Formed in Arizona in the late ‘80s, Lycia can well be considered one of the foundational and formative bands for both the ‘90s development of Darkwave and later Ethereal Wave. Originally the solo project of Mike VanPortfleet, the early years the lineup and sound shift saw several shifts, leading to their first full length release Ionia in 1991 on the equally legendary wave label Projekt Records.
Vocalist Tara VanFlower joined the lineup after Ionia, and she’s been a major presence ever since and appears on several other genre defining albums from the band including The Burning Circle and Then Dust, Cold, and Estrella. Despite a career spanning many releases over three decades, Lycia never seems to lose that spark of organic creativity in their work and has been releasing consistently since the early ‘90s with their latest six track EP “Casa Luna” being released recently on June 11, 2021 through Italian label Avantgarde Music.
Recently, Michelle Reich, aka skullgirdleRIP, had the pleasure of a conversation with Tara to discuss the latest release, stories from her career, and the other projects that tug on her heart strings. Enjoy!
What do you think it is about Lycia that has helped you stand the test of time? Aside from a break or two Lycia has been producing music since the late 80s. That is a long-ass time!
We have quietly walked away a few times. No one knew about it because we kept it to ourselves. There’s a mountain of stories there with reasons why we quit. If people knew, oh boy. But I digress, Mike says every album is our last. And then somehow a spark ignites a new song, which turns into another, and another, and eventually a release. Casa Luna started off as a 7” split with another band.. That got delayed so it evolved. What keeps us going? Um, I really don’t know what that thing is inside of any artist that makes you have to continue. It’s this weird drive that never seems to extinguish itself.
Speaking of Casa Luna, the latest release from Lycia, I am really digging "Do You Bleed?" How is it being received by your fans?
That was a really fun song to record. So far I’ve heard nothing but good remarks regarding that track. I don’t actively seek out opinions because if one person says something snarky out of a thousand that’s the only thing I’ll remember. And truthfully, it really doesn’t matter. Someone hating it isn’t going to change the fact that it exists. But I have heard a lot of positives about that track so far.
While researching your work for this [interview], I discovered This Womb Like Liquid Honey which is the first of two solo albums you did. It's very different from Lycia even though it was created by yourself and Mike. How was the writing and recording process different from how Lycia writes and records music?
Recording my solo stuff is completely different than how I work within Lycia. Mike is very meticulous and organized, and I’m more free-flow, barely controlled chaos. There are no rules or parameters I have to stick with in my solo work because I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. Lycia is a collaborative effort so there’s compromise and working within the framework of what the other members contribute. My only limitations with the solo work is my own inability to capture what I want or lacking the skills to achieve it. Mike did help with some tracks on This Womb Like Liquid Honey, but My Little Fire-Filled Heart was all me (minus his mastering and random tech issues I had). I have no plans to ever record another solo album, but who fucking knows.
Your solo music sounds very experimental, I'd even say genre-defying at times. How would you describe your solo work to someone who had never heard it?
How would I describe it? Hmm. Weird? I’ve told people my solo music is weird when asked about that before. I really don’t know what it is. I’m not actively trying to sound like anything. The random firings of a dreaming mind? Make what you want with what you got? Like everything, I do it based on a lack of technical skill. I’m not saying that in a self deprecating way. I mean, that I am untrained in everything so I go at everything I create from maybe a naive angle that is unobstructed, unrestrained, but inhibited, by a lack of skill.
What is the weirdest thing that ever happened at one of your live shows, aside from some interesting shenanigans while working with Type O Negative?
Firstly, shout out to the boys of Type O. I love those guys. Weirdest thing that happened? Hmmmm… Well, Marilyn Manson and Smashing Pumpkins showing up at our last show in San Francisco and asking if they could go on stage just as we were getting ready to go on stage was pretty weird. (We told them no. The whole situation was so weird and off-putting) Being someone who does not think of themselves as appealing in any way… the little girl in PA who tried to rub my feet was pretty odd. I hope I didn’t hurt her feelings, that was not my intention, but I am not used to anyone wanting to rub my feet. Hahaha Oh, and a guy we met named Meat in North Carolina. He was scary.
For those who don't know, Tara, you've written several novels, most notably the Violet series. If I remember correctly, you are self-published. That is amazing and you've managed to write 5 books in the Violet series as well as 6 others. In your Amazon profile you say you wrote the first book, Violent Violet from a vivid dream. What is your inspiration for your other books? Are they all dreams and/or based on your own adventures?
Yes, Violent Violet was based on a dream, and parts of Violet Misery was as well. At this point the characters dictate their own path. I start writing and let them take me wherever they want. I have written other books not knowing those characters knew the crew from The Violet Series, and somehow, someway, there is always a connection. So even those stand alone books are connected to Violet’s world. I have so so so many stories in there, so many characters just waiting their turn to open up and show me where they want to go. If only I could ditch my day job to give them their full attention!
And if music and writing are not enough, you also have a YouTube channel. I remember a while back I stumbled on your "I hate Arizona" video and immediately subscribed. I think I have watched that video 10 times, it is one of my favorite videos on YouTube. Lately you've added a series called Stuff & Things where you talk to a lot of different people about a lot of different things. What made you decide to just start Stuff & Things which for the viewer is you talking to very eclectic guests?
