Who is Brandy Oliver?

I'm just an average, Midwestern girl who happens to be a musician. I am the creator of the band Empusa.

To what music did you listen as a kid?

I have always listened to a wide variety of music but as a kid I remember specifically liking bands like Depeche Mode, The Cure and Prince and the Revolution. I also remember listening to Michael Jackson's Thriller a lot.

You formed Empusa in 2006 as a soloproject, what can you remember about the early days?

It was very frustrating working alone. I could never find the exact sound I was looking for, not to mention I wanted vocals in my songs but I don't want to do vocals myself. I felt a lot more insecure about my work then.

Why did you pick the name Empusa, what does it mean?

I was reading a book by Sylvia Browne and she was talking about a vampiric demigoddess named Empusa that seduces travellers and kills them. I thought that would fit nicely. She's dark and dangerous.

Ritchie lives in the Netherlands and you live in the USA, how do you work together and what is the biggest problem in the distance for you?

We do everything over the internet. Typically the way it works is I start the songs. I work in Fruity Loops so I'll write out a structure in that and send the file on to Richie who then does additional writing and vocals, if the song has vocals.

The biggest problem with the distance is definitely doing shows. With the distance we can't exactly practice and play shows. He has visited but it's not like he can show up and we'll be ready to play live.

So internet is very important for Empusa, is it also important for you for other reasons, like building a fanbase, staying in contact with fans?

Yes we've always made it a point to be personal with our fans. We've actually become friends with quite a few of them over time just by talking with them and listening. I've heard many compliments about the fact that we do that. Where would we be without our fans, though? We definitely use the internet to get ourselves out there. We get help from fans with that as well. They're great to us. :)

How would you describe your music, it is not purely ebm?

I think our songs vary so much it can't be put into one particular category. We have a touch of industrial in there and trance...I've heard ambient, synthpop and I've heard a few times that we sound like we should do soundtrack music. I think if we had to pick one genre to put it in, though, it would be EBM.

On your myspace you say, our music is us. What in Empusa’s music is typical Brandy and what is typical Ritchie?

When I write music, I put a lot of emotion into it. It is all about my emotions and thoughts and what I'm going through at the time or have in the past. It's all about life experiences. When I send Richie these songs, he feeds off it and puts his life experiences into it as well. I think when there is more put into it, more can be felt from it. You can tell the difference between a song that has little meaning and a song that was from the heart. People need to be able to feel the music and not just hear it. I want people to be able to relate to where I'm coming from.

I wouldn't say there is anything typically Brandy or Richie. In general I will put in the basslines and drums and some sound effects, sequences, etc. I give it the structure and feel. Richie generally does the synths and vocals and such. Sometimes we switch it up a bit.

Can you name some things, events, that lead or inspired you in songwriting and how do you transform these things into music?

The best example I can give you is our song, In Passing. I wrote that song after my last grandparent died a few years ago. Richie wanted to get his hands on it so he improved it and put vocals in. The song is very dark and screams death so it's easy to tell what I was feeling at the time and what I was going through. Everything in my life inspires me. Usually what I name the song has something to do with things currently happening in my life as well.

You have released the album “Domain” and the ep “Surrender”. Are those self released and what were the comments  on both releases?

Yes they are self released. We are not signed with anyone and we're not really in a hurry to be. I can't speak for Richie but I can say for myself that I'm happy having the freedom and power to do what we want with our music and not have to answer to a contract. I've seen what contracts do to bands and artists. I'm not impressed. I'd just like the funding. lol

Are there more people you would like to work with?

I have a couple friends that I'd like to work with. Other than that, there are plenty of musicians I'd love to work with but I will just see who crosses my path.


If possible would you like to do liveshows, have you thought about how it would be like?

Of course I'd love to do live shows, though let it be said I'm actually very shy and get stage fright. Our time will come. Eventually we'll find a way to get Richie over here and when he does we'll be able to do these things.

In what way will a possible new release deviate from Domain, what progress has Empusa made last year?

In the last year we've just been writing new material. Actually we're always writing new material. We've been really lucky that way. What seems to happen is I get on a roll and write a lot of new songs. Then I get blocked but it's ok because I wrote so much that Richie has plenty to work on. Once he starts catching up a little I usually get unblocked again and write a few more songs. This seems to be the cycle.

Any last words for our readers?

Thanks to all our fans, friends and family and to Cyberangels for the interview. Thanks also to Tony who convinced me to get my music out there and who has given me great support all along. Come see us at MySpace, Vampire Freaks and Last FM. We appreciate the support!