Keeping up with DAME: Young Advocates for a Cause.
June 11, 2009
By Scott Bremner
Dame guitarist Alicia Stead was twelve when she “got into music and
started to play really heavily”. The track was ‘Boulevard of Broken
Dreams’ off of Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ album. “I also like a lot of
Stevie Ray Vaughan and a lot of blues stuff and some classic rock.”
She is also a fan of “Queen and Led Zeppelin of course.”
While her band mate drummer Kayla Faye mentioned how the group members
“parents had a huge impact in that, because growing up that’s all we
listened to,” said Faye
about her and the others, before she thought back to her childhood
memories. “I remember going on long road trips and just listening to
like the sound of Simon and Garfunkel.”
Stead recalled having, “Q107 on the road everywhere you go listening
to classic rock”.
The girls’ friend, lead singer and bassist, Katee Lee, explained that
she likes “anything Pink Floyd, definitely” and is a fan of their
‘Animals’ record. Lee became “interested in music” thanks to her
father figure Dennis Fox, (whom the group penned the song
‘Intervention’ about) and was taught the bass by her brother Nick, (the
guitarist of the rock band Dali Circus).
If one of the names of the band members doesn’t sound familiar, it’s
because the band have recruited Stead to the lineup. The group talked
about their future and many other topics at a Toronto café before
performing.
Last year the band took home awards for Best Alternative Rock Band
and Best Song (tying for “Intervention, which was the title track off
the group’s EP and ‘Cyclops’). They worked on the tracks with Haydain
Neale of jacksoul. Lee and Faye agree that working with him “was a
blast” and “he definitely was an incredible teacher and exceptional role
model,” informed Lee.
When listening to such tracks as ‘Bad Weather Friend’ or
‘Intervention’ the technique of imagery is noticeable. The style wasn’t
there from day one.
“We did try around,” explained Lee adding, “that’s what Haydain did,
he trained us.” He helped us find our direction”.
The trio’s musical education came in handy on May 3, when more than
200 people gathered for a benefit held at The Revival Bar to support
continuing the education of students in Tanzania. Aside from Dame, the
event in question for the Brighten Our Future campaign featured the band
“Pop Cherry”, musicians, “Andrew Cole” as well as “Doug HornerÓ and
Matt Easter’s Ò, U2 tribute band Us2Ó according to Emily Mallett, the
International Director, for the cause. She spoke about whom else was on
hand that evening. ÒTamsir Seck, followed by advocate for South
African orphans, singer & Juno nominated songwriter Glenn Marais.Ó
Four years ago Mallett went to Tanzania and met Thadeus Mutarubukwa
who at the time was a staffer for World Vision. Mutarubukwa oversees the
Bukoba based Gerladina Orphanage and Education Centre that he began.
The night of the concert $5,000.00 was brought in and the organization
is still accepting funds according to her.
The money will be doing a lot of good.
“Last year, through external fundraising, we were able to register
over 100 children in school and provide these associated materials;
however, this year, the money for the associated materials and also for
those continuing to secondary school is running out – so I decided to
organize a big fundraiser, to keep these children in school,” explained
Mallett who was introduced to the group by “a mutual good friend.”
She thinks highly of the group and refers to “Lee’s voice (as) simply
remarkable – she has amazing strength and passion when she sings – and
her band are the perfect compliment to that power. Katee, Kayla and
Alicia are three really talented people”.
Mallet, described the first Dame gig she ever went too saying,” I
was left speechless…literally!”
The band may have changed a member but Faye, considers that as the
start of a“ new beginning” with Lee agreeing. Earlier in the interview
the drummer for Dame discussed last year’s events.
“We won the awards and then we lost our original guitarist but
luckily we found Ali. We strongly believe everything happens for a
reason. And things are moving along pretty smoothly now and things are
working out great.”
After the loss of Dame’s guitarist, Faye and Lee looked for the
perfect replacement over a period of “three or four months,” Lee
explained as she described that time as “hectic” and later said that she
and Faye “went through a hard time.”
However, Faye tells how they “kept it together just kind of writing
some ideas”. The majority of the time was spent searching out the new
member. “Mostly we were looking for guitarists who fit the part and just
auditioning them”.
So how did Stead join the group?
The remaining members of Dame put together an advertisement, which
“she answered.” informed Faye. Lee and she took a trip up to Stead’s
home where they visited with her according to Faye. During this time the
girls, “jammed out and it fit so perfectly together,” she said.
Upon meeting they composed an acoustic piece, according to Stead who
pointed out that, “We wrote right away.” She believes during “the
second or third practice we wrote a song called ‘Customers of Crime,’
explained the guitarist. According to Lee the group had “almost”
finished composing the song after that one practice”.
While Stead didn’t seem to have any trouble fitting in, a few of the
aspects of life as a band were new.
“I had never been really in an original band before,” she explained
though according to her she had previously been in band that played
covers. Stead also had not penned material. “It was kind of different to
jump into a band that’s already starting to go somewhere and to start
just like writing songs because I’ve never written before”, she admits.
Dame has recently won The Search For The Next Cutting Edge Band on April
24 of this year and will be performing on the main stage of the Cutting
Edge Music Festival at Bingemans Fun Park, in Kitchener early in
August. Swing on by www. cemf.com for additional details and
announcements.
“Winning the whole thing was obviously pretty cool,” says Stead about
the experience noting “There were a lot of great bands there so it
was definitely a real tough competition, but it was fun too. “
However it could be said that while Dame was victorious a few weeks
ago the most recent champions are the children who will be supported by
the dollars brought in by the Brighten Our Future event and the paying
concertgoers.
