Speed Queen
An interview with Chicks on Speed front person, Alex Murray-Leslie
(This interview was conducted in 2007 and originally appeared in BK Magazine in March of that year.)
Alex Murray-Leslie is the front person in Chicks on Speed, one of today’s leading electronic music groups/art collectives. Starting in Munich as a group of designers, musicians, filmmakers and collage artists aligned with the DIY ethos, Chicks on Speed first came into the public eye for their efforts as musicians in 2000 with an electropunk cover of Malaria!’s “Kaltes Klares Wasser.” She’s DJing at Club Culture on Mar 30.
In your opinion, why is music such a powerful medium?
Music is something for all the senses, especially in the live presentation. It’s confrontational, and demands a reaction, creating a discourse between performer and audience.
Which instruments or sound devices do you find most interesting?
The most interesting sound devices for me are the homemade ones (I’m not so into traditional instruments that require traditional training).
Do you find there are shortcomings to music or messages that are better suited to different artistic mediums?
Oh definitely, I think a load of musicians would be amazing fashion designers and vice versa. I always find it a shame when an artist limits themselves to only one creative medium. Sometimes a pattern on a dress can become a song, a music video, a dance and more.
What’s more important — the ability to create something totally new or the ability to present something in an attractive or cool way?
I don’t really think “the new” is entirely important or exciting, what’s more interesting is the connection between history and “the now,” its the combination that gets me excited. As John Cage once said, it’s not how you do something but what you do.
Which artists have you recently been most excited and inspired by?
I love the new Yoko Ono remix album titled Yes, I’m a Witch, especially the mixes by Peaches and Le Tigre. I’m totally into Anat Ben David’s new album about to be released on Chicks on Speed records. I’m always excited when I hear new young women making music and putting it out there on MySpace — it’s inspiring to find those gems, surfing late at night.
You played in Southeast Asia before. How do you find the crowds here?
Yes, we’ve played two times in Singapore at Zouk, and about seven times in Tokyo. The crowds definitely compare to the wild ones you find in Buenos Aires or Tampere, Finland or Melbourne, Australia. Put it this way…I’m So Excited!!!
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