Currently Virginia Wing are Alice Merida Richards (vocals, bass, sampler, synth), Sam Pillay (guitar, synth, sampler) and Sebastian Truskolaski (drums).
Virginia Wing- Our friend Emma, who has been helping us out with bass and synth duties live is unfortunately playing her last show with us tomorrow but luckily our other friend Harriet will be taking over on bass, so we're in a bit of a transitional phase right now.
1. How did your band form?
SAM: I initially started writing on my own in the very cliche way, messing around with things on a computer in my bedroom. When it came to playing the songs live, I just asked a few friends who somewhat begrudgingly agreed to help me out and the band started to sound different very quickly. I still mess with things on my computer, but everybody contributes nowadays.
ALICE: In the beginning we offered up our skills acting as Sam's live band I suppose, but the music has changed and it has become a lot more collaborative and Sam and I generally write the songs together.
SEBASTIAN: I suppose as a drummer my contributions are, generally, more to do with arrangements than with writing melodies. We work out 'raw material' together in the practice room.
2. Who are you major influences?
SAM: Can, White Noise and Robert Wyatt are usually our stock answers to that question. To expand, I think we're interested in music with an attention to sound beyond a big riff or catchy chorus, but that isn't to say we're not into those sort of things sometimes.
ALICE: I think it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge that we're really into Broadcast, Plone and Pram as well. I really love folk melodies, so I'm really influenced by artists like Karen Dalton, Vashti Bunyan, Sibylle Baier and Extradition, as well as having an obsession with 60s experimental and electronic music.
3. What are some bands that you are listening to right now?
ALICE: I went to see Meredith Monk the other day, she was incredible! I think our friends OCCULT HAND from Brighton are fantastic, and very befitting for this time of year.
SEBASTIAN: I am listening to Parallelograms by Linda Perhacs as I'm writing this as per Sam and Alice's recommendation.
4. Do you have any advice for high school students who are interested in joining a band?
SAM: If you're looking for logistical advice on how to literally join a band, I recommend putting up an advert in a record store or somewhere else you like to spend time. Philosophically speaking, over time, I've realised that the 'wisdom' imparted to me by people like music teachers and guitar shop wiseguys has no relevance whatsoever. Remember, you're doing this for yourself, so trust your own judgement.
5. What was high school like for you?
ALICE: Dreadful. Not a particularly happy time. I didn't find a lot of like minded people in school and because I'm dyspraxic (which I only found out later) I struggled with co-ordination and as a result wasn't encouraged to pursue music.
SEBASTIAN: My time in high school was ok. I played music throughout. It was great to play with people whose tastes differed so much from mine. Sometimes people get really stuck in their ways as they get older.
6. When did you begin playing instruments and making music?
ALICE: I only started playing when I started my first band, La La Vasquez, aged 18. It took a lot of time and effort but eventually I became more confident with making music. It was something I really wanted to do and I didn't see why lack of ability should prevent me doing it.
SEBASTIAN: I started playing guitar and bass when I was 10 or so but I soon got really into drums. I never had lessons, though, in hindsight I wish I had. It's hard to un-learn bad habits. My first 'gigging' band was a punk outfit called Unlike You. We must've been 14 or 15. We recorded some demos and played local shows. (Our parents were all very supportive.) As far as I know all those guys still play music.
7. How did you become interested in music?
ALICE: I suppose, like anyone, my teenage years were when I started defining myself by the music I liked. I got into post-punk when I was about 16 and I think that was a pretty pivotal moment for me.
SEBASTIAN: I found out about a lot of music through watching skate videos.
8. How did your band get it's name?
ALICE: From this picture; it’s Grace Slick with her mother, Virginia Wing.
9. Can you tell us one funny story from the road?
ALICE: We haven’t actually been on tour together yet, so there are no funny stories so far.
10. What is next for your band?
ALICE: We’re currently planning a short European tour for Easter next year and working on an album.