Kathleen Daniel is a musician, animator, writer, painter, actress, political commentator, mystic and much more. She is a true polymath in an age of specialization when, unfortunately, that designation seems obsolete. Her youtube videos combine original music and animation to tell stories, express transcendent states of mind, and, generally, offer a strange and beautiful glimpse into the world as seen/imagined by Kathleen Daniel. As clearly stated in the subheading of her myspace page, Kathleen Daniel is "tripping". The result is some astoundingly original, individually expressive art that makes Flying Lotus' free beats seem "locked-in", and Jim Woodring's "Frank" seem starkly realistic. [Please excuse my inclination toward hyperbole; FlyLo and Woodring have my fond admiration : ) ] All and all, some pretty unconventional stuff for a lady with MTV aspirations. The day her work makes it on MTV is the day I get cable and renew my hope for the soul of commercial America.
Many thanks to Kathleen for agreeing to the interview. I urge you, the reader, to follow her work in the future. No doubt, she'll keep putting it "out there". Free content can be found at the above hyperlinks, her music is available in CD form at CD Baby.
A primer:
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How long have you been making music/art?
Growing up in the ghetto as a teenager, I was the lead singer in a group with my 4 homegirls. But it was nothing serious because this was before the internet and a contract with a label was the only option, which was not happening. The group fell apart because we were too busy just trying to stay in school.
Please describe your development as an artist.
I´m self-taught from the time I was in my teens. Later I had an exhibit and a reporter for San Mateo Weekly did an article on my oil paintings.
Where do you find inspiration?
I was inspired by Salvador Dali, and for music it is: the Temptations, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson,Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey.
Your work possesses a truly unique rhythm--have you always been interested in loose, unconventional music and visuals?
I am very independent. So much so that my mother had to tell me "being too independent isn´t always good." But that never changed anything, so my music and art are all about feeling. Like the color combination of black and orange reminds me of halloween, freaks. A certain shade of purple reminds me of death because that was the color of the linings in funeral caskets.
Your musical influences are predominantly "pop", which is identifiable in your work in trace amounts--but only trace amounts. Do you view your work as "experimental", or otherwise reactionary to popular aesthetics?
I go with the flow, especially with my music. My mother always said, "you can´t please everybody so please yourself first", and that is what I do. I live in the moment.
Please tell me about your creative process.
Because I trip 24/7 I bring my tape recorder on my daily walk. I sometimes watch TV with the sound off so that it does not impede my thinking. The process is not always the same. Some times the song comes to mind, then the video, but other times it´s the other way around.
Do you have any collaborators?
No because when dealing with people there is always some bullshit.
Do you do the voice-acting in your videos, in addition to the music, animation and screenplays?
I am a character myself and so do every thing alone.
What tools do you use to render your music/animation?
Cubase, Ozone4, Daz3d, Poser 7 and Premiere
Your work exhibits a sense of mysticism and a connection to nature, but also embraces technology in its form and imagery. No other mystics I can think of use youtube as a medium, or embrace Second Life style animation. What possibilities do you see in the intersection of technology and nature? Is there mystical, transcendent possibilities in technology?
Mother Nature rules this planet and so not to embrace nature is denial. Seeing as I don´t do gigs youtube is a way to promote my stuff; the other being MTV, hopfully my next step. I like technology because it presents another vehicle to create and speeds the process.
"Tripping" seems to be a prominent theme in your work. Is this "tripping" strictly in the psychedelic sense, or does it mean something more to you?
I was and am a hippy at heart and know the mind is stronger than the body and has no limits. No, it is not limited to psychedelics because people under stress trip out verbally and physically. Tripping is the word I use, others use: freak out and nervous breakdown.
How does "tripping" influence your art?
I´m in my own zone so there is no limit to what I can create and so don´t worry about who I might offend which can stymie my creative ability.
Please tell me about your experiences with ESP.
