Edition #15
Lisbon, 2011

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“DKANDLE weaves swirling multi-colored vibrant unearthly soundscapes, blending fuzzy and reverberating Shoegaze textures, mesmerizing Dream Pop meditations, sludgy Grungey tones and moody Post-punk strains, heightened with soul-stirring lyricism and pensive emotive vocalizations”

Eva Leiz talks to Tranzine about her music project

TAGS: interview, music, rock, underground

TRANZINE - What does "mim" mean?
(EDIT 2024: At the time of the interview, this was the name of your project, but later it was renamed to Madame Mim)
EVA - "Mim" is a personal pronoun, an oblique form of "eu" (I). This project came from a long period of having to deal with myself in every way. I had to confront my fears, anxieties, and barriers, and because of all that, "mim" is a project of mine with my own self. I don't believe the work has a singer's profile, so I decided to name it "mim."

TRANZINE - Who are your biggest influences?
EVA - I'm influenced by everything, by all the arts. Not only music, but everything I see that moves me in some way, or catches my attention, influences me and reflects my impressions and emotions about life. Musically, I'm very eclectic, I like Beethoven, Piazzola, Café Tacuba, Gustavo Cerati, Leo Garcia, Liliana Fellipe, Marc Ribot, Pixies, Radiohead, Bjork, Photek, Underworld, Nine Inch Nails, Madonna, Garbage, Strokes, Cartola, and so on...

TRANZINE - Who plays with you?
EVA - Currently, Rafael Rocha is playing drums from Brasov; Daniel Martins on bass, who plays with the singer Bia Grabois, and Jr Tostoi on guitar from Vulgue Tostoi and was the producer of one of the tracks on the demo CD. I think these three works are wonderful.

TRANZINE - Is it true that you are Argentine? How was your coming to Brazil?
EVA - Yes, I was born in Mar del Plata, the Rio de Janeiro of there. But I was conceived here in Rio, where my parents spent their honeymoon.

TRANZINE - What do you think of the Brazilian underground scene?
EVA - I think there are very competent bands in the Brazilian underground scene and many others that have emerged from it. But it surely must be one of the richest in the world because the fear that Brazilian record labels have of hiring innovative and different bands causes these bands to remain underground for longer, unfortunately.

TRANZINE - What is the conception of your show? Are there performances, visual effects, etc.?
EVA - For now, everything is very much at the beginning. I have several ideas, but nothing that precedes my musical concern.

TRANZINE - When do you plan to release your first material?
EVA - Soon! The demo is almost ready, just needs to be mixed. By the time this interview is published, the demo will already be out there.

TRANZINE - Are there any special guest appearances in your songs?
EVA - All the songs have very special guest appearances. Among them are Marcos Cunha, Victor Z, Jr Tostoi, Rodrigo Campello, Flavio Abbes, and DJ Neck from São Paulo.

TRANZINE - Do you enjoy techno, trance, drum'n'bass? Do you plan to release any remixes in these styles?
EVA - I love electronic music. I do plan to release remixes. Some of my songs are already a remix in themselves.

TRANZINE - Radio and television stations generally only work with payola, and this system becomes more and more consolidated with each passing day. How do you think musicians should act regarding this issue?
EVA - I think it's lamentable. I think it's a stupid and cowardly attitude on the part of record labels. They shut down any possibility of something innovative and stimulating emerging, which would be very advantageous for the record labels themselves because it would ensure an interesting catalog, which would provide status and allow the emergence of new artists like Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque, who ensure long-term sales stability. But these new artists will never resemble what already exists; they would have to take risks that are part of the artistic world. But nowadays, record labels don't want risks, they want immediate money, and this not only limits art but also leads them to bankruptcy because they turn what would be a factory of culture into a factory of "beer."

TRANZINE - What is your opinion on MP3 and free music distribution sites like Audiogalaxy and MP3.com?
EVA - I think it's great that these MP3 sites exist. I think it only promotes the artist's music; those who liked the downloaded music will buy the CD or tell a friend about its quality, and the friend will eventually buy the CD or continue the information chain, which is essential nowadays.