Linda Perry is about to shake up the music industry and I can’t wait.
After 14 years behind-the-scenes as a successful and much sought-after songwriter/producer, Linda Perry is finally taking center stage again, alongside drummer Tony Tornay (drummer for Fatso Jetson) in their new group, Deep Dark Robot.
With a sound inspired by “dirty French garage pop,” Deep Dark Robot (aka, DDR) is set to release their new album, 8 Songs About a Girl, in mid-March on Perry’s label, Custard, and the album is already receiving early rave reviews.
8 Songs About a Girl is more than just eight new rock songs written by Perry, however. The album is also a love story “about two people…who really did want to be together…but just couldn’t.”
Perry has held nothing back, using her “roller coaster” relationship angst to pen eight distinctly personal songs that to her embody what may be the first album of its kind: an album entirely about a woman-woman relationship: (“I’m talking about f***ing the girl, I’m talking about getting the girl…it's all girl, girl, girl.”)
But 8 Songs… is more than just musical and conceptual innovation; it’s also a love story. It’s a love story that impressed one of our generation’s best and most prolific songwriters into writing an entire album about...a girl.
“It’s just two people who really did want to be together…but just couldn’t.”
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How did you and Tony (Tornay, drummer for Fatso Jetson) come up with Deep Dark Robot?
I was writing this song and lyrics came out, “Deep Dark Robot falling in love” and I have no idea what that really meant, but I just remember when I said “Deep Dark Robot,” I was like, “Oh, that’s a great band name.” So I filed it away and…if I were ever to start a band, and I would call the band Deep Dark Robot.
About a year later, I met Tony through my girlfriend at the time. (He) was her best friend and he was a drummer; he is still a drummer in Fatso Jetson. We started talking and kinda hanging out. I was like, “You know, if I start a band, you wanna be in (it)? It’s called Deep Dark Robot.” And he was like, “Yeah. Sure.” It was just that simple.
Then months later, I started writing a couple songs about this girl…And I had this situation going on where I was feeling kind of on a roller coaster, being pulled in and pushed out by somebody and I just started writing about it. So I wrote a couple songs and then I called up Tony and said, “Hey, you want to come down? I have some free time. You wanna play?” And then we basically jammed and that’s basically where it started.
I like the whole concept of 8 Songs About a Girl. Does the girl who inspired it know the effect she’s had on you?
Yes, to a point. I don’t think that she’s completely aware because I’m writing a whole album about her. I think at some point you’re probably gonna be in some kind of denial that that’s happening…I would assume that if someone said I wrote a song about you, that would be flattering. If someone said I’m writing a whole album about you, I’d probably be pretty overwhelmed. So I’m sure she’s overwhelmed…
…But it’s a love story. It’s just a story about two people that couldn’t be together…for so many reasons. One: her being straight…I think that this story has happened a lot to women—you know, lesbian women—where they fall in love with a straight girl and the straight girl thinks that they could go that route and then all of a sudden, they pull away.
But what I love about (the album) is that it’s…gonna probably be the first full-on record that’s all about girl, girl, girl. I’m talking about f***ing the girl, I’m talking about getting the girl…it’s like a dude record, (laughs) and it’s all coming from another woman’s perspective…I’m kinda curious how people’s response will be…
Tony, he was listening to this song called “It F***ing Hurts” and I wrote it based on (the moment) when I found out the “girl” was with the “guy.” (Tony) said that he was listening to it and going, “God, I totally relate to this because a girl did this to me” and then he said as he was listening to it, he stopped and he realized it was another girl singing his feelings…
I was like, “Oh yeah. I didn’t even think about the gay part of this all, you know, cause it was just me writing this record about these emotions…So like I said, it’s not hurtful…’cause the girl wanted me too. That’s the romantic, sweet part of it. It’s just two people who really did want to be together…but just couldn’t. So it’s not like there’s “f*** you” and all that s***. It’s just more of like, “Man, I want you. And I can’t have you.” So I wrote a record about it.
Which song on the upcoming release is the most personal for you?
Well, they all are. They all are. The song that’s out right now that we’re pushing, "Won’t You Be My Girl," is probably the simplest...one ‘cause it’s just coming from a total (place of), “Please God, will you make her mine?” It’s pretty straight up, simple, “I want her.” And “she’s driving me crazy.”
It’s a very interesting record…because my voice is different on all of the songs. For some reason, there’s different characters. It’s very cinematic…the record. It’s really very cool.
I don’t know how people are going to react to it, but...it’s a record Tony and I love and we want to share it. And if people don’t like it, it’s okay….
…I don’t need fame and I don’t need money and I don’t need acceptance. I just wanted to make some music and I’m hoping that some people will like it...Of course, I want everybody in the whole world to love this record, who doesn’t? But…it’s not going to kill me, (if) I don’t get that acceptance. I don’t need it.
You’ve written (all eight) songs on the album in the past five months. What has your writing process been like during that time?
It was interesting because I’ve been working too, doing my other gig and working with artists in between. So when I’d have…a (time off) from (working with) an artist, all of a sudden, a song would come up.
The songs came when the emotions showed up. They were written by emotion. I couldn’t ever sit down and go, “Okay, today I’m going to sit down and write a song about Deep Dark Robot.” It just didn’t work that way. It was like, okay, “Oh, here’s the song. It showed up today. Tony, get your butt down here. The song showed up.”
