Bill's PurpleCrayon Blog

XENIA INTERVIEW: CONCLUSION

"We're selling a lot, a surprising lot, of CDs everywhere. Including Europe."

Sky Salt is a New York indie band with a unique sound -- more melodic than the norm and with a leader singer named Xenia, a self-described doll-come-to-life (check out the Sky Salt web site for more info on that one) who also has her own line of clothing, enough online postings (usually on LiveJournal.com) to keep even the most jaded blog voyeur happy and far more creativity than most people her age (she's 23).

In this installment of our interview, Xenia reveals what it would take to bring Sky Salt to West Michigan to play a few gigs. Venue owners in the Greater Grand Rapids area, take note. Sky Salt's energetic live show is quickly becoming legendary. So contact Xenia to book her band -- sooner, rather than later. Before too long, Sky Salt is sure to be either (a) too booked up to make a stop in West Michigan, or (b) too expensive for your venue. Now's the time!

This is the consluion of PurpleCrayon Direct Creative Director Bill Murphy's interview with the multi-talented Xenia, and it picks up where Part Two left off.


X: I don't know. I've always wished I was a man, all my life. Maybe because I always listened to bands that had guys playing rock and roll. Lately, I was torn by this question: Why is it that it's so difficult for a women to stand out in rock and roll, in terms of clothing, imagination or anything? It's kind of complicated. But what I came up with is the double standard. I'm going to try to overcome that. That's the plan for the future.

PCD: You know what another answer might be? Maybe a lot of the women who try to be in rock and roll just aren't any good.

X: Exactly. They say that women can't rock but the truth is they either can't or else they look ridiculous while doing it.

PCD: That's why I like bands from Europe such as Within Temptation or After Forever or Lacuna Coil or Nightwish. The run-of-the-mill babe on the street around here just doesn't have the musical talent.

X: Yeah. But I'm going to try to change that.

PCD: I don't think you have to try too hard. You're already there. You're already standing out.

X: I hope so. Thank you.

PCD: How is your first album ("I Believe in Fairy Tales," available from Amazon.com) doing with sales?

X: We're selling a lot, a surprising lot, of CDs everywhere. Including Europe. In the UK, Holland and Germany. Mostly UK. Huge sales. I was surprised. We're actually planning to do a European tour next year.

PCD: TO what do you attribute the sales in Europe?

X: I have no idea. I think perhaps, well, you know Brits have always been more open to music for one thing. So I think that would explain UK. Germany and Holland? I have no idea.

PCD: Well, Holland, and the whole area of the Netherlands has a lot of female-fronted bands. So maybe they're used to having females singing and being in charge of a band.

X: Maybe.

PCD: How about here in the states? How far out across the State is your album selling? All 50? Just in the Northeast part?

X: It's selling absolutely everywhere, but mostly I would say in the West. South, too. Texas is a big state and it's selling there. Not so much in our area in New York. They're too hip. You know, hipper than thou. Hipsters and all that. I wouldn't say we have no fan base in New York. We certainly do because we're from here. States like Texas and Kentucky...they surprise me.

PCD: What would it take for you to do some gigs in Michigan? What has to happen?

X: Usually we play certain states because we have people signing up for the Street Team, you know? Basically, we need somebody already there to kind of tell their friends and make sure people come out. If we go there and play a club and we can't bring anyone in the owner's probably going to be pissed. It's pretty simple, really.

PCD: So if I had a class project [at Grand Valley State University] in which I turned a bunch of people loose to help make it happen for you, would that be enough to bring you here do you think?

X: Absolutely. I thought it was a great idea, actually. I absolutely loved it. I loved your thinking.

PCD: Thank you. I appreciate that. I try to think creatively, out of the box.

X: Yeah. Purple Crayon.

PCD: Yeah. Harold and the Purple Crayon. That's one of my favorite books.

X: Yeah.

PCD: Okay. That's what we'll do on this end. I'll tell the class that you have this project, show them your web site, and let them hear your music and if we can get a solid team of people really enthusiastic about it...there are a lot of clubs in West Michigan -- not only in Grand Rapids, but also in Kalamazoo, Lansing, Battle Creek, Holland. A lot of venues for a band your size.

X: Yeah. That would be sweet. I have some friends in Michigan, actually. I have two Russian friends in Michigan.

PCD: What would it take, financially, to bring you guys to Michigan?

X: Perhaps a couple of hundred bucks for gas. And -

PCD: How much do you charge for a gig?

X: Well, that depends. If we were to play a college, colleges usually have a budget for it so they pay anywhere from $300 to $500. A regular club, they pay us a draw. So if we get there and there's nobody there, whoops, I guess we aren't getting paid. But that's the kind of risks you have to take in the business.

PCD: How many gigs would it take to make a stop in West Michigan worth your while?

X: We should definitely play a couple.

PCD: One in Grand Rapids, one in Kalamazoo, one in Lansing...

X: Yeah, definitely. That's a good idea. How far apart are those places from each other?

PCD: Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo are only about 45 minutes apart. Lansing is towards the middle of the state and it's about an hour or so from Grand Rapids.

X: That's not so bad.

PCD: They're all within about a 60 mile radius of Grand Rapids.

X: You say you teach in a school? A college?

PCD: A university, yeah.

X: That's great. See, the last time we played in Connecticut, for instance, they paid us pretty well. And they also had us stay in a hotel. So they picked that up as well. So if we could play at the school where you teach...

PCD: Yeah, this university has over 20,000 students. So they ought to be able to swing something like that. You know, I have no idea what they [the student marketing group] could do. That's why I'd like to toss it out to them to see what they come up with. I'm sure it's do-able.

X: I think so. And especially if we can sell some CDs while we're at it. So if you tell you're students, they could just ask around and tell their friends. I'm sure it'll work out.

PCD: Do you have other things you guy's sell -- like T-shirts or other items bands usually sell at gigs?

X: Not yet. The T-shirts...well, I'm kind of stagnating. I come from a designer perspective and I'm thinking if we're going to have merchandise it has to be amazing. I don't have time to design one-of-a-kind T-shirts. So we should probably make something. I'm researching it. So it's in the works.

PCD: I have one last question for you. Given your love, make that your craving, of change, how long do you see Sky Salt lasting?

X: I think it's going to depend heavily on whether we get signed and what kind of label we get signed to. Because if it's a major label major label bands have a shelf life of a few years. You're only popular for a few years and then you're gone. But if we stick with indie label bands I could be doing this for many, many years to come.

PCD: But you wouldn't get bored with it?

X: Oh, no. Absolutely not. A major label tends to overexpose you and then you're done. But with indie labels you kind of stay hip and indie and underground for many years and people continue liking you for many years. I think that's the plan.

NOTE: Since this interview was conducted, a Sky Salt Marketing Team has formed at Grand Valley State University. The team has seven members, a lot of talent, and a desire to bring Sky Salt to West Michigan. I'll keep you posted on the team's progress.

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