Download: Juliette Commagere “Everything I Love”

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(from Queens Die Proudly out now)

Juliette Commagere is the former lead singer of the now-defunct Hello Stranger and is currently leading her eponymous solo project. With a penchant for introspective lyrics, a collaboration with Avenged Sevenfold and a Monday night residency at the Echo she is poised to gain ground in the local music scene and possibly on Craigslist. This interview by Steven Martinez.

Your music has an ethereal and emotional feel to it, which I think matches your voice quite well—but do you get different crowd reactions from this band versus Hello Stranger?
Juliette Commagere: Yes. Before, people used to scream ‘I love you!’ and throw a bottle at me. Now they just scream ‘I love you!’
Since you had toured with large acts like the Foo Fighters with Hello Stranger did it feel like you were taking a step backwards when starting over as a solo act? Was it ever a concern of yours?
Hey, Mr. Negativity—have you ever heard the saying, ‘If you close one door, another one opens’?
Was leaving Hello Stranger behind something you felt you had to do?
In the nicest way possible, yes.
How have you approached your solo work differently?
I turned my brain off and tried not to think about the songs as actual songs and I got to do whatever the hell I wanted at all times! No arguments or compromises or outside influences. Heaven.
The lyrics on your record seem quite personal—how does it feel to put yourself out there for anybody to listen in?
It makes me want to throw up.
Growing up in L.A., was the Echo near and dear to your heart? How does it feel to be the artist in residence there for a month?
It feels like going home. The Echo is so near and dear in fact that even my parents used to party there in the ‘70s when my mom lived in Silverlake and it was called Nayarit. It still has the sign, of course! And Nayarit is the state in Mexico that my mom is from!
You grew up in a musical family and are classically trained in piano so you must have the instrumental side of music all figured out—did writing lyrics come naturally or was it something you had to learn?
I don’t know if I have anything on lock down. I have many journals full of terrible songs. I don’t think there is a way to ‘learn’ how to write a song—the trick is knowing when what you’ve written is NOT terrible, or just not giving a shit and singing your terrible song for everyone. And if you’re cute enough and confident enough and you wear something raggedy and vintage, people really don’t know the difference.
I read in an interview that you speak Spanish—have you ever considered doing a set entirely en espanol?
You’re giving away my big secret! Actually, I’ve been wanting to translate the entire record in Spanish and release a Spanish version. I’m just so lazy. Translating feels like homework.
A review in the New York Times and a feature in the L.A. Times have exposed your name to a large number of people. How does it feel to gain fans that might have stumbled across your name on the way to reading Marmaduke?
I was hoping people read the newspaper to find out about what’s going on in the world and their communities. So if smart people like my music, then more power to me. But seriously I am honored to have been in both of those newspapers—Jon Pareles is a legend. And it’s so sweet because I know all my friends’ parents from high school who thought I was just a bum saw me on the cover of the Calendar.
You’ve talked about using Craigslist for finding musicians to play with while on tour—would you ever consider a more permanent touring group instead of folks who may or may not abuse the Missed Connections section?
I abuse more than just the Missed Connections Section so I suppose I’m in good company—I’m always down for the nearest J.O. sesh—and if somebody wants to give me a $250,000 touring budget, then absolutely. The group I’ve put together here in L.A. is ready to roll.
You’ve collaborated with Avenged Sevenfold and Tool’s Maynard James Keenan, which I don’t see Feist or Chan Marshall doing any time soon—are you indie pop’s ambassador to Hot Topic metal heads?
That sounds kind of gross. I don’t know if I’m indie pop’s anything, but I guess I’m indie enough that I’m broke and I need money and work just like normal civilians—P.F. Chang’s ain’t free and those bitches are rich. I did have my doubts about Maynard just because I heard he’s a raging lunatic/sex addict, but actually he’s a sweetie pie and I really love working with him and all those guys. I suppose I love working with guys in general and there is definitely a part of me that needs to shake loose some aggression and get a little darker and weirder than the Eastside will allow.
With Hello Stranger you recorded a song for the movie My Blueberry Nights, which I think was an underrated film. Are you a film buff and what is your favorite song ever recorded for a movie soundtrack?
I hate songs written for movies, unless of course they’re mine. They pull me out of the movie too much and then I start thinking about the stupid song. But yes, I would consider myself a film buff. I just wrote a song inspired by the score to Body Double. Assless pants!

JULIETTE COMMAGERE WITH OBI BEST ON MON., MAY 4, AND EVERY MONDAY IN MAY AT THE ECHO, 1822 SUNSET BLVD., ECHO PARK. 8:30 PM / FREE / 21+. ATTHEECHO.COM.