirley: We had intended to record or rather, document, the band in the form of an EP after Baybeats. But with the change of lineup, we're taking it easy at the moment. We're trying to re-arrange our structure, tweak our songs around and write new songs to reflect the progress of the band. Production wise, originally, we had asked Patrick Chng of the Oddfellows to take on the role of the producer and Joe Ng of the ex-Padres was also on board as an advisor. We still hope to work with them the day we kick-start the whole recording shenanigans again.
Lennat, do you ever get shit for being a female drummer? Do guys try to put you down?
Lennat: I'm probably the worst critic of myself, to be frank! Since the day I first picked up drums, all my mentors and teachers have been guys and they have been the most encouraging people. I have quite a few friends that are female drummers and we don't really talk about drums all that much when we do hang out. It's like, we just play, you know? On the other hand, it's the guys that love talking about the latest gear and drummers to check out. It's actually quite helpful as you do learn a lot from geek talk.
Lennat, you worked for the Singapore Drumfest 2008. Who was your fave artist that played and why?
Lennat: Singapore Drumfest 2008 was intense. Two days of non-stop drum performances! Personally, while I do admire drummers with massive technical chops, I'm still a bigger fan of drummers who play for the song, with the "less is more" and "in the pocket" approach. So Teddy Campbell really took the cake for me. But band wise, Storm Large's set was simply the most rock 'n' roll of them all. You see her having this wild, totally uninhibited persona on stage but off-stage, she's probably one of the nicest people you would ever meet. She really embodied the whole notion of letting go and giving your all on stage for me.
Who writes the songs for Midnight Marvel?
Shirley: Me. I love to write whenever I can or am inspired to. It keeps me sane from my hectic day job. Writing songs has also been a way to journal my life experiences. Every song means something although my lyrics are rather random. I prefer to write songs that are not straight in your face. I do like how people interpret the lyrics. Some can sound rather amusing.
What was your most memorable gig?
Shirley: For me it's the gig we did at *scape. It's memorable in a strange way. I had to rock out to an audience of people shopping around the flea carts and the crowd eating at the hawker stalls beside the stage. It's funny but in the wrong way, I suppose!
Lennat: I would pick Baybeats. But only because for once, I could finally heard the best monitor mix and feel the power of the bass drum resonating through the venue. (See? Geek talk. Haha.)
Who's your favorite band right now?
Shirley: I can't decide between The Ting Tings, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kings of Leon, The Kills I better stop.
Lennat: Then I shall be the deciding vote. The Ting Tings!
With just a singer and drummer as permanent members have you considered working Ting Tings-style?
Shirley: Actually, we have. But
Lennat: But first I'd have to work on doing backing vocals, doing loops, have funky shades like Jules and learn the guitar for those intimate acoustic performances. The Ting Tings are more than just a mere pop band indeed. Doing a White Stripes or Blood Red Shoes might just be an easier way out for us. Nothing excites me more than straightforward, no-frills rock music.
What's your favorite music video ever?
Shirley: I really love Gnarls Barkley's Crazy and the rawness of the videos by The Kills.
Lennat: Anything by Michel Gondry. That French man has a crazy brain. But I am not surprised. He's a drummer too.
What does your mum think about your music career?
Lennat: Coincidentally, both our mother hens aren't around anymore to see their little rock chicks. But my mum had always been the most supportive one in the family and I'm pretty sure she would be doing the whole "ROCK ON, HELL YEAH!" thing.
What's your poison?
Shirley: Ink. Tattoos.
Lennat: Geek talk.
What plans do you have for the band in the future?
Shirley: We hope to polish our live act by playing as many places as possible. Hopefully, we'll go out of Singapore and continue to pursue what we believe in. Make merry and grow old with the band.
Lennat: And record an EP or an album that we would be proud of.
What's the best concert you've ever been to and why?
Shirley: Tough choice. I'll give my answer when I do get the chance to watch all those bands that I previously mentioned who are major influences of mine.
Lennat: The White Stripes at Reading Festival 2004. I've seen them a couple of times before but it was another experience to catch your favorite band at the side of the stage and while watching millions of others being squashed like little ants before them. I was just glad I wasn't down there.