For a ghetto-child only occupied with surviving this was a subject I didn´t know existed. It was a horrible situation that brought it to the surface. One night I dreamt that suited-police came to the bay window and flashed their badge, then they were inside my apartment, telling me I was under arrest for murder. In real life, a day later detectives came to the bay window, flashed their badge. I opened the door. They said, "you are under arrest for murder." This was the beginning of a series of ESP experiences, and when I begin to read about it. ESP is a way your mind deals with stress. What brought them in the first place was that the white man I was trying to leave, did kill the man I was to leave with and being a black woman, was arrested too. That led to another experience while in Sybil Brand. I had just got there and had a strong taste for an apple. Why I don´t know, but I strolled over to a girl who was packing to leave. She reached in her locker and handed me an apple. Another experience, still in Sybil Brand, I dreamt I was arguing with the woman who claimed to the police that I was guilty. When I woke up and about 15 minutes later she entered the dorm, saw me and was quickly escorted out. Those are just a few.
The imagery in your animation is alternately beautiful and grotesque--would you call your animation dreams, nightmares or something entirely different?
All the above, because I have no limits.
Recently, in an interview with Fact Magazine, musician Natalie Beridze stated the following: "I think it would be a big undermining of the process of art and-music-making to waste it on politics. [The] Process of work is probably the only area of absolute intimacy and freedom. Those two things have absolutely no resemblance to politics." How do you respond to this statement?
The key is the word "freedom" and so if I am feeling deeply about an issue I use my work to express and that may include politics. I don´t limit myself -- that would be like burying your head in the sand.
Your work often addresses political themes. What do you see as the relationship between art and politics?
I don´t see how any self-conscious artist can avoid politics because it is a major part of our lives. The oil spill in the gulf of Mexico and the Arizona law are two examples. But then, I believe my purpose on earth is to be a messanger; the reason I have gone through so many changes in life and why I was blessed with so much talent. I don´t forget where I came from.
Is the process of making art a political one to you?
No, my art is a way to release and express my feelings and belief. But every now and then politics will come into play.
Have you had to hold down a day job to support your creative work?
Of course, because being a ghetto child I would have to work or be homeless.
Is the "real world" for Kathleen Daniel as strange as it seems in the videos? Or does their imaginative landscape provide a necessary escape?
My past "real world" was wild and stressed and only strange when the ESP came to light. Now it is serene but that does not change my ability to imagine the strange, which is my escape from the hypocracy and injustice of our society.
How long have you lived in Germany? Why did you move there? Would you call it home?
I came to Germany in 1979, then returned to california in 1981, then returned to Germany in 1993 because I could not get a job, being that I was not bilingual. But do not call it home. My home is USA and where I plan to return as soon as I have something to return to, meaning my work has risen to the next level.
I recently watched your "Cutty Sark" history, which combines a historical narrative with your characteristically out-there animation. Your "Citi-Bank" criticism uses a similar expository style. These represent a significant departure from your more abstract work, like "Old Friends" or "Paranoid". How do historical and political commentary factor into your creative vision?
"Old Friends" and "Paranoid" are music videos. "Cutty Sark" was a project I was asked to submit to. I chose to do it for a change, as I said I have no limits. Everything happens for a reason: I created "Citibank" to relieve the stress I was going through while dealing with the bank´s ineptness.
Do you see continuity between your more expository and your more abstract work?
I will continue to do just what I´m doing whatever style it is, but my goal is to direct one of my screenplays and include my music.
Your videos often end abruptly, without a clear conclusion or resolution. This doesn't undermine the message, but disrupts its flow and clarity. Can you describe why you choose to do this?
I normally only upload half of a video on youtube and so they will end abrupt. The full version I save for those who promote my stuff, in that case I will send the full version -- with instructions that they can only allow half for downloads. With few exceptions, I only have half on my own site.
What does the future hold for Kathleen Daniel, creatively or otherwise?
Feature films, music-videos.
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Great interview! Hope to catch you on MTV, K.D.
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