Dva Damas - Night visions from the dark planet

interview by Daniela Masella

Dva Damas are Joseph Cocherell and Taylor Burch. An interesting project that's been around for a while (they've been playing since 2003), Dva accompanied this early-autumn European tour by Tropic of Cancer. At the Rome show, we had the chance to have a chat with Taylor, the duo's vocalist and – exceptionally, for these dates – support act for Camella Lobo. Long dark hair, dark but friendly eyes: up close, Taylor looks completely different from how she appears on stage, where she performs with icy, catatonic aplomb, without a single break, staring at some undefinable point lost in the space in front of her. Calm but decisive in her voice, Taylor speaks with humility and honesty, revealing in the process her own small truths, and leaving room to reflect on how even a deeply dark sound can actually be perceived as "very funny". It's all a matter of perspective.

So let's start with the name "Dva Damas" – where does it come from?

It's simply a name I used to use when I was younger for all sorts of things, and then when I started making music I decided to use it as the band's name too.

I understand it's a name that comes from a kind of Anglo-Russian slang used in "A Clockwork Orange"…

Yes, exactly, that's precisely why. When I read Anthony Burgess's book, I was really struck by how that strange language sounded, and "dva damas" was one of the words that impressed me the most.

I thought you had Russian roots?

Not that I know of, no. It's possible, though, but I couldn't tell you (laughs).

When did you start playing as Dva Damas?

I started recording songs at the end of, I think, 2003, and that same year my friend Scott, Joe (Joseph Cocherell) and I started playing live together at some friends' parties.

But what drew you to play this specific kind of music?

Well, you know, in that sense I feel like I'm offering my most honest artistic contribution, it's something that just comes out on its own, it's part of my universe, I couldn't play any other way.

Your music is generally described as a kind of psycho-wave, a sound not far from the "motorik" of Neu! or Kraftwerk. Do you recognize yourself in that description or not?

When people use terms like psycho-wave or psychobilly, I worry I don't really understand what they're referring to, or where these terms come from, or what they're actually related to. I can't really define my own music and – like most artists, I think – I have trouble with labels. My music, for instance, could be called dark, but at the same time I find it genuinely funny in other ways. So I think giving things definitions is really just a limitation.

Right now you're touring Europe with Tropic of Cancer. How did this collaboration start?

Well, I met Camille a while back and we started playing together because we had mutual friends, and so now we've also become old friends. It's more a friendship than a professional relationship.

What can you tell me about Dva Damas's imaginary universe: for instance, on your first album "La Face" there's a very striking cover image of a topless woman with an animal skull over her face, whereas for the latest album "NightShade" you went for a much more minimal style. Are these graphic choices connected in some way to the music you make?

Well, for that first album there was a lot of graphic work involved, but I was only responsible for the back cover. Then for the later ones, like "NigthShade", we went for a more minimal approach because we wanted people to identify us with our music just by looking at the album cover: so all you see is the words Dva Damas emerging from the background, with no other distracting elements. So, a simpler design, but one closer to our sound.

And are you working on a new album now?

Yes, yes, we're working on it, and most of the tracks we played tonight are like an intangible sketch of what we'll eventually bring into the studio.

What's your all-time favorite track to play live?

Lately I really love a track we're playing live called "Black Vision Part.2". Yes, right now it's definitely my favorite track.

And what do you think about the "live" dimension? Maybe your kind of music calls for a more intimate setting.

No, I really like playing live. I find it a lot of fun, and much less boring than always playing around Los Angeles. It's fun for us and it gives more people the chance to discover us.

If your music were chosen for a film, what kind of film would it be?

That's a tough question. I don't know. But I think it would definitely be an action movie. Yes, an action movie set in the near future.

What do you think of the European darkwave scene, then?

I don't know. I'm really bad with that kind of thing.

Ok, let's change the question then: who's your favorite artist in general?

Same thing, I don't have just one artist. I mean, I can't give you just one, I could give you a few. I like a whole range of artists, from Martin Denny to David Bowie to Nick Cave, I could really range from one genre to another, because for me it's actually the combination of all these artists and their work that inspires me, so I really can't say there's just one, absolutely.

Ok, I understand, one last question then, just out of personal curiosity: how old are you?

I just turned 24.

Ride the wave of great music

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This article is an English translation of the original Italian text by Daniela Masella, published on OndaRock.it. It was translated with the help of artificial intelligence, under the editorial responsibility of OndaRock's editor-in-chief, Claudio Fabretti.

Read the original in Italian · About the English edition