Space Queen- A Living Legacy.
By Keir Nicoll
Psych and Stoner-Rock are subtle, prevailing notions of musicality in the modern sonic landscape. There has been a wave of psych-rock bands in the last number of years, including the older Sleep, Dead Meadow. Heck, even Melvins could be considered a bit psych. Space Queen are a three-piece, all-female band from Vancouver, B.C, a place where psychedalia on the third stone from the sun, is all-prevalent. From the Grunge revolution of sounds in the 90s, to the punk roots of the city, before that in 70s and the hippies of the 60s, this city has seen its share of cutting-edge and outside musical sources.
In an interview with us, the band, talked about life, in these strange times. “The inspiration material is definitely there,” she says, when asked about how musicians stay busy during a time of isolation. “The motivation to do something with it can be hard to come by,” they say, as she describes being connected to and communicating with people, to stay abreast of changing times. She says online writing sessions and sending ideas from afar has become the new norm. They shared that “live music is too powerful to disappear.” Drive-in concerts is one thing people have been discussing, although it does separate us from the 'kick-drums, vibrations of the amps' and the 'collective energy' that everyone is a part of at a 'normal' concert. Still, she predicts the local musical-community will become stronger than ever, as venues re-open and people from the immediate locality, find themselves increasingly onstage, again.
The band talks about a strong connection to an emotion as being the most inspiring to her. “Listening to great music, love, tequila, empathy, anger, frustration, and compassion,” are those things that they says keep her attuned to the artistic force within her. As a final re-tour of her current sonic opus, Space Queen's self-titled debut EP, she recounts that she has been listening to a lot of the heavier sounds, including Black Mastiff, Tool's most recent Fear Inocculum, DOA, (local Vancouver favourites, of course, speaking of the local music scene), Rage Against the Machine, Black Sabbath and the Stooges, to name a few. This should give an idea of what the band are about. Space Queen's first single is entitled, “Why Can't I Move,” and is being featured on Nardwuar the Human Serviette's Citr show, every week, up until the release of their debut. In the end, this is a group of girls who have played together for 13 years and who are taking the roots of folkier rock, into something heavier. Bring on the Landing Sequence! The band's sound is replete with the heavy-hitting psychedalia of the sixties, like Jefferson Airplane but in a more modernized context.
They have a rhythmic propulsion that is driven by a thrusting rhythm- section and a feedback-drenched guitar-sound. There is something swirling and ancient in their music, that draws into into the eddies that permeate their sound. There music is moving, even though they ask, “Why can't I move?” There seems to be some momentum that the group has gathered. Hypnotized by the swirls of darkened guitar-chords and beating rhythms. There vocal harmonies are the bomb, too, as they string-out immense harmonies on the guitars. They are like an epic intuitive trip.