AJ)
This is "Among the living" right? Ron's zine. I have read it before, actually
a live demo we had Ron did a really kind review on.
ATL) Since this is your first interview with us, please give some
background of the band...how the band started, trials and tribulations,
maybe even talk about the demo you released a few years back.
AJ)
Baba Yaga started with a totally different line up. Tay Burke played
bass, Lisa Jacobson played drums, Chuck and I played guitar. Tay had
made a decision to move and at that time I started playing bass, also
around that time Suzanne got back into town from Minneapolis and she
hooked up with us and became our second guitarist. We existed like
that, along with adding Jenny on violin for about a year or so. Our
drummer Lisa had a baby, Dane, about a year ago. She played with us all
the way up until the time Dane was born, played shows and even recorded
with us. But eventually it just didn't work out. Having a baby and a
full time job, Lisa was totally busy. At that time Maria started
playing drums, and then a few months later Vi joined us as additional
vocals.
There are really too many trials and tribulations to mention, you know
you are dealing with 6 women! But let me tell you, no one would have
wanted to be in that van on tour with us!
The demo we put out, which I mentioned above was a live tape, we sound a
lot different now.
ATL) What is Baba Yaga currently working on? Any new releases to look
forward to?
AJ) I'll let the others answer this since I am not around, but right before
I left we recorded 2 songs...Taker of Souls and Stoner Bitch.
ATL) Many of the bands in the Seattle scene are jealous of you girls since
you got to open for Mayhem in L.A. this past summer. Here is your chance
to rub it in...tell us how it went.
AJ) I thought it went well. We were treated very well by everyone at the
club. Also, I have to mention it wasn't possible without the help of
Stephen O'Malley and Raychel, who totally hooked us up. The other bands
that played had to pay to play, but since we were from out of town, it was
overlooked in our case.
ATL) How was the response to Baba Yaga while you were down there? Did L.A.
accept you better than the Seattle scene?
AJ) The LA show was great, but not as cool as some of the other places we played
in California. Mission Street Records was our best show in my opinion.
People in California really liked us, it was very cool.
ATL) What makes you girls thrive? In other words...what keeps you from
killing yourselves (or each other!)?
AJ) This is going to be totally random. You are going to have a really weird
conglomeration of bands here.
ATL) Thanks for the interview...lets end by having each of you give a short
summary of what YOU would say at YOUR own funeral.
AJ) As you walk through the forest on your journey you have two choices, to stay
on the path or break through the trees into the unknown. You will never know
exactly what is in the deep wood, you may find total sorrow, or complete
exhilaration. This is what makes it so exciting. I want people to remember
that I left the path and made my own way.
For me...Boston, yes you heard it right, Boston. Also right now, Katatonia.
