Interview part two for Warschauwer in English (Florian Heilmeyer)
VENUS HILL - questions 2

1. you told me, every voice of the singeresses has it’s own speciality. Could you discribe the difference between your voices? Our voices sound different of course, although it’s really hard to describe, we’ll try. For example; one of us has a great voice with volume and power, the other voice is more soft and also likes to sing fast lyrics, and the third can sing more soul-like.

2. of course you do have a lot of different influences, but did you had any bands, that you all together wanted to sound like? Maybe just in the beginning? Do you still play any cover versions (and if so, which ones?) Yes in the very beginning we played songs by No Doubt (like Greener pastures and Different people). And we tried to have that Jamaican ska sound. Now we only still play 3 covers, one by the Silvertones (True confession), one traditional (Shame and Scandal) and a song also done by the Toasters (Thrill me up). They are all ska songs. But basically we just want to sound like Venus Hill . At the moment we are creating new stuff.

3. when did you write the songs on your CD? Back on my feet and to annoy are from 97 i know, but the others? From the end of 97 till 2000. Back on my feet, To annoy and This way and Sorry were written in our first year together (97-98). I think Empty and Memories in 1999. Guess that Seperate lives and Paradox are written in 2000. We recorded in may 2001.

4. Are the songs on the CD in chronological order? No they are not.

5. No, i DO like your school clothes, but is that the feminine answer to wearing a suit? :-) are these like your authentic former school uniforms?? No we don’t were uniforms to school in Holland. We thought it would be the perfect female version of a suit and that it is nice to present ourselves as a unity. And it’s funny.
6. Your cd has really nice art-work. Who did it? Chris Stevenet (Chrisis) did our art work, he’s a friend of us. He designes lots of cd’s, and stuff. You can (soon) find him at www.xs4all.nl/~chrisis

7. What about the front cover? Is that something like a point of sale to put some women in the cover? Over the years our flyers and demo (also designed by Chrisis) are all in the same sort of style with females. So it’s not new. What do you see when you think about us? We see bright colors, fun and of course females. That’s why.

8. Do you think, you have some kind of bonus as a band because there are three beautiful women up front singing (and wearing school clothes..)? Sure, of course people like our music and that’s the most important, but I guess there’s nothing wrong with having a stage where there’s someting to look at. That’s why we like to put on a nice show as well and wear suits. And the horn section gets pretty much attention as well you might add.

9. Why did you name the CD ‚whatever‘? sounds like you had a lot of discussions how to name the child, grew tired of discussing and named it ‚whatever‘... There are a lot of reasons why we like the name Whatever. But it has a real reason. It’s a word that you can find in one of our songs, in the chorus of the last song Paradox...

10. Did you ever try to do some lyrics in dutch? No I never did, strangely it seems easyer for me to write in englisch.

11. Did you have contact with ska-labels to make a follow-up for ‚whatever‘? No not yet.