It’s like I just wait for the song. Right now I have one more song to write. I think it showed up (slight pause), but I’m not sure because I’ve been working with another artist. So I’m actually going to experiment to see if it is the song.
I’ve written tons of songs, but there are eight specific ones that belong on this album. It’s not like we’re sitting in here and recording the record for two, three months solid. It’s been over a span of five months. It’s like a song is recorded here, a song is recorded there…That’s the beauty of it. It’s like I can take my time with it, without really even taking my time with it. I’m not even purposely doing it. That’s the way the universe is throwing it at me.
What is your goal for Deep Dark Robot for this coming year?
I don’t know. I don’t know…I just want to go and play some shows. I’ve been in the studio for 14 years and I put away my artist hat a long time ago. And as Fate has it, I’m supposed to be doing this record and I’m supposed to go out on tour. This is supposed to be happening, so I’m just gonna do it.
I don’t know what happens after that. I’m going to do the first tour which starts in March and see how that goes and then I’ll take it from there. My intention is I just want to play music. I just want to get out of the studio. I want to see some people. I want to interact. I just want to go out and have some fun and just invest in music in a different way.
I’ve been investing in music by being behind-the-scenes, trying to do the best that I can with the artists that I work with. And it’s getting to a point where…I believe more about music and the person’s career than the actual artist does. I’m investing more in it than they do. And I just sat down and I’m like, “This is ridiculous.” Artists don’t even give a s*** anymore. They just poop out a bunch of crap. They let people control it. They don’t care…I don’t know what it is, actually, they want to do because it doesn’t succeed. It’s very short-lived…So I don’t want to be a part of that.
My intentions are this: I just want to go play music and I want to go on tour, and I want to meet people and I want to have that interaction. That’s it. Whatever happens after that, it’ll either be a blessing or a curse, but it really doesn’t matter because my intentions are exactly as I stated. I just want to go out there and do this for myself.
And Tony’s awesome and we’re really fun together, we have a great vibe and it’s just fun. It’s just fun. We’re going have f***ing fun. (Laughter)
What is your idea of a perfect gig?
I don’t know. A perfect gig is when everything happens. You know, like when you have the person in the audience heckling you, when there’s somebody over to the other side crying, …when the guitar cable gets pulled out of the guitar right in the middle of a solo…when chaos happens, when random acts of nature take over, beyond your control, that’s the perfect gig.
Because you know what, when you’re having fun, none of that stuff matters. If the guitar cable gets pulled out, I’ll slowly reach down, smile, and pop it back in.
If someone’s heckling me, I’ll be f***ing thankful that they’re actually there and they’re caring enough to actually pay me concern. And if someone’s crying, I’ll engage with my eyes and wrap myself around them, you know, with my spirit…I’ll take it as it comes.
But the perfect gig is the imperfect one.
What are some of the lessons you’ve learned over the years from touring and performing live?
Basically everything I’m telling you. When I was with Four Non Blondes, I did not have fun at all. Everybody was always so uptight and I got uptight. I was mean. I was a little s**t head ‘cause I was always on the defense. I didn’t really know a lot, but I sure acted like I did.
Now, I still don’t know a lot, but now what I’m doing is I’m not acting like I do know. I’m so much more lighter and I’m not defensive. I’m actually very happy and but in a very twisted, dark, depressing way. I engage more. I communicate better. Just my spirit, (and) my energy is just way cooler than it was when I was younger.
So I think the best thing I’ve learned is that not knowing anything is the best place to be. It’s actually the stronger position than to run around and act like you know everything.
Do you think some of that has come about because you’re in your forties now?
Of course. And also just the experiences I’ve had with artists who do that….When I became a producer, songwriter or whatever I am, I had to let go of a lot of control. I had to become very patient and I had to learn how to collaborate. By doing those three things, I realized that a lot of the people that I’m working with, used to do the things that I did, you know, the little s**t head, the know-it-all, the blah-blah-blah and I just kick back and watch it. And laugh and go “oh, okay” and so I learned a lot.
I love producing, I love working with artists and I love writing songs...I really enjoy the process every single time. So I think that that’s what’s great. I’m a lot lighter and I’m just more pure.
And (it can be) odd to say that because usually some people start getting more bitter as they get older and just jaded and “oh look at me, I’m such a mega-producer” or “I’m such a star.”
Not in a million years do I walk around thinking that. My intentions are just so honest and pure and I’m so humble by the experiences that I’ve been blessed with.
What can fans expect on the (upcoming) DDR tour?
What can they expect? God, I have no idea. (laughs) …Okay, I’ll be honest about one tiny little thing. I have massive stage fright, so I’m pretty nervous about doing this because I just feel like, “Oh God, Linda. You’re 45-years-old, you're going to go out there...and the kids and I've been a pop producer for so many years now"...People are not going to expect what they're going to get from the album first of all...
In DDR, I just wrote the songs that I wanted and I didn't second guess it, and when we recorded it, I just recorded it really kind of dirty and sloppy. And it's just got a gritty, kind of raw, vibe to it, things that nobody would let me do at all. Things that I'm tyring to do to artists, but they just don't want it 'cause everybody want to be polished...
And I'm just going to play these shows and hopefully what people can expect is a great live show, which I know I can deliver. They're going to see me acting kinda stupid and vulnerable and the songs are great and I think people are going to get a solid show. Hopefully they can go home that night and go "That was f***ing awesome!"
For more information: Linda Perry, Deep Dark Robot.
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