cavedoll

Music | Know Your Local...Electro-rocker: Vanessa Chamberlain of Cavedoll

By Jon Paxton
Posted 11/13/2008

Click to read the shorter piece at SLWeekly.com and to see a pic of Vanessa.

Cavedoll singer/producer Vanessa Chamberlain, wife and creative partner of frontman Camden, is a local scene mainstay known for her signature sound and style. Chamberlain’s been in the biz since she was just a wee thing singing Christmas carols to senior citizens: “Anywhere they could put a mic in front of me, I’d sing.” Cavedoll performs as part of the free, all-ages Fat Flake Festival at the Gallivan Center, Saturday, Nov. 15, 4:30-10 p.m.

Favorite songwriter?
Excluding my husband Camden? That is such a hard question. John Lennon. Default is always a Beatle. John Lennon is definitely an amazing songwriter. Especially after he left The Beatles. Some of the lyrics off of Imagine...

If you could do one thing for America what would it be?
The one thing I’m trying to do right now is raise global citizens [referencing her three children]. Children aware of problems that go on beyond their front door. I hope that all parents feel that is their duty to raise good Americans.

Vanessa Chamberlain
Age: 29
Utah Resident: 26 Years
Band: Cavedoll
What local causes do you support?
The Utah Pride Center and Shriner’s Hospital. People need to support Shriner’s and donate because they’re running out; that’s what they survive on.

Favorite coffee and tea place?
My favorite all time place in Salt Lake is The Beehive Tea Room. It’s a great place to take a date, a casual date. It’s a sit down and chat and have a tiny sandwich place.

Favorite snack?
I’m way into raw almonds, it’s my default snack.

Perfect afternoon?
It would probably involve yarn at some point creating something. And being with Camden.

What nature spot do you enjoy escaping everyone at?
I live by Millcreek in Salt Lake [City]. Whenever we can we go up there. It’s really, really pretty.

What was the first album that really resonated with you?
Jane’s Addiction’s Nothing’s Shocking. I remember dancing in my bedroom and losing my mind.

What would be an embarrassing band from youth you might not like to bring up?
When I was in the 5th grade I was so into Paula Abdul. And now she’s so crazy, that poor woman. It’s like when people get too rich they get weird.

Favorite instrument to play?
My voice, I guess. I’d actually much rather produce songs than sing them.

Any local visual artists turn you on?
I really really got into the 337 Project when it was here. Our music was listed on the DVD.

How would you like to be defined in the local music industry?
As a good musician in general. I think, because in the local scene women aren’t as prominent as a lot of dudes around here, it’s a little weird. It’s inevitable as a woman I’ll get a little more attention but I don’t think it defines me in the music scene.

What did you think when NPR did a piece on your band and featured your song “Decoder” as Song of the Day last summer?
I was extremely proud and ecstatic.

What question have you never been asked but really would like to be asked?
My question would be: “Why? Why do you make music?” People don’t ask that because they think they know the answer.

Why then?
It’s a legacy in a way, like a tattoo.

A tattoo on the heart of Salt Lake?
A tattoo on the heart of me. Because my lyrics are very cryptic but to me they remind me of a specific place, time, and instance and experience. Music is a tattoo. That’s what tattoos and what music are: a reminder.

Where did you enjoy playing lately?
D-Fest in Tulsa. It’s a huge music festival, a lot of local Tulsa bands, people from all over converged on Tulsa–it was really cool. It was also cool because I hooked up with a clothing company there that gave me a lot of performance clothes.

Great segue. Because we’re about to talk about style. What’s the name of the company?
It’s called Ra$pberry Grunt http://www.myspace.com/raspberrygrunt. They started in 2006 and what they do is take vintage clothing and do updated screen prints on them so they look more ‘today’.

They have guy’s stuff too?
Yep. They have ties. Vintage pants and shirts and jackets.

What else do they do?
They will print on anything. I sent them some stuff and they printed on a jacket and some dresses. I let them go and they printed some really cool stuff on them.

How would you describe your style?
My stage style is the shorter and tighter version of my regular style. And, of course, the crazy printings of Ra$pberry Grunt.

Where do you get the inspiration for your stage style?
It comes from the music itself. There’s a little bit of punk in there: that can incorporate a lot of the jewelry. And the makeup and hair that Janice and Allison [other members of Cavedoll] and I do is really glam influenced.

Where do you shop locally?
Anywhere. I like to go to Pib’s Exchange. You can find cool stuff if you always have your eye open. Since I’m crafty I make a lot of stuff. I make a lot of my jewelry and accessories and hats that I wear.

What is your most enjoyable instrument to play?
My voice, I guess. I’d actually much rather produce songs than sing them.

Who would be one of you most-loved local musicians?
Jameson Wilkinson. He played drums for us for a while. Now he’s a pilot. He’s one of the best drummers and musicians that I think Salt Lake has produced. I hope he can arrange it and balance it where he can play out because he’s definitely worth keeping around.

What’s a bar you enjoy?
ABG’s in Provo. They have killer Long Island Iced Teas.

What’s your beverage of choice?
Diet Coke with Vanilla vodka. You have to even out your calorie intake. There’s no shame in it. Diet Coke is good, it’s my favorite drink.

What kind of place do you like to go grub up at?
I like breakfast a lot. Right by my house is Millcreek Egg Works. That place is really good and way affordable and fun to go to in the morning. But they play too much U2 in there.