Josh Alexander (Radio Obscura PDX)
Mia I want to thank you for sitting down with Radio Obscura PDX Tonight. Always a pleasure to help a fellow artist!
So for our listeners that are not quite familiar with your music, can you explain to them a little bit about who you are and what got you started producing music?
Mia Petals
Thank you so much for the opportunity! I really like what you are doing with the station!
Josh
It is our pleasure.
So for our listeners That are not quite familiar with your music, can you explain to them a little bit about who you are and what got you started producing music?
Mia
I sing and write lyrics for Petals And Thorns. I have been musical for a majority of my life having been surrounded by it from my parents. I was never really a part of a serious project however, until I met Johnny.
Josh
Tell me a little about what started Petals And Thorns, such as the decision for the name, the musicial style etc.
Mia
Well, Johnny and I came up with the name as a way to represent the contrast of what we both bring to the table, a sort of beautiful dissonance. We are both into all sorts of music, particularly electronic, industrial, etc... So it just sort of fell into place that way.
A rose has petals that are beautiful and delicate, yet is lined with thorns that are sharp and dangerous. We felt this was a pretty good analogy for what our sound represents to us.
Josh
So Essentially your music showcases both sides of life, the light and the dark. Kind of a Yin & Yang metaphor?
Mia
Yes, that's a wonderful description!
Josh
Mia we have had the pleasure of listening to a couple tracks of yours particularly "Habitual Ritual & Immoral Disclosure" What are the meanings behind these tracks?
Mia
Habitual Ritual is a song about reactions that negative personality archetypes tend to become addicted to out of irrational fear. What we need to remember, however, is that we are never truly alone in the world and that fear is just an illusion that we create in our own minds. Immoral Disclosure is a song about child abuse. It comes from the perspective of the abused and is an anthem for those who can't find justice. The theme here is that the perpetrator has to deal with it in the end.
Josh
So from what I am gathering from your response Mia, the song Habitual Ritual is a dark themed song that delivers a message of love and understanding?
and Immoral disclousre is pretty much saying that Karma will prevail in the end, as justice is always served? At least this is my take on it.
Mia
Yes. It's more or less a call for self awareness.
Well, karma unfortunately is not always served, nor justice in the typical fashion. This song is more or less meant to empower people who have been victimized, as well as express the devastation that abuse can have to those who victimize others.
Josh
I have trouble wrapping my brain around the fact that people like this exist in the world. No body should have to deal with being beaten and broken physically or mentally.
Mia
I agree.
Josh
Lets change up the subject a little bit and talk about your album. How far are you into the production process? Do we have an expected release date? Do tell!
Mia
We are still in the process of writing. We have a great engineer/co-producer lined up and he is excited about the album. It's really a matter of time and money at this point. We expect to have 10 songs at least when we go into the actual studio, for now we have just been recording them in our own DIY setup as demos. We are shooting for sometime the first half of next year.
Josh
Excellent! I know myself as well as our listeners will be looking forward to it!
Any plans for a tour?
Mia
We would absolutely love to tour if the opportunity arose! It's my dream to travel! There are so many wonderful people out there who have been responding to our music that I would love to perform our songs for!
Josh
Well hopefully Portland Oregon would be on that list.
Mia
Absolutely!
Josh
Mia, What would you say are some of the bands that have inspired the music you produce?
Mia
When we first collaborated it was because we both noticed the mutual love that we have for darker electronic female vocal-centric bands like Switchblade Symphony and Garbage in particular. As well as many other bands that we both share a liking for such as Nine Inch Nails, Delerium, KMFDM, Type O Negative, Curve etc... The list just ends up going on and on. Our collaboration is very natural.
Josh
You mentioned quite a few of my favorite groups mia!
I must say that your music has been well recieved on Radio Obscura PDX! As always I want to end this interview on your terms, is there anything you would like to add or tell our listeners?
Mia
Thank you so much Josh, I really commend what you are doing with Radio Obscura PDX! I would love to tell everyone who has checked us out "thank you!" We look forward to finishing our debut album, and we especially look forward to performing live soon!!!