Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots
Preface by Ashlee Elfman
Interview by Euchrid

Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots are one of the hardest bands to try to define, in fact, one feels oddly uncomfortable attempting to describe them…and discomfort is definitely one of Munly & the Lee Lewis Harlots’ charms. The band puts forth some of the most original music to be made in years: imposing, mythical, bizarre and generally awe inspiring. Munly’s baleful voice has an unbelievable range…going from throaty and deep, to velvety and melodic, to an eerily beautiful soprano when playing the part of Cassius Castrato The She-Male Of The Men’s Prison. The Harlots, comprised of Frieda Stalheim, Elin Palmer, Rebecca Vera, are a weighty part of the band, as they lend their wildly talented string playing and singing ability to the complexity of the band’s sound. Jeff Linsenmaier’s (one of the founding members of The Czars) extremely timely and at times humble drumming brings the whole sound together. By the end of the album you might feel as if you’ve been to Heaven and Hell and back through the backwoods and labyrinths of a brilliantly imagined raw, dark America. But don’t listen to me, listen to Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots for yourself, and allow them to take you through the gracefully bent, haunting landscape of their music.

How did The Lee Lewis Harlots come together? Who are you people?

We have not completely come together. It has happened in only a few
instances throughout the history of music.
Our names are on the inside of the CDs, we are happy to take a moment
after shows to further explain who we are.

What was your initial interest in music?'Blurry' is quite different
from your latest release. Do you have any thoughts on that progression?

I cannot remember my initial interest, there was no epiphany that was a
catalyst to my life. Everything is and was an influence, hence the
different feel throughout the albums. People change, they grow up and
down, some get bored, most artists who have longevity to their careers
have different stages, regressions and digressions are mostly mine

 

Do you have any training in music?

Yes; I get as much information as I can from Bob Ferbrache – our
producer – as I can. I can now work my mixing board, amplifier,
microphone, and repair some of my instruments.

 

What are your thoughts on modern popular culture?It's hard to imagine
you living in a world so infested by pop culture. Do you find yourself
much engaged in modern society in any way, or is it something that you
generally try to avoid?

I'm not answering this. I would hope that we are not a kitsch band who
only poses for ‘vintage’ photos for press release and rehashes some
other eras music. We live in this century, we don't wear costumes, we
use electricity and are trying to survive as best we know how.

 

Do you have a certain method for your creative process? Is there a
ritual you go through when you bring an idea to fruition or when you're
trying to work an idea out?

No. Or Yes. It's called work. You sit down and do it.

 

Do you feel that the best music is merged with a literary
consciousness, or does that just happen to be the way you approach your
own music?

I don't particularly think on what other people are doing, I am aware
and educate myself, yet, I would hope other don't have an overwhelming
sway over me. There is no need to dumb things down, from the beginning
of rock music – electric music – words or lack of words and thought has
been a major hindrance in considering ‘rock’ a legitimate art.

 

Do you find yourself attracted to disturbing or uncomfortable
subjects?

No, I'm actually not attracted to many subjects. I did well in school,
but, I am done and no longer have to think about subjects.

Jay Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots

Do you personally arrange the music that the Harlots play? If not, how
do the arrangements come together?

We work as a group. My answers are becoming shorter, I am becoming
winded.

 

The "Denver scene" seems to be really tight and concentrated. How would
YOU explain that?

Yes, I have heard that it is tight, and I would like to help explain it
to you, but none of them will speak to me.

 

You seem to have a fixation on teeth. Explain yourself, please.

That could be, though my family said I never had to explain myself.

 

What are your thoughts on Tiny Tim?

…and we've come to the ‘fun!’ question in the interview…

 

If I'm not mistaken, you're Catholic. Does that play into your writing
at all?

I don't answer questions of faith – until mine are answered.

Yodeling seems to be a fairly lost art. Where the hell did you learn
to yodel like that?

It has always been a part of my singing, even before I was aware that I
was doing it. Sometimes words contain too much information, at times it
is best to communicate with only noise, each of these calls has one
strict meaning, so there is no possibility of confusing people.

On that note, throat singing of all things! Where did you pick THAT
one up?

I consider it a different form of yodeling. Mouth music. I do neither
correctly – according to tradition – though I do believe that I have
made both my own, hopefully creating a new tradition.

Aren't hats great? What's your favorite style? Do you have a
philosophy on them?

My Father, Grandfather, and relations before that all wore hats. I
don't think about it, they are just there. I take them off at proper
occasions, formal dining, end of a funeral, and sometimes at sleep.

I read somewhere that you used to play hockey. Is this true? Got any
horror stories for us?

I did play hockey, it is true. This is not horror to me but if you are
asking of broken items…wrist, teeth on right side of face, nose three
times, knee twice, back once.

 

Do any of you do visual art?

Yes.

 

Are there current artists that hold an interest for you? Any musicians
you'd like to have open for you, or visa versa?

Is this where I am supposed to mention Tiny Tim?

 

What's the best thing to have been invented since pre-sliced bread?

Ohhh…how much longer is this…

 

Care to leave us with a few literary suggestions?

No, I am extremely selfish with my books. I don't like to discuss them
and I certainly don't like when people touch my own books. A large part
of their function is a form of escape. By yourself. If someone is truly
looking for something they need to find it on their own without the
power of suggestion.

 

Say something! Anything you like!

“Vengeance is Mine”.

 

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