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By Mike Cade
Film-maker David Lynch is probably Madison's most famous summer resident. (IF he's still around-I haven't heard of any recent "Lynch-sightings"). In any case, he was the creative force behind "Twin Peaks," one of the best television series ever, and he's directed everyone's favorite "cult" films (i.e. Blue Velvet, Eraserhead, Wild at Heart and last year's fugue-state/mind-fuck, Lost Highway).
On top of it all, Lynch has continuously drawn attention to criminally overlooked musicians like Jimmy Scott, Angelo Badalamenti, Antonio Carlos-Jobim, Julee Cruise, Barry Adamson, and This Mortal Coil. The latest of such talents is 27-year old Jocelyn Montgomery, a half-Scottish chanteuse whose debut record, Lux Vivens: (Living Light), is a collaboration with Lynch produced at the director's newly-opened recording studio. Lux Vivens is a tribute to the 12th century German nun Hildegard von Bingen, who reportedly saw cosmic visions and then turned them into songs. Montgomery, whose soaring vocals are NOT what you'd expect from an ex-model/video extra, gives Bingen's chants new life (withthe help of Lynch, of course).
Montgomery recently spoke with Max Ink and was so dignified and elegant that I felt like The Ape-Boy in comparison. Anyway, here's how it went…
Maximum Ink: You used to be in Miranda Sex Garden, right? And that led to you singing on Barry Adamson's Delusion
soundtrack?
Jocelyn Montgomery: That's right…
MI: Barry Adamson said you guys had the "purest, clearest voices" he had ever heard.
JM: (Laughs). That's really great. That was good fun.
MI: So…are you really sick of answering questions about David Lynch?
JM: No, no, no. Not at all. I'm so happy talking about it. I don't know him that well. I only know him as a sort of friend and somebody who I greatly admire and respect as an artist. I've never met anybody like him. I'm just so grateful that he wanted to work on this project because it wouldn't have existed without him.
MI: One thing I noticed about David's contribution to the album is that it's sparse and tasteful. When I listen to the songs at a low enough volume level, they almost sound acappela.
JM: That's true. That's why he's so amazing. He's got ears that hear things other people don't hear. He doesn't just hear the voice-he hears the inner qualities of sound and voices and frequencies which are not just musical sounds. I mean, it's incredible what he's done…I don't think I even realize properly how incredible it is.
MI: You've done acting before. Would you like to be in any of David's future projects? You were in Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch, weren't you?
JM: Yeah, I was. That's the first time I met him. That day they were actually recording the soundtrack for Lost Highway. I ended up singing this GORGEOUS song (for Pretty as a Picture) that came out of nowhere and I felt so privileged and so excited.
MI: Back to Miranda Sex Garden…I heard you guys actually had a good time opening for hostile Depeche Mode and Blur fans.
JM: Blur I remember but Depeche Mode-I'd left the group by then. There were three microphones on the stage and and we walked on and sang a classical set for twenty minutes and (the crowd) couldn't stand it.
MI: Cool-you pissed off a bunch of
teenagers.
JM: At least we got a reaction (laughs)!
MI: One final question for you: since you've got Scottish roots, I wanted to ask you if Scottish people are as scary as they seem in Trainspotting or as belligerent as Mike Myers made them seem on Saturday Night Live.
JM: Gosh, I don't really know. My experience was quite docile. I'm sure it's there-I'll have to see Trainspotting. I'm not an authority on that-I see (Scotland) in a more
picturesque way. I'll watch the film though. If that's your opinion then it might be other peoples' opinion.
MI: I guess I just wouldn't wanna be in the wrong tavern some night in Scotland and get a bottle shoved in my mouth or something.
JM: (Laughs) That goes on. Glasgow's quite a rough place.
MI: Well…I've gotta go but congratulations on your new record. I enjoyed talking with you.
JM: Thank you very much, Mike, and I enjoyed it too.
Max Ink would like to take this opportunity to wish Jocelyn a speedy recovery-she recently injured some tendons in her hand but says she's feeling better. That's all for now-ADIOS… |
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