by Bushman
photo by D. McConnell
Drifting in like a sunset colored fog, The High Violets shake off the rain of the Pacific Northwest and break through like a shaft of sunlight from a too-long stormy sky. Sugar spun, soft as cotton vocals from Kaitlyn ni Donavan caress the indie rock guitars dripping in their own reverbed out and delayed distortions. Say, ‘My Bloody Valentine’ and The High Violets blush. Say ‘Cocteau Twins’ and The High Violets give you a wink. Like a sunny afternoon, the music is shoegazer bliss. Even some 80’s charm is displayed by some bubbly synths and bouncing pop drum beats, making the track “Cool Green” sound like if Garbage had come out in 1989. The team responsible for their latest recorded valley of lushness (Tim Lash and Jeff Saltzman) also collectively worked on Dandy Warhols, Elliott Smith, Tahiti 80, Sleater Kinney, Stephen Malkamus and it shows in the dreamscapes inhabited by The High Violets.
Kaitlyn ni Donavan is the voice of The High Violets and holds the answers to our questions.
The Pacific Northwest seems like a dreary locale for such a dreamy, upbeat sounding band. What makes you smile?
Kaitlyn ni Donavan: Animal friends. Going to a theatre where you can drink beer and eat pizza, no sales tax, cheap rent, a close to nil occurrence of natural disasters and a supportive music scene.
You had the power combo of Tony Lash and Jeff Saltzman modeling your sound on disc. How much credit to they get for your dreamy, drifting, ethereal indie rock vibe presented on your latest “To Where You Are”?
In martini proportions they would be the vermouth and The High Violets would be the vodka.
What is the most appealing aspect of The High Violets sound/writing process? What is it about the band that makes you most passionate?
Hearing the cross currents and layers of effected guitars becoming lost in a great groove. I feel most passionate in that we make music to make people forget their troubles and that we are not trying to re-invent the wheel.
Drug question: How high are The High Violets?
1,391,000 kilo.....meters.
Drugs of choice?
Knowledge. But others could conclude The High Violets only do drugs corresponding with our astrological charts:.
2 Aries = fire sign = grass.
1 Taurus = earth sign = mushrooms.
1 Scorpio = water sign = booze
How come there are four credited members to The High Violets, but most all the pictures I see show a three piece? Who is afraid of the camera?
That would be Luke our drummer. He is too beautiful for pictures. It is a bit of a long Dorian Gray type of thing and he wasn’t on the album this time. We think of it as a time when his alter ego “The Duke” was busy setting up his BBQ joint “Dukes Dutch Oven” where you can “come on down to Dukes and get a good meal for a fair price.” If he was drunk enough he might even give you a free pony ride on his back.
What else are you afraid of?
Being with the Duke on one of those days he’s been drinking. Being gummed to death by a wild pack of Blue hairs. A friend brought that up the other day and now I am showing signs of trauma.
If you were in a movie and asked to do tasteful nudity, would you?
Only with Clive Owen... oh and Werner Herzog, Daniel Craig, Salma Hayek, Gael García Bernal, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana......
Would you like to be in a movie?
Yes. I am a absolute movie fanatic. Clint had made a few. The Duke..err I mean Luke is working on a screen play.
What is on the top of your list of things you want to do, but have not done yet?
Take a trip in a hot air balloon, volunteer at the elephant rescue in Thailand, figure out how to make an avocado daiquiri.
What does The High Violet dream about?
You know that 20 minutes of light show freak out in 2001 A Space Odyssey? Well, mix that with axe murderers, playful puppies and going pleasure town in The Anchorman.
What is The High Violets philosophy on life?
Be kind, volunteer for your favorite cause and do no harm.
thehighviolets.com
2006 “To Where You Are” (Reverb)
2002 “44 Down” (Reverb)