Goth punk rock duo One-Eyed Doll has done it all from being featured here or there to playing shows, going on tour, writing and recording music, to so much more there an act that can't be avoided. Frontwomen vocalist/guitarist Kimberly Freeman discusses about the band, side projects, new music, and much more!
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Kimberly: I had a band called, "Ghetto Princess" back in 2005. At that time, Jason had a recording studio in Austin. He showed up to one of our performances and offered to record our first album, which ended up being "Hole". I lost all of my band members before the album was even finished (some of them before it we started) and decided to change the name and just start fresh. He made several more albums with me over the years as band members came and went, and we became great friends. I finally had the idea to ask him to be in the band, and he fell for it! :) Haha, and it's been amazing ever since! Wish I'd done it way sooner!
2. What made you want to be a duo type of band?
Kimberly: I kept losing band members and didn't want to cancel our booked shows, so my drummer at the time Scotty and I just played without them. We thought we'd just do that until the right bandmates came along, and I guess they never did. I don't think very many people were on board with my style. Everyone I auditioned wanted to change everything about my music. In the meantime, I wrote music that just Scotty and I could pull off and still sound pretty good. Simple, chunky riffs, really fun stuff. In the early days, I was so scared to be up there without any other type of guitarist or bassist on stage, that I made cardboard cutouts, duct taped instruments to them and pretended that they were alive.
3. How did you guys come up with your band name? Is there an actual One-Eyed Doll?
Kimberly: It's a reference to my grandpa Bernie Jones, who had one eye. He was a great comedian, actor and musician all his life. I'm just trying to fill his big old clown shoes. :) There's also a little bit of a velveteen rabbit story behind it as a secondary meaning, and I reference the third eye a lot. It's a few things, but I think of Bernie as the main inspiration.
4. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?
Kimberly: There really isn't one. Writing has always been my emotional and intellectual outlet. As a kid, I wrote hundreds of poems and went to great lengths to hide them. They were my precious secrets, and I would've felt devastated and exposed if anyone had ever found them. Poetry was the only way to explain how I felt about the things that I couldn't talk to anyone about... even if I was only writing to myself. My writing has always been for me. It's the one thing that I do only for myself. I love that I can share it now with people who appreciate it, but I don't think I'm trying to tell them anything. I'm just doing what I've always done. I would like to say that it's been really amazing to share my songs, though.. and even more amazing that anyone wants to hear them. It's been a journey of healing.
5. How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
Kimberly: We sound like a squeaky toy being run over by a lawnmower. I think our influences are pretty wide, but they range from riot grrrl to Chinese pop, and a various places in between.
6. Tell me about the song "Committed" and why did you pick it as your single and video choice?
Kimberly: It's one of my oldest songs, kind of a piece of my personal history. I wrote it when I was 17 or 18, before I ever picked up a guitar. Committed has been way past due for a video, and I was just waiting for the right opportunity. It's an important song to me. I can't even remember playing a show without it!! It's possible that we've never left it out of a set.
7. This song seems to have taken a heavier direction, but it's only available as a single, will it be included on a future release?
Kimberly: It depends on some beeswax things pertaining to the album in the works right now, but we did originally plan for it to be on there. I'm hoping we'll be able to tell you all about that soon!
8. Do you guys have any new music in the works?
Kimberly: A poop load.
9. Do you have any other side projects happening?
Kimberly: Heck yeah! We're always making lots of different styles of music. Most of that comes out as, "Kimberly Freeman", since its not something we'd play at a One-Eyed Doll show. We've got possibly my favorite album yet coming out in that department.
10. How easy is it to keep the motivation going on a daily basis for One-Eyed Doll?
Kimberly: Jason is a great motivator. He's always sooo positive and confident and strong. I'm not nearly as strong as he is, and I have so much self-doubt sometimes. Jason inspires me to pick myself up and keep on moving. I don't know where I'd be without him. He's my hero!11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
Kimberly: We're going to be the first female president of the United States.
12. Is that your final answer?
Kimberly: Umm... yeah! I mean.. I think? NO?! I can't take this kind of pressure.. CATCH!
*throws cat bomb and runs away*
I'll get you for this, Natalie Perez! I WILL BE AVENGED!
*rides away on a hippo, the most dangerous animal*
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