Lissy Trullie and her band posed for the fashion feature in our current issue. We shot in New York, some of it outside and got drenched in the process. Nonetheless, the candid portraits (taken by Ray Lego) succinctly captured the band's personality. They are a casual lot-perpetually calm and composed. A few days later with the sun finally overhead, I sat down for a quick bite with Lissy at Lovely Day (her favorite restaurant) and talked about her burgeoning career. How it started and where it's headed. In terms of her sound, what is most remarkable is her sense of melody, which courses through her songs unpredictably with poise. CMJ is upon us. They're playing a bunch of shows. Check them out for yourself! Oh, and if you haven't seen the photos, pick up a copy of Issue 16! Bill Maher is on the cover.
Lissy Trullie, I'm assuming, is not your actual name [Laughs].
No, it's a stage name.
Your real name-
Is Elizabeth though.
When did you start getting involved with music?
We had band at school and I wanted to either play the guitar or the bass, but the older girls grabbed those up quickly. So my choices were the flute or the xylophone. And I was like, Fuck the flute.
Was there something specific that drew you towards music or was is solely related to the course in school?
My father was a crazy record collector. So, as far back as I can remember I've been listening to his record collection. He has thousands. He's been collecting since he was fourteen. That's probably the only real early memory I have of my dad, because my parents were divorced when I was really young.
Were there any artists he recommended?
He was into Brit-pop, fifties rock and roll, but he hated The Beatles for some reason. I think they were too mainstream for him. He was into Herman's Hermits. I used to listen to "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter."
My dad loved that song too. When did you start writing songs?
I wrote on the xylophone actually. And I remember writing as soon as I figured it out and learned how to play. My mom wasn't very musical. She had three records and one was a Jane Fonda work-out. So there really wasn't an outlet in the house I usually lived in, but I started writing on the xylophone and after begging and begging and begging for a guitar, I finally got one when I was eleven for Christmas and I've been writing ever since.
Were you in bands prior to Lissy Trullie?
I played lead guitar in a band and I had bands in high school, but I was never the singer. I was afraid to sing.
What gave you the courage?
I was writing songs for a friend of mine who has a beautiful voice. When we went to record some of the songs, the guy who was recording us heard me sing when I was showing him the structure of the song. He then asked me to record vocals. I said, "No." He called me up later and told me he didn't think I should be giving away my songs.
What's the song "You Bleed You" about?
It's about a dear friend of mine who was a drug addict. There was a point where she was really sick and was in the hospital and was going to die, but she pulled through. I wrote that song when I thought that was it. She's sober now and doing really well.
You've had a lot of high profile coverage. How did those things happen?
I used to be a model a really long time ago. I still work in fashion as my day job. It's kind of coincidental and really convenient that a lot of my friends run good magazines.
Is that how the shows in France came about?
There was a Repetto party two seasons ago, and they asked The Virgins and Lissy Trullie to play. The Jalouse girls didn't know who we were, but went to go see The Virgins and came up to me after the show. We created a relationship and then ended up playing the shows for the Jalouse Magazine festival.
What do you think is responsible for your following in NYC? Perseverance?
It's been really hard. My biggest obstacle to overcome was the fact that I did work as a model and that's how people knew me. At first people were dismissive. I was a model to make money, that's why I did it. It also helped me get through college. But I've been playing music since I was young. It's been a battle. I've constantly had to prove myself.
Give us examples of some of the more gratuitous criticisms?
People literally bash us on message boards because I DJ at Beatrice Inn. They call me a bitch. I'm not a bitch, I'm just quiet and have a hard time talking to people.
Assuming that's your least favorite-what's your most favorite thing about being in a band?
I love to play.
Live?
I'm really shy and nervous so it's really hard for me to be relaxed on stage. But I love writing and rehearsing. I'm happiest when I'm playing, for sure.
What helps you overcome the stage freight?
Nothing. [Laughs] I think being really confident about my band has taken the edge off. So, now I can relax a little bit on stage and try to talk to the audience. But that hasn't really happened.
There are singers like Jason Lee's character in Almost Famous, who-I'm paraphrasing here, but find the one person not getting off and then in turn, get them off. And then there are those like Dean Wareham, who just play their music. Ultimately, it's circumstantial.
