Poison Garden: Italian Steampunk Band

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Poison Garden a band you need to check out.

Interview conducted on April 03, 2019

Have you ever imagined what a gramophone would have played if rock was born two centuries ago?

Poison Garden is the answer: a modern and aggressive sound sunk into the noise of a century that never was.

Band Members
Madame Anais Noir-Vocals/Bass

Sir Damian White-Guitar

Marshal Darkness-Drums

Hi, I’m Madame Anais Noir, singer and bass player for Poison Garden, the first Italian Steampunk Band.

Tell me about your background?

My personal background is Rock. I used to listen to all the most famous Rock bands dreaming to become a Rock Star as well, one day…

Any education in music?

Yes of course, I studied, and I am still studying modern singing and bass playing.

How did you get your name?

Well, we really loved the name Poison Garden because it represents the idea of combining the Victorian attitude for collecting things with a “noir” aftertaste.

Did you know that The Poison Garden in England’s Alnwick Garden is the Most Dangerous Garden?

Yes, we know it and we are curious to visit it!

You are from Rome. Is there a big market for Metal bands in Rome or in Italy? I recently interviewed Heretic’s Dream and Black Mamba.

There still is a market for metal bands in Rome and in Italy in general even if the biggest market is pop.

It is hard to keep a relationship going for a touring band. Even harder for a metal band?

I think that personal relations don’t depend on the kind of music you play. It’s all about being humble and understanding other people’s needs.

What is Steampunk? I had no clue, so I had to look it up. And this what I got. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century’s British Victorian era or American “Wild West”, in the future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. However, steampunk and Neo-Victorian are different in that the Neo-Victorian movement does not extrapolate on technology and embraces the positive aspects of the Victorian era’s culture and philosophy. So, you mean a steam power society?

You are right. Steampunk (“steam” as the common energy fuel known at the times of the Industrial Revolution) is an artistic and cultural movement, an aesthetic, literary and cinematographic wave which plays with anachronistic technologies, imagining “how past would have been if future had arrived earlier”. Our style breathes the foggy air of Victorian London which is the favorite setting of our music and of Steampunk literature. We aim to convey in music this anachronistic world that writers conveyed in their books.

If rock music existed back in the 19th century, what would it sound like today?

Your music is a fusion of modern rock and metal with steampunk elements. Could you define those elements?

Our music can be defined as “a modern sound sunk in the noise of an alternative past.” A mix of the latest trends in Modern Rock (down-tuned guitars f.i.) with the grotesque atmospheres typical of Tim Burton’s movies.
Everything is enriched by soundscapes such as environment noises (for example the smoke puffs of steam-powered trains or the classic vinyl scratch or the sound of factories). Those elements are used as narrative tools that lead the audience in the fantasy atmospheres that we tell in the songs.
This album represents a turn into a more mainstream market with catchy and “easy-listening” songs but not renouncing to a refined taste in the arrangements. Everything will be enriched by soundscapes such as environment noises (for example the smoke puffs of steam-powered trains or the classic vinyl scratch or the sound of factories) used as narrative tools that lead the listener in the fantasy atmospheres told in the songs.

Are you a fan of Emilie Autumn? I know her from her days in Chicago.

Yes, I personally am a big fan of Emilie Autumn. I appreciate her as an artist but also as a person. I know she had a lot of trouble when she was younger, but this didn’t stop her to fight for her dreams.
Her music is clearly unique and her voice too.

I love your video Human Machine. How did you come up with the idea of the video?

Well, we worked at the video’s screenplay with the director, Simone Serafini from Mastema Agency. We wanted something “impressive” and I must admit he did a great job.

Is the band into environment issues?

Yes, we care about environmental issues. For example, the bass brand that I endorse, Warwick, is very sensitive about these issues. They use woods originating from sustainable forest management exclusively in the long term. The machinery that they employ is highly energy efficient. In order to be able to supply their own power, they utilize wind power stations combined with solar panel installations.
Moreover, in their factory, which I visited a lot of times, they employ motion-activated lighting systems to prevent irresponsible use of energy resources.

What type of clubs/places do you like to play in (size)?

We love to play everywhere, of course, bigger festivals with bigger stages allow us to perform with our full show with acrobats, actors, dancers but we also love the more intimate club dimension. The only important thing is to have people in front of us singing our songs!

Any plans to tour the United States?

We played in New York some years ago, representing Italy in the Steampunk’s World Fair, the biggest Fair for Steampunk lovers.
We’d love to play in the US again. The audience was so involved in the show!

Tell me about the endorsements by Warwick Bass and how you got it?

I received the proposal to endorse Warwick’s basses at the beginning and then I have been asked if I wanted to endorse their amps as well. I can’t deny I was so happy about it! It’s a great professional opportunity and I keep thanking Warwick for giving me the chance to join their family and to play their precious instruments.

Anything special you had done to the Bass?

Since I am an EMG endorser I changed the pickups on both basses. (I have a Corvette and a Stuart Zander custom shop).
With EMG pickups those basses really roar on stage!

How would you explain your live performance?

Our live show can be defined as a hybrid between circus, theater and a rock concert, with costumes, special effects and narrative elements capable of providing the audience with a truly magical experience. Or at least, we have been told so 😉

Any new music plan for this year?

Now we are working on the preproduction of the second LP, a concept album inspired by the classic L. Frank Baum tale “The Wizard Of OZ”.
The new album will represent a turn into a more mainstream market with catchy and “easy-listening” songs but not renouncing to a refined taste in the arrangements.

If someone was listening to you for the first time, what 3 videos or songs would you tell them to look/listen to and why?

I would advise to listen to our debut album “A Victorian Carol” and to watch the video clips of our single “Human Machine”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoMvJ7ZNzhM Moreover I would advise watching this live video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=050mibSzlcA

Who is your favorite female singer and why?

That’s hard to tell because there are a lot of artists that I really appreciate but one of my favorite voices would surely be Emilie Autumn. who is your favorite female bass player?
I appreciate a lot of female bass players as for example Angeline Saris, Tanya O’Callaghan, Chela Rea Harper and Nik West.

How do you see yourself in the next 5 years?