Page 16 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 113

BV113 pg 14-17 Dead Posey Interview.qxp_BV113 pg 16 02/12/2025 22:16 Page 3

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Me Down' is that kind of defiance to that mentality.” he song 'She Went Bad' includes the lyrics, ‘I was born
Tto be a sinner. But mama always wanted me to be a
peaking of defiance, we ask whether there is anything saint,’ a lyric which, when raised, brings an automatic smile and
Sbeyond which they are especially passionate about laugh from the band's frontwoman. We ask if they can give us
fighting for and Danyell continues the conversation by telling some insight into their families’ thoughts on their work.
Black Velvet, "Well, I mean, I'm vegan, so I'm an animal lover "My parents, through and through, love rock ‘n’ roll, always
and, after seeing some pretty terrible documentaries with little have done. We were headbanging in the van as kids and all
chicklets on conveyor belts and stuff, it definitely fucked me up, that good stuff, but my mum has a hold on the religious side as
so now I am very passionate about animals being treated right. well, to a degree, but she is so fun. When we came to London
"People being unhoused. It's really sad and minimum wage last year, she came with us to a coffee shop which had a bit of
everywhere is pretty crazy as I believe it's not great in the UK a Satan theme and she was like, ‘Okaaaaay’. But she can roll
either, healthcare and everything. I just feel that people, no mat- with it.
ter what the country, are always getting the short end of the "She did once ask me about Dead Posey, [whispering] ‘Are
stick in a lot of ways, because there are a lot of fucked up sys- you a devil worshipper?’ and I'm like, ‘No, nooooo mum, I'm
tems in place. not.’ But she's not like a pearl-clutching person, she is a very
"We're both very passionate about the way the music in- interesting character."
dustry is run right now. It's very barbaric, old ways which need Tony tells us, "She loves Metallica. I mean, she is still a
to transform, and we are very passionate about artists being rocker."
taken care of. We're told all the time to work for scraps because Danyell continues, "And my dad, he loves KISS and Motley
you want the dream. But, at the same time, we're working our Crue, Maiden and stuff." It's no wonder their daughter has such
asses off and, especially when we are out here like a travelling good taste with her own music.
circus, you've got to be looked after." Offering a little more insight into the song, Tony tells us,
Tony adds, "It's both a very empowering time for artists, and "That song is about coming from a more conservative back-
it's not because you do have more avenues now to create ground."
music, with people or by yourself and promote it, using the dif- Danyell reveals, "It's also about being a younger girl and
ferent channels, social media and all that. But, at the same coming into your own, thinking you have to be Miss Perfect for
time, it's a very difficult time to be an artist because there are boys to like you, and realising that the real power is just being
so many rules to follow or not follow, and so many different sys- yourself and not feeling that your nails have to be perfectly done
tems in play that are way above any individual’s head." all the time.
"We were told if we did this headline tour it would be career "But if you like to do it, fucking do it. You don't have to have
suicide," adds Danyell. "Because every venue, you won't sell your hair perfectly done, but if you like to have it perfectly done,
100 tickets and we were just, ‘Fuck you. We're going to play fucking do it. I was in a phase when Dead Posey first started
and we're going to collect our fans and not be a part of that sys- where I thought I couldn't wear skirts because no one would
tem’, and that's the defiance we have, and we just believe in take me seriously, I have to cover up and wear baggy T-shirts
what we are doing and who is with us in our world." and pants and boots. I was making sure of that because I
wanted to be, and the band to be, taken seriously.
nother album highlight is unquestionably 'Welcome To "Then, during the pandemic, I was like, ‘What the fuck am
AThe Nightmare', an insightful track in which Danyell I doing, who gives a fuck? You're either going to take me seri-
cries, ‘Burn, burn it down to hell. America, she's unwell. Wel- ously or you're not, but I don't give a fuck anymore.’ That was
come to the nightmare tonight. Where leaders lie and freedom when I was like, ‘I'll wear what I want. If I want to wear a big
dies.’ The duo had previously stated the song was penned dur- shirt one day, fine. If I want to wear nothing, fine.’ I feel like girls
ing the global lockdown, but confessed its subject matter is sometimes go into weird little things like that, of wanting to be
more applicable now than it was when it was written. We ask taken more seriously, but then, there is this misconception that
how they feel about that. you have to act a certain way for that to happen. So 'She Went
"Terrified, sad," replies Danyell. Bad' is kind of a jumble of all those kind of things."
"It feels like chaos, in a lot of ways. A lot of time, people
have to push 'silent' on their news feeds because it's kind of an o conclude our chat, we raise the song 'Scar', merely
everyday occurrence these days for everyone." Tas an excuse for a parting topic, and ask whether they
Tony adds, "It's funny that we wrote that song a few years feel Dead Posey have made a mark on the world or if there is
ago, it came out about a year ago, but it has new relevance, a mark they still intend to make.
even now. It could be one of those songs which proves to be Danyell tells us, "I feel that Dead Posey, in this world we
evergreen. It's always going to be a nightmare for someone. have created with the fans we have collected, has left a mark.
"I think, in America, the tone of the country is very disjointed On the broader world, maybe not yet because, every day,
and confused right now for both political sides, it's not just one someone comes along, telling us, ‘I've never heard of you be-
or the other. People feel so far apart on things and feel so en- fore’. It's very humbling to hear how many people still don't
amoured by the chaos of it all and these news channels kind of know who the fuck we are, because we are still so in our little
band on that, and that is also what the song is about, the media underworld with our people now, but there is still a big mark to
and that kind of stuff that wants you watching. be made.
"It doesn't feel like that is going away any time soon, and "So, we are looking forward to planting our flag and being
now, it's getting even more splintered across social media, loud as fuck and making Dead Posey turn into that show, ‘The
where everyone is in their little silos, which goes back to the Last Of Us', where that nasty fungus takes over everything!
idea of all these mini cults. It hasn't changed." That's our plan."
Danyell continues, "I always say, we, the people, are "Dead Posey fungus is taking over," Tony enthusiastically
stronger together because we are, and I feel these cults try and announces.
separate us on purpose because, as long as we are fighting "We're not there yet," Danyell continues. "We're working on
each other, we can't rise up together, so, as long as there is a it. We're grafting in the gutters right now."
team, we are fucked." "We'll leave our scar on the world, that's for sure", Tony con-
These words highlight a lyric in the song, "United we fall. cludes. "Just not in a fungus way."
Together we crawl." Danyell thinks it’s important for people to
come together at this time. nd, on that note, Danyell and Tony head off to start
"It's everything," Danyell tells us. "I feel we are going to Apreparing for their next headline show, a night in which
crumble and fall if everybody cannot come together. And the their stature will again continue to grow and their star shine a
thing is, everybody wants to be paid a fair wage, everybody little brighter, a trend which isn't looking likely to slow down any
wants healthcare which serves everyone, no one wants un- time soon. The Dead Posey scar on the world is inevitable and
housed people. There are so many things that we can all agree it's one that will be worn with pride.
on but, because of the cult-like systems which feed them a
bunch of bullshit all the time, it keeps everyone separated." Visit www.deadposey.com for more info.
"So, it's very important that we come together," emphasises
Tony. "I don't know if we can, but we're trying over there." Words By Michael Coventry

DEAD POSEY