Empire Isis

The Full Interview Transcript

Last month, Empire Isis graced the cover of CONFRONT Magazine in a four page article based on the transcript we are posting here this week.

Because the interview was so elaborate and extensive, taking place on two seperate occasions, it was impossible to include all of it in our cover story but given the depth in which Isis and her band went during our converstions, we felt it necessary share it with you in it’s entirety.

Our first meeting took place on the evening of Empire Isis CD launch at Club Soda in Montreal on Wed. Jan 21, 2009

CONFRONT: Tell us a little bit about your background, how you got into music.

EMPIRE ISIS: Well I’m British-Moroccan, raised in Morocco and also here in Quebec by a Ugandan who was like, my father. I was brought up in a very African household; we listened to Miriam Makeba…my mother’s a director, so I grew up very much into expression of…anything. African family, director mother, all kinds of crazy nonsense. Art has always been something that I’ve used to communicate a message and, I don’t know, I think that’s where I’m at.

CONFRONT: Give us a little bit of background on the new album; tell us how ‘Brand New Style’ came about.

EMPIRE ISIS: ‘Brand New Style’ came about because when I released ‘Sound The Trumpets’ in 2007 we sort of tested the market here in Canada and there was a really favourable response. I thought that that album was in bad focus, in terms of it was a great album, just really all over the place. And so, because I have so many styles and so many talents and so many different things that I can tap into I think that sometimes I can’t take it for granted that everyone grew up that way; I wanted a more focused album, a more Pop album, and over the past year my publishing deal has been getting me all over the place, and I kind of understood that this kind of crazy, wacko whatever Empire Isis style really was a brand new style, that I’m crossing over, and that I’m on that same level as Missy, and Gwen, and all those girls.

CONFRONT: That’s actually something that I noticed, because I listened to the album – and I also did the review – and I found that there are sounds that are similarities to some of Gwen Stefani’s stuff.

EMPIRE ISIS: The only difference is I write my lyrics; I’m a writer.

CONFRONT: Yeah.

EMPIRE ISIS: Holla at me Gwen, if you need a tune! But for me it’s like, she’s from the West Coast and everything, but when I’m on tour in California I really feel like I belong there. People are super open…they like everything out there. She kind of represented that.

CONFRONT: The whole East Coast – versus – West Coast thing; I mean, from my perspective it’s all bullshit factionalizing. Why are we dividing it when we all basically want and like the same things?

EMPIRE ISIS: Well listen: they invented this East Coast – West Coast thing back in the day and a bunch of people lost their lives over it. It’s total fuckery. My thing is about unity, I’m trying to get the girls energized. I don’t find that there’s many women in the entertainment industry that we could relate to-I don’t relate to anyone-as much as I love Gwen, her experience is not something that I relate to.

CONFRONT: Well no.

EMPIRE ISIS: She grew up in a suburb in Orange County, and I’m a revolutionary. I lived with the Sandinistas; Zapatistas; Rastas; every -ista and -asta that you can imagine! I’m a border-breaker, I’m a frontier-breaker. She’s a pioneer in her own right, but I mean, in the sense of my life style.

CONFRONT: That’s actually another question that I havEmpire Isis: Your music is noted for having strong political, philosophical and even moral messages. Your music is also known for female empowerment; the term used by Betty Dodson, “Cunt Positive” seems to describe your music very well.

EMPIRE ISIS: “Cunt Positive!” I like that.

CONFRONT: And what I’d like to know, is the music the vehicle for the message, or is the message the vehicle for the music?

EMPIRE ISIS: Well, that’s a tough one! I’m not exactly sure. It’s goanna depend on the song. I’m not trying to clobber people over the head; I try to be subtle in my music. I’m not very subtle in real life, but in my music I try to be. What I want is that when you hear my music that you dance, that you feel energized…but then there’s a second or a third degree where the message sinks in and then you’re like, “Oh, wait: What is she saying here?” That’s kind of the vibe that I want to give. I always wanted it to be a multilayered kind of experience where at first it’s like “Rah! Rah! Rah!” and later when you get the chance, or when you’re on your step machine and you’re listening to “Don’t Go Home” or “Participate” and you hear that I’m all about empowerment. I always say that vision, power and dedication are my three ingredients that I use and touch on all the time because they keep me going.

CONFRONT: The second question that I had: you mentioned about being a revolutionary and having lived with and traveled with so many different revolutionary groups, you were with a troupe of actors and you’re a musician…you seem to send your energy out in so many different directions at once; what is it that you’re looking for? What is it you’re trying to find?

EMPIRE ISIS: I represent for a lot of different movements. Like, outside of the music business. They’re all looking for someone like me to get into a very high position, to be their defenders. I can’t do that as a small fry. I gotta be singing at inaugurations, do you understand?

CONFRONT: Yeah,

EMPIRE ISIS: So, instead of other people who don’t stand for anything, I gotta be that chick, I gotta be that girl. Basically, my goal is to be everywhere, to transcend everything; Latino, Urban, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Pop-it doesn’t matter.

CONFRONT: So I just got the signal that we’re out of time; we’ll have to get together soon for a follow-up interview.

EMPIRE ISIS: Yeah.