////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Hello to all....
I'm back again with a black tape for a blue girl update that
includes a number of your questions and comments. Lisa and I
have been having a wonderful time with our baby boy Sasha,
who's already 12 weeks old!!! You can see Sasha's photos here:
http://www.projekt.com/sasha/ As always, I appreciate your
interest in black tape for a blue girl and thank you for buying our
records and keeping in touch with us.... well.... onto the list,
- Sam Rosenthal




I've got some exciting news for our fans in Mexico. Samadhi
Musik will be releasing a special digi-pack edition of "the
scavenger bride" in late October / early November. Samadhi is
the same label that issued Stoa's "Zal," and they are going to put
equal care into the release of our CD. It will include a mini-poster
and the full 24-page booklet. If you'd like to receive an email
when the cd is available, contact Aldo at:
experimento1@... (use "oh! tell me when the black
tape digipacl is out!" as your subject. You might remember that
Aldo is the one who brought black tape for a blue girl to Mexico
City in 1997, for our first show in your wonderful country. We are
currently discussing another Mexico City date for February of
2003. This will most likely be the only show we do (except for
perhaps an un-announced warm-up show somewhere near
NYC). If you are looking for a good reason to take a Mexican
vacation (I'm sure their tourism could use an influx of Goths!)
now you have it!!! More news as it becomes available....


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow! Has it really been four months since our May 25th
appearance in Philadelphia at the Projekt festival!?! Here's a
question from Ryan W.:

Hi, Sam. I had the joy of seeing Black Tape For a Blue Girl two
weekends in a row, in Hadley, Massachusetts and at Projektfest.
I can't remember the exact order of songs, and I want to be able
to forever relive the shows in my mind. :) Would you be able to
help me out? I know that both shows began with "The Scavenger
Bride" as an intro recording, followed by "The Touch and the
Darkness" and then "All My Lovers". I know that they both ended
with "Entr'acte (The Garden Awaits Us)" leading into
"Decomposed By the Fire and the Firmanent." Also, what was
the one song that you sang lead vocals for, at both shows?
Would you mind refreshing me on what exactly the set list was?
I hope asking you this doesn't bother you. I'll probably end up
playing the songs in that order and fantasizing about being at the
show. :) Thanks, Sam! Ryan Wynns


Sam's reply: Here's the set list:
1 the scavenger bride
2 touch and the darkness
3 all my lovers
4 overwhelmed, beneathe me
5 floats in the updrafts
6 one last breath
7 could i stay the honest one
8 the lie which refuses to die
9 across a thousand blades
10 your one wish
11 the whipper
12 bastille day, 1961
13 ent'racte
14 decomposed by the fire of the firmament

In Hadley, we did not perform #9 and Elysabeth sang #8. Bret
sang #8 in Philadelphia. I sang lead vocals on #10, which is
from "As one aflame laid bare by desire."

--------------------------------------------------------------------

"Kinski" at Amazon.com
Black tape for a blue girl's track "Kinski" is an Editor's Pick in
Amazon.com's download section -- please go to their site and
download the track, to boost us up the charts. The higher on the
chart, the more people listen to the song. The more listens, the
more sales. The more sales, the more bread and butter we have
on the table! : )
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000658BZ//00
2-2336333-1776832?v=glance&s=digital-music&n=468648

--------------------------------------------------------------------

black tape's Elysabeth Grant asks:
Sam, Sarah and I have scoured the web many times to find
Projektfest pics, with very few results. Has anyone sent you any?
I saw a zillion cameras out there. I just don't understand...

Sam's reply:
Allright, they must be out there somewhere. Please email me
if you have pictures of us posted on your site, so i can add a link
to http://www.blacktapeforabluegirl.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave S. asks:
Sam - I was wondering what equipment you have used on the
various Black Tape albums, particularly the most recent. Also, do
you find yourself using computers a lot or are you more of a
hardware-based musician? I know this is probably a subject you
have been asked about a lot so even if you could point me in the
direction of an existing interview, I'd be really grateful.

Sam's reply:
Dave, Prior to "the scavenger bride," I didn't use a computer in
the studio. But Steve Roach turned me onto a Harddrive
recording system called "Vegas" by Sonic Foundry, that offered
everything I had always dreamed of in a system. I begin my
songs on the keyboards (my sequencer is an Ensoniq ESQ-1,
and an EMU ESI4000 is what I use for sampling and many
sounds, an old Korg Poly-61 chips in an occasional ambient
sound). Once the songs are written (which usually takes about
three or four hours), I give them a week or two to breath. If I still
like them, then I transfer them track by track into Vegas (using it
as an infinite channel recorder). Because this is the first album
that used Vegas, it was also a learning process. I found the
editing and layering possibilities amazing, it let me build up
really dense ambient songs such as the opening track.... After I
had written the words, I brought the singers in to add their parts.
People might think that Elysabeth sang the song straight
through, like we do in Concert; that's never been the case. When
I record, I work in sections. Sometimes a verse, sometimes just
a line. And we try it different ways till we get something that we
are pleased with, before moving on. The digital system allows a
lot more flexibility, because you can save prior takes. On analog
(since I had an 8 track), you needed to record over prior takes
which was a drag. Now we can keep a variety of concepts on the
system, and see which works best once the whole song is layed
down. Mmmm? Was that a length answer, or what!
: )


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Fred wrote:
Hello Elysabeth, I will make this brief yet sincere. I am a new
fan and I love all the songs Black Tape For A Blue Girl songs I've
heard at MP3.com but I must say that I've been listening to "All My
Lovers" over and over and it (especially your beautifully
mesmerizing vocals) seriously penetrate my deep, dark, empty,
and lonely soul. Thank you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Harri wrote:
hi! and thanks for nice soundworld and music... i'm pretty
confused because two of your songs contains finnish prayer and
your homepage background houses looks like houses of
tampere or helsinki...would tell me about your finnish
background little... what is meaning all of that ? !!!! P.S: please
answer...because i have lot of friends that is confused too...

