The Mirror Script's Steve Scarlata: The New Gay Interview

After a nearly a seven month hiatus, the Mirror Script returns to the stage at the Velvet Lounge this Saturday night with its brand of moody yet synchronized, guitar-laiden pop. In anticipation of the show, I sat down with lead guitarist and vocalist Steve Scarlata to talk about the change in their line-up, living in DC, and getting recognized at gay bars. Check it below the fold.

The New Gay Robert: So, Steve, this Saturday the Mirror Script returns after a brief hiatus. How long have you guys been taking a break?

Steve Scarlata: It's been 8 months. That's the longest stretch we've gone without playing since the band started.

TNG: The last time you guys were playing together, it was you and John on guitar and vocals, with Nat on drums. I remember you saying that John left the band. Why did he leave and what is the line-up looking like now?

SS: John left for a few reasons. He had gotten married and I think wanted to spend more time at home and start a family eventually but also because he was looking to start a career as a comic book artist and won a pretty prestigious international competition which will hopefully land him a contract. I think it got to the point where he enjoyed art more than music and wanted to devote more of his time to that.

TNG: When you last played, I was under the impression that was the end of the band. What made you and Nat decide to keep on going?

SS: We took a few months off before we played again and I don't think either of us were really sure what we would do. Both of us started side projects in the time off. Eventually I think we both just missed playing and started looking for a new bass player. We found Mark Loiacono and he seemed to fit in perfect and was into a lot of the same stuff so it just started working again. Mark is relatively new to DC from Brooklyn

TNG: A handful of your old songs featured John on vocals, will Mark be taking those over, will you be taking those over, or are you guys axing those songs altogether?

SS: At the moment we're not playing any of them. We haven't ruled it out and I'm sure Jon wouldn't mind. I think the bigger issue is that Jon had a very different range than both Mark and I, so it would be difficult to pull off. At the moment I think we're focusing on writing a lot of new stuff though but who knows.

TNG: When I first saw you guys, you reminded me of the more guitar heavy sides of Sebadoh. Over time you seemed to gravitate toward a more layered, moody, even introspective sound. Was that a conscious decision? How did that come about?

SS: Yes. I think the latter was the sound I had always been shooting for but maybe wasn't quite getting at first. There was a lot of energy in the beginning and I had to learn to be more subtle as a song writer and a guitar player. I think the moodier sound is much more indicative of my personality and my taste so I think I communicate it better when we perform or record. Also, I just got bored with playing in the previous style and needed to challenge myself a bit more and embrace a larger sonic possibility. I think it came about because I wanted the music to have an overall melodic sensibility with an underlying sense of weirdness to it and it took me a while to find the right tools and develop that.

TNG: That makes sense. I think most people who know you would say you have a calm, melodic exterior with a tinge of weirdness.

SS: I think that's a fair assessment.

TNG: How has the band changed with the addition of Mark? Has your playing and song writing style changed?

SS: Mark's style of playing is more subtle and more melodic so I think it brings out a lot of the intricacies of the music that might not have been coming through before. He has similar singing style too so we are doing a lot more in the way of vocal harmonies that we hadn't been doing before. I think him coming into the band allowed me to bring in some new musical ideas like playing in altered tunings and doing songs with two guitars. He's a great overall musician.

TNG: Switching gears a bit, you have been living in DC for seven years now?

SS: About six and a half years.

TNG: DC has changed quite a bit over the past few years. Obviously, the city has provided a backdrop to your life and to your music. How would you say that you have changed personally over the past six an a half years?

SS: It's been a very bumpy ride, especially the first few years. I was presented with a lot of challenges when I moved to DC that I think have made me a stronger person. Stronger, but maybe a little more paranoid too. Hopefully at the core I'm still the same person I was when I came here. I try to be myself through thick and thin. I've definitely had to force myself to be more adaptable though.

TNG: How so?