OMG that I Hate Arizona video! HAHAHA That’s the only video I ever got any hate on! People sure are sensitive about their state! I think I have since deleted it. I can’t even remember at this point. I also turned off likes and comments on everything because I’m not here to be abused by strangers if I can control it. Anyway, Stuff & Things sort of started as a joke. My friend Timothy Renner (from Stone Breath), who I have another band with, Black Happy Day, also has a really cool podcast about cryptids, paranormal, folklore etc called Strange Familiars. He had me on as a guest and it was so much fun. And we talked a lot about his podcast privately and all the work and research he puts into it, and I said I was going to do one where I do zero work, no research, don’t know anything about the person, and just let them talk. I also won’t learn how to record or video anything properly. (This goes back to my prior statements about not knowing how to do anything and doing it anyway).
So that’s how Stuff & Things was born. It has been a lot of fun and interesting. I am taking a break right now because I did like 26 weeks in a row, sometimes two or three a week. The episodes were only meant to be about an hour long, but they always ended up going from two and a half to three+ hours. So, while it was fun, that’s a huge chunk of my Fridays and I need a little break with everything else I’ve got going on in life. HAHA
As a follow up, how did you convince Mike Van Portfleet of Lycia to talk to you? I hear that guy is a legend! Seriously, though, how did you come up with interviewing Mike and from separate places?
HAHAHAHA I blackmailed him. I’ve got so much dirt on that guy. We recorded from different wings of our mansion. We barely even see each other, our house is so vast. It’s like Dark Shadows. I’m Dr. Julia Hoffman up at Collinwood and he’s Barnabas skulking around in the old house.
Between your YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media through the years (yeah, MySpace too) what do you think is the best thing about social media for artists and musicians and conversely, what is the worst? Do you have any ridiculous stories?
Do I have ridiculous stories? Um, yeah. From the fucking predators, to the random dick pics, to the guy who tried to force me to videochat with him and sent me a bunch of money to “punish me” for not doing it… yeah, weirdness. I would say the benefits far outweigh anything negative though. I love people, as much as they can be frustrating. I love talking to everyone, meeting new people, and connecting with old friends. I love it all. I think this day and age is so much better for anyone creative. The world is your oyster. You can have direct contact with people all over the world, you can connect with other artists.
The downside is that people think you owe them your time because they bought your record or liked a post. No one OWES anyone anything. I give as much of myself as I can give, and sometimes it’s not enough for some. It actually really stresses me out and makes me feel bad that I can’t be for people what they may want me to be for them. I can’t listen to every song someone sends, read every article, watch every video, and it makes me feel really guilty because I know that person wants to share with me and I just don’t have time.
Another negative is that people think they can berate you straight to your face. They can invade your space with their bullshit. I don’t allow that in my life anymore. I used to really try hard to work things out with people, but I just don’t have the capacity anymore. I will say, my experience has been, by far, a positive one, and my contact with people on social media resulted in so many collaborations and connections I never would have had otherwise. (including with you!)
And lastly, what is your favorite song that you have released either with Lycia, as a solo project, or in collaboration with other people and what is it that you love about it?
This is going to sound like a copout, and maybe it is, but I honestly can’t pick one favorite song. Every song means something very special to me, every collaboration, so there is really just no way to pick a favorite. I have worked with so many lovely people. I don’t take those experiences lightly. Because I know you’re going to want an answer, I will give you a top 5.
My first answer will be the first two songs I recorded with Lycia - Nimble & Surrender. What an honor to have Mike ask me to join this band. The magic of meeting him face to face, then going into the studio with him and Dave. I was so young, so inexperienced, so intimidated. But I got that shiz in one take, to my recollection. Again, the naivety of not knowing what the fuck I’m doing. Haha
Black Happy Day. I love this release. Working with Timothy was so easy, despite the fact that we have two different recording systems and we were trading CDRs through the mail. Whatever he did could not be edited on my side, whatever I did could not be edited on his side. So done was done. It was good we both liked the other person’s contribution. This release will always be special to me as it is pretty fitting to my roots. Sort of dark folk experimental hillbilly music.
I have to throw in Type O Negative - Halloween in Heaven next. I will forever be grateful that Josh asked me to sing for him. That this was Peter’s last release, and that I got to be a part of that, hurts my heart in the best way.
Dirge - Venus Claws. I LOVE THIS SONG. It was the first really heavy song I ever got to sing on and I love this track so, so, so much. And Stephane is such a sweet guy!
Ison - Aquarian. What a powerhouse album. Daniel is one of the nicest guys ever. I was so honored he asked me to sing on this track. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever recorded (obviously, hence I’m including it on this list). It’s doubly cool that we’re labelmates and this album and Casa Luna came out on the same day! LOL
Okay, so now I have to throw in a bonus The collab I recorded with Daniele Serra (amazing artist!) Secondary Nerve. I love and adore Daniele and was so happy to record some music with him. That album, the lyrics, love stories about death. The music was so delicate and noisy.
And one last…. The collaborations yet to come. I torture myself over this. Mentally, emotionally, physically. I have quit music for lack of talent so so many times. If we’re working together, know that I hate myself until it’s finished. Be patient with me. haha