A chat with the Queen

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Her response email was a real surprise, and for the willingness both to the care with which he wanted to usher us into his world, most of us practically unknown. That's why I decided to do a simple translation of what she wrote: will not be shown as good journalism, but there's really nothing to add to his answers and even less to change. So, the only filter between you and her will be my translation. Enjoy!

The first question is about the beginning: why did you choose a music career? Have you always been singing/playing?

I started in theatre. Johnny,my producer and songwriting partner, came along to one of the shows and liked my singing and invited me join a group he was forming. However i think he just fancied me. So we got together and started writing songs .We both loved Neil Young and Crazy Horse so that's the direction we took. It fitted well with the whole Teenage Fanclub thing that was popular at the time and before we knew it we were in San Francisco recording our debut  album. We never really thought of it as a career ,we just loved singing and playing guitars and especially travelling so as long as we could do these things we just kept going.

Your band was once named Thrum and then changed into Monica Queen. Why? Was it due to a change in your songwriting?

Thrum is the name that represents our rock side.it is the name we use when we want to play our guitars loud.It represents more of a pop style.More uptempo.Easier to understand.With "Monica Queen" the idea was to explore all our other influences.To make the most beautiful records possible.To try and create something as inspiring as an Ennio Morricone soundtrack using electronica,acoustic guitars and Johnny's unique guitar playing.We wanted to let the vocals soar like Roy Orbison,like opera.This would mean a much less simple pop approach in favour of something much more complex but ultimately much more rewarding if given time.

Both Thrum and Monica Queen are described as “country” on their myspace pages. How did you come to fall in love with this genre of music?

Thrum had a country element in the way that Neil Young or Bob Dylan had.  It was a mixture of country and soul and punk rock. Very exciting.
Monica Queen has a country dimension that is more of a desert sound. It comes from the bells and tinkles and wind sounds that characterise a Sergio Leone movie. Combined with the twang of the electric guitar this can give the music a widescreen spaghetti western feel.

Tell us something about “Chamber music” and how it's been putting Joyce's words in music. Was it hard, awkward or just natural for you? I mean, Joyce's prose has its own musicality but your song isn't actually a “chamber music” piece so it may have been a bit tricky to give the poem a contemporary shape... or maybe not!

We were overjoyed to be asked to contribute to the James Joyce album along with some of our favourite musicians from Mercury Rev,Sonic Youth,REM etc. especially as our contribution was to open the album.The fact that we already had the wonderful words of Joyce made the writing of the music very easy,very natural.It just  fell into shape which was somewhere between our Thrum sound and the Monica Queen sound.Perhaps something that could be explored more in the future.

Now a question about Belle and Sebastian: "Lazy Line Painter Jane" is one of their greatest song also because of your powerful and emotional voice. What was it like working with them? Were you already friends or did you meet them for the first time on that special occasion?

I first met Stuart in San Francisco while i was making a Thrum album so the recording of Lazy Line was not the first time. We were friends from around Tigermilk. I loved that album especially "We Rule the School" which gives me goosebumps so when Stuart phoned me to come down to the studio to guest on one of their records i was honoured. They are a great band with a special sound. They are very good at replicating the 60's soul sounds that i love so it was a chance to let my Dusty springfield side come out. It also meant that i had the opportunity to go round the world with them for a bit performing that great song. They still ask me along now and again.

Last question: tell us something about your plans for the future! Any chance for us to see you live somewhere closer to Italy than the UK?

Well Snow Patrol had me onstage recently to sing a few songs,the main one being "Set the Fire to the third bar",originally sang by Martha Wainright so that has given me a hunger to play live again soon.Italy would be somewhere i would love to play.My favourite place in the whole world is Rome and i've been studying italian so i would jump at the chance to play in Rome.As far as recording goes i have made a new record under the name The Kingfishers which is sort of a tribute to the Postcard era of Glasgow.i also hope we can get a Thrum record as well as a new Monica Queen record out soon so hopefully lots to look forward to.

-Agnese-