Mallett referred to the group’s set as “definitely a crowd pleaser”,
before concluding that “The reaction of the crowd to Dame’s performance
was very reminiscent of when I first saw them – mouths wide open in awe
and a rapturous applause”.
During the evening the group not only played their own music,
according to Mallett but also what she said was a “brilliant cover” of
Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing’.
Dame seems willing to help benefits take flight. They have done a
great deal of charity events, including several for breast cancer and
consider it important to further causes.
“We have people coming out from all over Ontario coming to support
us, I mean the least we can do is play a benefit show and you know not
get any profit from it but at least we see smiles on peoples’ faces
because it was a great show, great turnout and we raised lots of money
for whatever cause we were playing for and it just really brightens your
day knowing that you did something good for other people,” remarked
Faye after Lee said, “the event’s going to be a great way to raise money
for people who deserve it. They need it.”
To find out more about the Gerladina Orphanage individuals can look
up both www.gerladina.com, and www.brightenourfuture.org according to
Mallett
“There is a Facebook group called ‘Friends of Gerladina Orphanage in
Tanzania.’ I also encourage people to get in touch with me directly as I
am always working on events and am able to point those interested in
the right direction,” she said. Mallett was also pleased with the band’s
views regarding giving back to the community and gave her thoughts on
labeling youth.
“These stereotypes simply aren’t true,” she explained when discussing
Faye and Lee comments regarding assisting the organization. “Both the
girls and their fans have been incredibly supportive of this
initiative.”
She later said, “I am further inspired by Dame’s enthusiasm and
compassion for this cause.” One of the ways Dame has gotten the word out
according to Mallett is by using “MySpace and Facebook pages”.
To be kept up to date on Dame, logon to www.myspace.com/dameband or
join them on Facebook- keywords Dame Brampton.
When asked about the importance of viral marketing to get musical
material out to listeners’ when bands are not really that well-known and
just coming up, Stead said, “The promotion (of) the internet is so
huge” with Faye agreeing with her and pointing out that ‘”specially with
things like Facebook, you can keep people up-to-date with literally a
post of everything about your music.”
One of their fans happens to be George Stroumboulopoulos both of The
Hour and The Strombo Show. Dame has been a guest on his radio show and
he has mentioned the band and raved about Lee’s singing ability on
television.
In January of last year the band was featured in a segment for ET
Canada and two years ago another publication compared them to Rush,
which Faye calls “a big name to look up to”, referring to the popular
Canadian band. “We are a three piece but Rush, man, that’s a big
friggin’…world’s best drummer (Neil Peart) in a lot of peoples’
opinions.”
Three years ago Dame won the Brampton’s Best Band award when Lee and
Faye were in their early teens and last year they won the Brampton’s
Citizens Arts Acclaim Award. Their song, ‘Intervention’ was featured in
a trailer for the Apoxalipstxi comic book created by Ray Fawkes. The
group’s management discovered the possible opportunity after reading
the paper, according to Lee. “She found him and sent him an email about
us. They contacted us immediately to play at the launch party”.
When thinking about the people in their lives that have helped them
succeed Stead and Lee mentioned the assistance of the group’s parental
factor. “Couldn’t have been done without them,” says Lee adding “who
would take us to the shows? Who orders t-shirts?” Stead agreed, adding
“and the support from all friends and family”. Earlier during the
conversation Faye said, “We definitely need everybody else’s support not
only the music,” later on brought up “the fans.”
Lee believes Dame “are very blessed to have an ever growing support
team. People see our show or hear our music and almost always contact
us to see if they can volunteer to help us in any way. They really dig
the music (and) want us to succeed. Our fans are amazing.” Later, both
girls thanked them ”for the support and wait for more (music)”, they
said.
So how do the ladies envision the next year? Both Faye and Lee have
thoughts on this matter with both agreeing that an album is a goal of
theirs. “Writing an album and recording it,” says Faye while Lee
believes that having “even a new EP right now you know” she mentioned, “
would be really cool to go tour for like three weeks in summer-just go
with the band on the road, but at the same time we need to get focused
on getting new material with Alicia and getting back (to) top notch”.
The band is aware that they need to get things together before they
can go out especially this early in their career because if something’s
not right, “you got to fix it right away” said Faye while Lee agreed.
They also noticed the careers of musicians such as Led Zeppelin front
man “Robert Plant,” (whom all three would like to meet); Faye and Lee
acknowledged that the group influenced them into getting into music.
Plant, age 60, won the Grammy along with Alison Krauss for their
record ‘Raising Sand’. The joint project also won additional awards at
the 51st annual ceremony. “Doesn’t matter man,” says Lee when asked
about Plant’s impressive win despite his age.
“Well, (The Rolling) Stones are like that right too. They’re still like
going crazy, that guy’s (Mick Jagger) going to die on stage. That’s
awesome. I want to die on stage,” she says.
“That’s how I want to be- just like, playing until my death bed,”
says Faye with Lee agreeing and saying, “That’d be so awesome.” Later
in the interview, Faye summed up the feelings Dame has about what they
do when she said, “I’m going to play music until I possibly can’t
anymore”.
So for fans that may be worried about the music style changing you
need not worry too much. “We have a good mixture of influences coming
together to bring us a fresh new sound”, Stead pointed out. Later she
asked Lee her opinion, “The music’s going to be a bit different right?”
with the lead singer commenting, “but not too different, just a little
bit with a cherry on top”.
a cherry on top”.
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