Lexicon Magazine, Issue 9: New Wave and Beyond
Rapture and Joy: Gitane Demone asks: Am I Wrong?
Fall 1998

Am I Wrong? is one of those albums that, sadly, will sink without a trace here in the US.

While millions of people throw away $15 to hear even more music from a movie about a big boat, this CD will end up revealing itself to few. But what a lucky few! Am I Wrong? is powerful and lush, weak and spare all at once.

Ms. DeMone herself is no fading flower. Nor is she limited in her world view of music. Although, she first came to people’s attention as part of the death-rock/goth band Christian Death, she reveals that her first solo outing was not what you’d think. “It was a house music single. I recorded it in 1990 when I was in Holland. House was getting big over there at that time. I didn’t have a band and the people I was working with wanted to do a house record. Of course, I had to put a guitar in it, so it wasn’t pure enough for the dance people over there”.

In fact, after the eventual break up of Christian Death, Ms. DeMone moved to Amsterdam and spent the next eight years chasing her muse. Am I Wrong? was recorded there. She also toured a lot in Europe.

But she still feels a strong bond with her fans in the US. “There’s a large goth following here, so most people here know me from Christian Death. They’ll have one of those records in their collection and won’t know about my solo records”. When asked if she ever feels held back by the goth label—she admits- that “I have felt that once you come from what I call ‘the swamp’, you can’t escape. But I also don’t feel I have made really accessible music in the past. That house single made it to #3 in Melody Maker, but after that I did acoustic work that took on an anarchistic jazz flavor. I did a whole album focused on S&M before it became, uh, popular! This album is the most accessible thing I’ve done. I am always amazed that the goth scene has still embraced my work. I didn’t even have any guitars until this album”.

“The thing about the goth scene, and I loathe that label, is that there are a lot of artistic people and a lot of interesting things going on in it. The problem is that it has become a musical tradition and become diluted from its origins. There are a couple of new bands that I really have an ear for. People forget that most musical scenes started with trying to do something original, finding a new voice. Music needs fresh input, not institutionalization.”

It would be hard to do a story about Ms. DeMone without mentioning Rozz Williams, the founder of Christian Death, who committed suicide earlier this year. “We were good friends. It was about ’93 when I got back in touch with him. There were some bad feelings before that because of going on with Christian Death after he had left”.

“I am working on a mostly electronic song for a new film called Rage. It’s got a real good dance beat. I got Lou Reed’s drummer, lots of different people involved. I’m used to recording by myself, so this is a new experience. It’s going okay. I got all my ideas in, so now it’s up to the producer.”

When asked who she would want to work with in the future, she supplies a name who’s famous for working with some of the biggest names in glam in the ‘70’s and who is back in the spotlight on the new Sparks album, Tony Visconti. “I am crazy about him, and I will try to send him something. He’s in town (Los Angeles). I’m also interested in Steve Albini. I know he does harder bands, but he records so well! Maybe even the Dust Brothers! I did some electronica for the Cleopatra label under the name The Alpha Project.”

Am I Wrong? was finished in 1996, which means that Ms. DeMone had had a couple of years to work on new material. “I’ll be going back into the studio in December. I have a new band that I toured Germany with. We’re supposed to do a fall US tour as well. As far as material, well, I’ve had three dear, dear friends die in the past year, so I will address that. But I try to keep a balance so someone doesn’t put it on and think, oh, this is just all depressing. There has to be some hope”.