By: Chris Stead

Ex-Voto is a group that is legendary with the Goth and Deathrock crowd. Their legacy reaches back to the late eighties and into the current year. Their career has spanned decades where they have made memorable and lasting songs, considered classics in the Goth culture. Their latest album, released in 2006, Doloroso, with songs like Seven Sisters, it is doubtful that they will be forgotten any time soon. Through moves, the pain of change followed by rediscovery and even a hurricane, this band consistently pours their hearts into the music they make. Influenced by the world around them, their emotions as well as the people they encounter every day, Ex-Voto makes music for the soul. Melissa shares a little insight into the band and their world, and the tapestry of their music.

Gothic Angst Webzine (GAW): What encouraged the group to move from Los Angeles to
New Orleans?

Melissa: Larry was transferred from the job he was working and
was moved to New Orleans. Linda accompanied him, and I
ended up joining the band years later.

GAW: Has living in New Orleans influenced your sound and
style?

Melissa: New Orleans definately has its defined mood and
ambiance. That, coupled with the local vibe (positive
and negative) of people we have worked and lived with
here may have had an affect.

GAW: Has the spirituality prevalent in the south influenced
your music and message?

Melissa: I, personally, have always
loved the spiritual aspect of this city, from its
reverence for tradition to the almost mystical
Catholic observences, and influence of the saints. It
is present in the architecture, statuary and every
aspect of society. We are all spiritual, so I think
that it has only inhanced that aspect of our music.

GAW: How has your sound changed over the years?

Melissa: I think
that Doloroso is a return to a more heavy,
guitar-driven deathrock feel, more in the tradition
of Anno Domini, than some of the more keyboard laden
music.

GAW: How did your signature look develop?

Melissa: The “zombie”
make-up was an idea we had for a Halloween show that
just kind of stuck. The exaggerated faces are comical,
but downright creepy too. We don’t always play in the
make-up. We like to keep people guessing.

GAW: How did Hurricane Katrina affect the group?

Melissa: I am
still living in New Orleans, but Larry was forced to
re-locate to Houston, and Linda is now living back in
Los Angeles. As you can see, it makes practicing a
challenge, but I am happy to say that we are
overcoming our difficulties and will still be
recording, playing, and moving on. Its love for it
that drives us on, I guess!

GAW: Did the disaster influence your music in the process?

Melissa: Yeah. Like I said earlier, it makes it difficult for
us to be together for the musical process of coming up
with something and just working on it together on a
whim. We have to communicate by phone, mail, and
internet to work now. I think it is way less personal
and I miss everyone dearly. But we won’t be held back.

GAW: What is the message underlying Doloroso?

Melissa: I can’t speak
for Larry, but what I get out of it is that it
explores the way we deal with relationships, whether
it be betrayal on a spiritual or emotional level, or
even knowing oneself and being shocked by the
revelations we have on our own.

GAW: Being that doloroso means painful in Spanish, is this
album in some way a means for dealing with some sort
of internal or emotional pain?

Melissa: I think that the
process of making music is cathartic. If you pour
yourself into it, hopefully you create something that
is real and part of yourself. This, in my opinion, is
what resonates with people. I hope with Doloroso that
we have achieved this.

GAW: How is Doloroso different from your previous albums?

Melissa: Again, I think that it is a heavier, more intense
album. It can be aggressive, but tender at times as
well.

GAW: What are your tour plans like through the middle and
end of this year?

Melissa: We haven’t decided where we are going to tour yet, but
I think that we are counting on at least doing two
weeks. If anyone wants ot host us, please let us know!

Also check out Ex-Voto at:

Ex-Voto’s Official Website
Ex-Voto’s MySpace page