Interview with Dea from Tattered Soul web site , by Jen

Dea! First off let's get some history.....You originally came into the scene with the magazine Metal Mafia. How did you start that up?
When I was first introduced to the underground metal scene, I came across a few zines and loved the idea of doing one. I love to write and always dreamt of writing for a magazine and interviewing some of my favorite bands. I decided to try it on my own in 1995 when I released my very first issue! Ten years ago!!!
Were you always a big time metal head?
I remember in 4th or 5th grade GNR - Welcome To The Jungle came out and everyone in my class thought it was "scary" except for me and this other metal head kid named Jason. I grew up into all of the big hair bands, and as I got older my tastes started getting heavier when I started listening to Pantera, Sepultura..etc. Then around the age of 16-17 I came across death metal and was hooked from that very moment.
- After a few issues, you recruited myself and Jill, co-founder of Razorback Records. What was that like, having now 2 extra people on board to help?
I think I released 3 issues completely by myself and it started getting to be more than I could handle. You and I had been writing back and forth via snail mail (RIP, lol) and were getting to be good friends. I decided to ask you to help out with the zine and the two of us released a couple of issues. Then we decided to ask Jill Girardi from Mortal Coil Records (now head of Razorback Recs) to join as the third co-editor. We were known as the "triple threat". I guess M.M. was known for having all female editors but it wasn't meant to be that way. We didn't set out saying, "let's be the only all female death metal zine" or anything like that. Things just ended up that way! ..It was nice having 2 extra people to help do some of the work and offer some advice! We were a good team!!!
What was your favorite interview? Favorite part of doing the zine?
hmm, fave interview was probably Voivod because Piggy and Eric were soo drunk and most of it didn't even make any sense, but it was a blast doing it. I also enjoyed interviewing George Fisher from Cannibal Corpse. It was after one of their shows in Cleveland. The bouncers there was assholes and kicked us out for staying so late after the show, but George came out and escorted us back in. He was a really laid back easy going person and was fun to interview. My favorite part of doing the zine was doing the layouts for it. I love doing graphic design and using my creativity to design the pages!
What were some challenges you faced doing the zine, even with 3 people?
Even with the 3 of us, we never got our shit done in time! We were always late with everything! But we always got it done eventually!
Metal Mafia eventually folded, what happened? How did it make you feel to have to stop doing the one thing you loved?
Well, you were getting really swamped with school and work and then Jill and I had a falling out. We tried to find a replacement for her, but no one was dedicated enough. We had a couple start, but they never did any interviews or anything. I was just going to take a little break, but in that time a lot started going on in my personal life and I couldn't afford to do M.M. anymore and didn't have the time to dedicate to it like I needed to. It was sad for me, but there was nothing I could do. I'm still surprised though when someone emails me saying that they remember Metal Mafia and how kick ass it was! I always love those emails!
Now you have a site called Tattered Soul. Tell us about that, how you decided to come up with a site, what it is, etc.
I had wanted to start a metal web site for a long time, but couldn't find the time and my computer was a piece of shit, so I wanted to wait until I could get a decent computer. I had all kinds of ideas in my head and jotted them down on paper so I wouldn't forget them. Tattered Soul is pretty new, only been around for a couple of months. It includes interviews, reviews, a photo gallery, metal show listings, metal news, a vents page and a few other things. I'm always trying to come up with new things for it. I want to keep it interesting so people keep coming back and pass the word on!
From the time Metal Mafia closed and the time Tattered Soul opened, what have you been up to? Where did you go?!
Man Jen, my life has been a whirlwind since M.M. ended. Just in the past 3 years I've gotten married and have kids!! I'm a mom now!..a METAL mom of course! So my life has been flipped upside down and I've had other responsibilities to deal with and take care of..but it feels great to be back into the scene. I've re-connected with a lot of my old friends.
You have a couple different helpers on the site, tell me how you found them and what they do.
I posted on the web site that I was looking for some contributors to help out with the site. Both of them emailed me and said they were interested. They both contribute interviews and reviews, which help a lot!
Do you still go to lots of concerts? What is the best part of going to one?
My funds are limited right now, so we don't get to see a lot of shows like we would like to. The last show we went to was Ohio Death Fest in June. That was a blast and it was great to see soo many of my old friends. A lot of people were surprised to see me there after so long! I love going to shows and seeing my fave bands play live, and spend time with some of my friends that I hardly ever get to see!
Do you feel the scene has changed? Metal Mafia started almost 10 years ago, so what are some differences as to back then and now?
When I first started M.M., it was all about snail mail, getting 100's of letters every day..the post office workers knew me by name!..Stuffing envelopes full of flyers..i miss those old days. Back then, it was like a big family..everyone watched out for everyone else. Now, it's like there are little cliques and if you aren't a member of so and so clique then you will be treated as if your opinion is worthless and you aren't worth their time. It's definitely not the same anymore. Back then, everyone busted their ass to promote themselves. Most of the zines that were around back then were pasted together, xeroxed and stapled. Then the internet took off and everyone went to email and ezines. I prefer print zines FAR more than ezines, but print zines are so much more expensive to do. Anyone can do an ezine..I guess that's why I want mine to be something different, unlike the 230817425 other ones that are around! That's why i like your site Jen...you add personal touches to it which make it so much more interesting!
What is the town you live in like for Metal? Good, bad or ugly?
Haha, the town i LIVE in right now is a tiny redneck town with a bunch of nosey ass neighbors!..We used to live in Bowling Green and for awhile there were a lot of metal shows there, but that didn't last long. The attendance of shows went from 200++ to 50 on a good night. So there aren't any shows here now, which sucks. It was fucking awesome to have shows literally 5 minutes from my house!!
Your husband Roger, is he into Metal like you? What does he think about you starting the web site? Does he help at all?
When I met Roger he was into some of the better known death metal bands like Napalm Death and C. Corpse. Then I introduced him to the underground scene and he fucking loved it! He has helped a little bit with the web site..mostly giving me advice on how to do certain things. He's going to be helping out with music reviews also..
What are your top 5 favorite all time albums to come out?
Geez, Jen..you are making me think now!
1. Dying Fetus - Infatuation with Malevolence
2. Crisis - Deathshead Extermination
3. Fleshgrind - Holy Pedophile (not an ALBUM, just a demo but still one of my all time faves!)
4. Pantera - Far Beyond Driven
5. Ricky Martin... oh wait, that's YOU jen, not me! (JEN_ HAHAHAHAHAHA!!)
Anything you are loving that has came out recently?
I really like the new Dead for Days, Fuck..I'm Dead and Necrotic Disgorgement...
What can we expect out of Dea and Tattered Soul in the next year?
Who knows, lol. I'm always trying to come up with something new to make the site more interesting. I have a page for metal show listings and metal news, but no one sends me anything to post on the site. I guess people don't want help promoting themselves. I'd like to gain more reader interaction somehow. I'm always adding new things to the site, so it's something you'll wanna keep an eye on!
OK, I think I covered everything....anything you want to say, plug, etc?
Thanks so much for the interview Jen!..We've been friends for sooo many years and I'm still waiting for you to bring Jill and Gina down to Ohio to see me!!...If anyone actually reads this, I'd appreciate it if you could take the time to check out my site. http://www.geocities.com/tatteredsoul1977/ and also my myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/tatteredsoul
http://www.geocities.com/tatteredsoul1977/
http://www.myspace.com/tatteredsoul
http://www.daftcreations2006.com/
http://www.myspace.com/tatteredsoul