Sam's reply:
Harri, the houses on the cover of "the scavenger bride" are in
Prague. The fact that they look like Helsinki is a surprising
coincidence. You are correct that on the "Mesmerized by the
sirens" album, my friend Miira Ojanen spoke in Finnish. That
spoken part was taken from an 8mm film I made in college (at
the same time) called "faith." Miira and my friend Dimitri were in
that (he was sa naughty priest who chased young girls). You can
see "faith" on my "fragments" video tape. I liked the sound of her
voice in Finnish, so I used it on the album as well.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Alyda wrote:
I thought I was all right... I thought I knew what I was
doing... I
was getting ready to work make up some time at work, was
sipping coffee... I sat down to put on my shoes and saw the new
Black Tape "the scavenger bride" cd on the table. I placed it
carefully in the DVD player (we have no stereo at the moment)
pressed play... entre majestic synths, more full than ever,
penetrating me... I stared at the blank blue screen of the tv... what
was I doing? I opened the front door... It was sunny outside, a
bird sat in its nest, kids played across the street, the air was
refreshing, and the music... what was I supposed to be doing
today? I'm suddenly lost, overwhelmed by this dreamy
ambiance. It's something I felt I had to share with someone... I
think this is their best BTFBG cd yet!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Allion wrote:
I just went out and bought the cd today. (I was too poor to
afford it when it first came out.) I just wanted to say that I think
it
works beautifully as a concept album. Elysabeth's vocals are
mesmerizing (as always) and the music is reminiscent of
something classic but also new at the same time. It's timeless. I
can't wait to put this cd on for my clients, thank you guys so much
for making such unforgettable music. I hope everyone has a
good time at Projektfest and I wish you all the best. P.S. I love the
artwork too!

--------------------------------------------------------------------


L. wrote:
Hello Sam! I just wanted to say that I recently got my issue of
Alternative Press in the mail (late, I was on holiday), and it was
so great to see an awesome review on BTFABG!! I believe it
should have been rated 10, but 9 is something not to complain
about. Its just nice for a change to see Projekt getting some
more space in magazines!!! Keep up the awesome work, and
the great music we all love!

here's the review she mentioned:

Alternative Press Magazine wrote:
ALTERNATIVE PRESS MAGAZINE #168 July 2002
Black Tape for a Blue Girl:  The Scavenger Bride
Kafkaesque disc avoids concept-album pitfalls to emerge as a
true work of art. | 9 out of 10 | Listening to "The Scavenger Bride"
by Black Tape for a Blue Girl is like sitting in a cathedral of
mindful gloom, feeling at once melancholy and reassured. Sam
Rosenthal continues to be inspired by the art of Marcel
Duchamp, while author Franz Kafka serves as muse for this
concept album set in 1913 Prague. The title track is a cinematic
overture, a portent of the artful blending of goth, ambient and
chamber music to follow. Rich, timeless vocals by Elysabeth
Grant, Bret Helm, and others breathe dark life into the
passionate lyrics, but it's the instrumental passages-with flute by
Lisa Feuer, violin by Vicki Richards, cello by Julia Kent and
electronics by Rosenthal-that burrow deep with the greatest
poignancy. Comparisons with Dead Can Dance have become
tiresome and inaccurate, for what Rosenthal is doing here is
more original and singular in its ability to touch the listener both
emotionally and intellectually. - Mark Burbey


--------------------------------------------------------------------

Salvador Diaz Orduña wrote:
Elysabeth, I saw in the site about and read a little about your
answers, one of it was you wanna be "Animal" from the
muppets, are you feel like an animal? what kind of animal? I
think a vampire... Do you like the poetry?

Elysabeth's reply:
As far as the animal, It depends what day you ask me! I think
I'm a monkey, but I might be a dog. I'm very loyal to my
friends,
but I can be mischievous and downright ridiculous.  Hey, since
when is a vampire an animal? As far as poetry: Love it. My
favorite is, without a doubt, Dorothy Parker.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Justin wrote:
Hey, just thought I'd tell you that I bought your new cd "The
Scavenger Bride" today and was blown away by it. Thank god I
heard about you guys from Outburn Mag. you new fan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------


Allen wrote:
Elysabeth. I saw you at Projektfest in Philadelphia (sorry so long
in e-mailing). My wife and I flew from Alabama for the Fest. You
were superb! You are a perfect vocalist for such a neo-classic
band like Black Tape. Anyway, this is just to let you know that
your voice is a gift, and thank you for sharing it with us!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

http://progressionmagazine.com/features/feature30.html