GINA VOLPE
DIFFERENT ANIMAL ON THE LOSE
Gina Volpe has taken her music to a new level of artistry and creativity on her new solo Ep Different Animal that displays her work as a composer, musician, songwriter and singer. Aptly titled Different Animal reflects a different side of Volpe in her creative process as she unleashes a deeper, darker, emotional side that is poured out of her soul. It's an addicting combination of electrobeats and heartful rock that captivates the soul. Released in 2017 the EP brought her back into the spotlight after spending the past ten years working in music behind the scenes on various projects including writing music and lyrics for Homo the Musical (written and directed by Lola Rocknolla) and composing music scores for several independent films. Volpe realized that the time was now to release her music with the thought of what if something happened and all of a sudden all of what was not released from her musical background went unreleased? Imagine one of your favorite songs sitting in a notebook and not recorded!
Volpe was the founding member of the Lunachicks in 1986, and between 1989 and 1999, released 5 LPs, 3 Eps, and three 7” singles. They also toured constantly for 12 years, opening for the likes of Marilyn Manson, Luscious Jackson, No Doubt, and the Offspring and played the main stage at Warped Tour in 1999 and 2000. She went on to front her own band Bantam that also released two albums between 2003-2005.
It was last year when Volpe realized her need to get back to performing was overdue. With Different Animal the music world gets a taste of solid rock that will leave you with a new view of her creative fire, something she has had dating back before beginning of her career. “I’ve always wanted to make music ever since I can remember. There were always songs rattling around in my head. And I wanted to play guitar, electric guitar, loudly!” said Volpe about getting into music.”
“My passion for writing, recording and performing music never subsided, it only magnified after Lunachicks so I formed my own band, Bantam, and starting singing. We recorded and released two albums. I decided to take a little time off from touring after the last Bantam record, but I remained committed to making more music in the future.” “I’ve been writing songs on my four track even before the Lunachicks, but I became so wrapped up in Lunachicks life to sing any of them until I formed Bantam.”
Volpe has taken her music to a different level on our solo material. Digging into her writing content, Volpe said, “Sometimes it’s things I’ve experienced, sometimes its dreams I’ve had, art that I’ve seen, or stories I‘ve read. Usually the music comes first then I have to decide which themes would go along with the feel of the song.”
When it comes to her inspiration, “Everything I take in, beauty, despair, passion, rage, and wonder. I love being surprised by a sound, a lyric, a beat, or a vibe that I’m unfamiliar with. Anything that I encounter that takes an unexpected route and inspires me to explore.”
Different Animal is a diverse collection of songs and will fuel the fire for more to come. Volpe joined forces with Barb Morrison who she worked with on Bantam on
production to craft the new EP, which is a departure from what you might expect. Volpe explains “That I make more than punk and rock music. That I am a songwriter and an artist who isn’t necessarily easy to categorize into any specific style.”
“I have a kick ass new EP out along with some cool videos that I made with my crazy talented friends and also that I’m not so great with the social media stuff so don’t judge me by my lack of tweets :P” As for the title, Volpe revealed, “I’ve always thought that was a cool expression and it applied for the new EP knowing my music would sound different to those who knew me from Lunachicks and Bantam.”
As for the track Shine, a song Volpe remembers a childhood friend lost in death. “Yes I was remembering a childhood friend who died a long time ago but whose presence still looms large in my psyche. The song overall is inspired by legends and immortality that last beyond our physical beings.”
While Volpe exploded with attitude in the Lunachicks, she says that since those days it has not necessarily changed. “Yes and no. No because I’m still compelled to make music and I don’t think that will ever stop being the case. And yes, I guess because I’m not as afraid about how my music might be received now. I’ve come to learn that what comes out of me is mostly out of my control and it’s ok if I don’t follow what’s expected of me.”
As for the delay between Bantam and her new solo work, Volpe said, “I don’t really have a good answer other than I got caught up with life, with making (visual) art, with other people’s projects and the next thing I knew the thing that I had meant to do after Bantam (release a solo record) was getting away from me. Time flies, it really does. But maybe that was a little bit by design too. Hiding in the shadows is a lot easier than putting yourself out there exposed.”
Volpe warns that her EP is just the beginning. (Expect) “More music and more art. A full album release for sure. I’ll be gearing up for that after an art show this spring. You haven’t heard the last from me for sure.”
You can find her music and information on her web site and Facebook pages and the following links:
http://www.ginavolpe.com
And finally some advise to remember in only something you might get out of Volpe, “Don’t pick it, it’ll only get worse, lol, no really stay tuned…..I’ll be back!”
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