Dark Victorian Fairytale Science Fiction: An Interview with Psyche Corporation

By Guest Contributor Ay-leen the Peacemaker, cross-posted from Beyond Victoriana

In exploring the range of music that has been classified under the steampunk umbrella, Psyche Corporation would be on the more Gothic side of the spectrum.  The one-woman musical singer behind the band, Psyche Chimère possesses a versatile voice, and her music ranges as far as the imaginative topics she sings about. At turns Psyche Corporation moves from evocative and theatrical, as with“Part of Her Design” or “Beast”; to the darkwave dance beats of “Institute” or “The Crime”; to whimsical but edgy storytelling like in “The Ceiling” and “Wonderland.” (You can listen to her music on her MySpace, Reverbnation, or last.fm).

Psyche Corporation’s music, however, has struck a chord with the steampunk community, and she has performed at steampunk events around the country, including The Steampunk World’s Fair in New Jersey, Dorian’s Parlor in Philadelphia, the Steampunk Salon run by the Brooklyn Indie Mart, and in conjunction with Steampunk Canada & the Toronto Steampunk Society for Canada’s Fan Expo. Psyche Corporation’s next steampunk performance will be at The Anachronism at Webster Hall in New York City on November 21st.

Just in time for Halloween, however, Psyche Chimère stopped by the blog to talk about her darkly-tinged music and her career as a musician in the steampunk community.

Hello Psyche Chimère!

Let’s start with a classic question: Describe to me the moment you decided to become a musician.

I started composing my own songs sometime in middle school.  They were all piano-only instrumentals because I started out learning piano when I was 4 or 5 (but stopped formal training around age 6) and that’s what I knew.  I don’t know that I thought I was going to perform them at the time; they were just for me.  I started writing songs involving voice around the beginning of high school when I was singing more in high school and local musicals and talent shows (got 6 months of opera training at age 13, which helps).

I don’t remember any particular time I Decided to become a musician.  I was always more focused on what I wanted to Do rather than what I wanted to Be, if that makes sense.  I wanted to make music, and sing, and keep getting better.  I didn’t think about starting a band or anything, though I thought about joining a band.  I just had trouble finding any bands that were looking for singers whose music I liked.

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