As the lead singer of the cello-based band Rasputina, Melora Creager was an intimidating interview subject because I thought she might be a witch. I have nothing against witches, but like monsters they can be intimidating. Even if she is a witch (I forgot to ask), she’s a nice one. We discussed her childhood, her hatred of Ben Franklin, and we got into a debate about Bigfoot.
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Rumpus: You play what looks kind of like a giant violin, but is actually known as a cello. Do you ever regret choosing something so big and heavy instead of something more manageable?
Melora: No, but I do get asked that all the time. The cello’s large size was a lot of the appeal to me as a child. All cellists I know always want to carry their own instrument. Not only to protect it, but to get the attention.
Rumpus: Did you ever try to hide inside the cello case to protect yourself?
Melora: In a hotel in Prague, I climbed inside my flight-case, but just for a photograph. See, the attention!
Rumpus: I see in your album artwork that you construct a lot of artistic elements by hand. Have you considered constructing some type of miniature cello that could be rested under your chin while you played? That would save your back a lot of trouble.
Melora: I need the cello-body to protect me. It’s really a part of me. I would be very uncomfortable on stage without that superimposed wooden body.
Rumpus: What sort of threat do you imagine could attack you on stage?
Melora: I used to fear assassination, I guess from my Lincoln obsession.
Rumpus: That brings up a good question. Not about Lincoln, but about Ben Franklin, who I often confuse for Lincoln.
Melora: Because of the phonics.
Rumpus: In your historical song 1816, The Year Without a Summer, you argue that erratic weather patterns were the result of a volcano eruption and not by Ben Franklin’s electricity experiments. Do you think Ben Franklin’s experiments could have made the volcano erupt to begin with? And if not, do you think Abe Lincoln could have been involved?
Melora: I love that conspiracy theories are such a part of people. I don’t think Ben Franklin could have caused it, but had I lived at that time, I would have been all over that crackpot theory! I would have been spreading that rumor like crazy. I keep Lincoln and his family totally separate in their own diorama.
Rumpus: Why do you have such animosity towards Ben Franklin?
Melora: I might have been threatened by the concept of electricity, like everyone else. I’m not so different.
Rumpus: It seems like you have a lot of fears. Electricity. Assassination. What aren’t you afraid of?
Melora: Oh, I’m speaking about the past- HAD I lived then, I USED to fear assassination, etc. You see, I am quite old and wise now. Fear of anything is fear of one’s self and I am more comfortable in my skin now.
Rumpus: You sound very confident. I suppose this is why you are the lead singer of a band. As the lead singer, do you ever feel like the pressure is too much? Do you ever wish you could be a back-up singer or maybe a drummer? Someone no one will ever notice?
Melora: Definitely! It is such a pleasure to just back someone up. It is a lot of pressure to carry a show. It’s very stressful, but a big thrill. Such an accomplishment every time.
Rumpus: The success of your band has taken you to many exciting places, including an episode of Conan O’Brien, which is where I discovered you. What is Conan like and did you get his autograph?
Melora: We played his show twice. Both times an elaborate set was decorated for us. Both times he said, “Great set!” and both times I said, “Your people made it.”
Rumpus: Do you think Conan decorated the set himself and he was just fishing for a compliment?
Melora: [Laughs] But now I’m thinking maybe he was trying to use jazz lingo, like “Great gig!”, you know, set like music.
Rumpus: I guess it’s a mystery that will never be solved.
Melora: Better to have zese little mysteries…
Rumpus: Speaking of mysteries, do you believe in Bigfoot and why haven’t you written any songs about him?
Melora: I am pretty into him/her. I do have a Yeti song- The New Zero.
Rumpus: Not to be contrary, but a Yeti is a snow Bigfoot, not the real one. Yetis (or is it Yetii?) are mythical.
Melora: Ok, I don’t know the details, but isn’t it enough that I have a song vaguely on the concept?
Rumpus: For most people it would probably be enough, but Bigfoot is something I hold very dear to me because, as a child, I saw Bigfoot.
Melora: I would like to hear more about that. I thought, however, that a Yeti was an Asian version of the North American Bigfoot and that they are likely related creatures.
Rumpus: On a road trip with my parents, we stopped at a motel. At check in and my dad gave me the room key and I excitedly ran ahead. When I opened the door, Bigfoot was asleep on the bed. I startled him and he fled through the bathroom window. I don’t doubt that if a Yeti did exist it would be related to the real Bigfoot, but I haven’t done much research on mythical creatures.
Melora: Why research when you’ve seen the real thing? Did you cry?
Rumpus: I did cry, but not through my eyes.
Melora: I don’t get it and I don’t want to.
Rumpus: Oh, it’s what my mom used to say. Whenever I got scared I would wet myself and my mom called it “fear tears.”
Melora: I can’t be indulging my scatological tendencies in this forum.
Rumpus: You have scatological tendencies?
Melora: All the greats did- Mozart…um, Mozart…
Rumpus: There were two Mozarts?
Melora: I meant Hitler.
Rumpus: Of course. I confuse them, too. Just like Lincoln and Franklin.
Melora: [Laughs.]
Rumpus: You have a new album coming out soon. My nephew downloaded a copy for me to listen to but it turned out to be a virus. Now my computer is broken. My lawyer said I could sue you but you seem too nice for that. What can you tell me about the album?
Melora: I don’t know how he could download a-yet-to-be-released album, so I don’t feel bad about the virus. Great American Gingerbread is a compilation of rarities/oddities, also containing a live-show DVD from 1802. Or is it 1902? I can’t remember.
Rumpus: Either of those years seem very long ago, but both would account for your inability to remember.
Melora: I know, right?!
Rumpus: Are there any songs on the album about you being the oldest person in the world? That would be a good clue.
Melora: There is a piece I wrote when I was 7 years old, The Ballad of Lizzie Borden.
Rumpus: Is there a copyright date on the song?
Melora: It was the 70’s…some 70’s..