I've seen bands that aren't confident and you feel that right away. The audience knows. If you know the material and you're having fun, maybe even elaborate a little bit, everyone automatically wants to be there with you. I just saw Lykke Li perform and she always amazes me.
Is it true you sang on her record?
Yes.
How did that come about?
Through an A&R person at ATO Records. She knew Bjorn Yttling who produced the record. They were looking for a voice like mine and she suggested me. I was very impressed with what Bjorn and Lykke Li had done together. I love Swedish people. I think I want to move there.
Your real name-
Is Elizabeth though.
When did you start getting involved with music?
We had band at school and I wanted to either play the guitar or the bass, but the older girls grabbed those up quickly. So my choices were the flute or the xylophone. And I was like, Fuck the flute.
Was there something specific that drew you towards music or was is solely related to the course in school?
My father was a crazy record collector. So, as far back as I can remember I've been listening to his record collection. He has thousands. He's been collecting since he was fourteen. That's probably the only real early memory I have of my dad, because my parents were divorced when I was really young.
Were there any artists he recommended?
He was into Brit-pop, fifties rock and roll, but he hated The Beatles for some reason. I think they were too mainstream for him. He was into Herman's Hermits. I used to listen to "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter."
My dad loved that song too. When did you start writing songs?
I wrote on the xylophone actually. And I remember writing as soon as I figured it out and learned how to play. My mom wasn't very musical. She had three records and one was a Jane Fonda work-out. So there really wasn't an outlet in the house I usually lived in, but I started writing on the xylophone and after begging and begging and begging for a guitar, I finally got one when I was eleven for Christmas and I've been writing ever since.
Were you in bands prior to Lissy Trullie?
I played lead guitar in a band and I had bands in high school, but I was never the singer. I was afraid to sing.
What gave you the courage?
I was writing songs for a friend of mine who has a beautiful voice. When we went to record some of the songs, the guy who was recording us heard me sing when I was showing him the structure of the song. He then asked me to record vocals. I said, "No." He called me up later and told me he didn't think I should be giving away my songs.
What's the song "You Bleed You" about?
It's about a dear friend of mine who was a drug addict. There was a point where she was really sick and was in the hospital and was going to die, but she pulled through. I wrote that song when I thought that was it. She's sober now and doing really well.
You've had a lot of high profile coverage. How did those things happen?
I used to be a model a really long time ago. I still work in fashion as my day job. It's kind of coincidental and really convenient that a lot of my friends run good magazines.
Is that how the shows in France came about?
There was a Repetto party two seasons ago, and they asked The Virgins and Lissy Trullie to play. The Jalouse girls didn't know who we were, but went to go see The Virgins and came up to me after the show. We created a relationship and then ended up playing the shows for the Jalouse Magazine festival.
What do you think is responsible for your following in NYC? Perseverance?
It's been really hard. My biggest obstacle to overcome was the fact that I did work as a model and that's how people knew me. At first people were dismissive. I was a model to make money, that's why I did it. It also helped me get through college. But I've been playing music since I was young. It's been a battle. I've constantly had to prove myself.
Give us examples of some of the more gratuitous criticisms?
People literally bash us on message boards because I DJ at Beatrice Inn. They call me a bitch. I'm not a bitch, I'm just quiet and have a hard time talking to people.
Assuming that's your least favorite-what's your most favorite thing about being in a band?
I love to play.
Live?
I'm really shy and nervous so it's really hard for me to be relaxed on stage. But I love writing and rehearsing. I'm happiest when I'm playing, for sure.
What helps you overcome the stage freight?
Nothing. [Laughs] I think being really confident about my band has taken the edge off. So, now I can relax a little bit on stage and try to talk to the audience. But that hasn't really happened.
There are singers like Jason Lee's character in Almost Famous, who-I'm paraphrasing here, but find the one person not getting off and then in turn, get them off. And then there are those like Dean Wareham, who just play their music. Ultimately, it's circumstantial.
I've seen bands that aren't confident and you feel that right away. The audience knows. If you know the material and you're having fun, maybe even elaborate a little bit, everyone automatically wants to be there with you. I just saw Lykke Li perform and she always amazes me.
Is it true you sang on her record?
Yes.
How did that come about?
Through an A&R person at ATO Records. She knew Bjorn Yttling who produced the record. They were looking for a voice like mine and she suggested me. I was very impressed with what Bjorn and Lykke Li had done together. I love Swedish people. I think I want to move there.
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