SS: DC is a much more ambitious place than I imagined and ambitious maybe in ways that are counter to who I am, so I had to learn to deal with that aspect of life here. That doesn't apply to everyone one of course but it does to a lot of people who you have to deal with from day to day. It seems more difficult for people to let their hair down to some extent.

TNG: Absolutely, I think that is a gripe that many of us have. Has that affected your approach to writing music, or even at a larger level, running a band?

SS: Yea, I think it forced me to find an alternative way to express myself which I think is the essence of punk rock. If you're not happy with the world around you change it; if you're not happy with the music you hear, make your own...etc. So being in an environment that was somewhat alienating I think pushed me towards finally starting a band and expressing myself in different ways. I think I have tried to express that in the music and in how we've conducted ourselves as a band. Essentially I've tried to turn a negative into a positive.

TNG: You mention being in an alienated environment. You and I have both on occasion talked about our frustration with the DC gay scene and how it can be very stifling, particularly to those who are creative and don't adhere to the typical Dupont mold. How has that shaped your perspective as an artist? Do you see that influencing your music in any way?

SS: One of the things I hope that we've achieved or proven as a band is that people, gays in particular, will come out and be supportive of something that mainstream opinion says they wouldn't. I hope that translates into a sense of empowerment for other people trying to do something creative whether it be art, music, acting, djing, etc. As far as influencing my music, I think it has caused me to embrace certain lyrical ideas or themes but I'm not sure that's a direct result. I've been a perpetual outsider my whole life, so that's more a lifetime's work than it is just a few years.

TNG: I have noticed a relatively large contingent of gay guys at Mirror Script shows. Obviously some are friends, but a number of them are there because they have heard that there is a gay guy in the band. I think it is great that they are at least checking something out that they might not otherwise.

SS: Surprisingly, I've been stopped a number of times on the street or in a bar and had someone tell me they've seen me play which was kind of weird but cool too.

TNG: So as a perpetual outsider, where do you draw your influences?

SS: I get a lot of influence thematically just by observing people and the eccentricity of human behavior. That's what keeps me intrigued. Artistically, I think I've always been drawn to people who themselves were on the fringe. I think that's where the most interesting ideas come from. People like Greg Sage or Syd Barrett spoke to me in a really profound way that others didn't. That's not to say that I exclude anything that isn't obscure or crazy.

TNG: Anyone that knows you can see that shine through in your music and your approach to music. So switching gears again, I asked you about the gay scene, but your main audience is really the DC underground music scene. What is it like to be playing in a city and at venues that have such a rich history in and influence on independent music and DIY culture?

SS: It's really awesome. Playing at Fort Reno last summer was a great experience knowing that we were taking part in the same tradition as bands like Fugazi or Bob Mould. Playing on the same stage as people you grew up idolizing is a very powerful thing. It's great that DC has institutions like Fort Reno, Dischord, and Inner Ear Studios that makes playing here all the more interesting. We owe a lot to the people who created those things and will hopefully keep it going. There's a lot of great people here too doing just that. I'm really lucky to know people like Katy Otto or Hugh McElroy.

TNG: Yeah, Katy and Hugh are both talented, and just all around great people. What are you listening to these days?

SS: I just bought the re-issue of Mission of Burma's record Versus which is pretty awesome.

TNG: Before we finish, you definitely have more of an introverted and quiet personality. I think it comes as a surprise when people when see you up on stage singing. Is there anything about Steve Scarlata that people don't know about you that you would like them to know?

SS: It's kind of shocking to me too that I've been able to get up on stage so nonchalantly. I feel like I become something else and that frees me from the fear. As for what I want everyone to know: I think people believe I'm very serious or cerebral, and I am, but deep down inside I'm also really silly. Also, I do smile from time to time, despite what people tell you.

Look for Steve Scarlata to smile a few times on Saturday night, April 26th, at the Velvet Lounge, 915 U St. Doors open at 9pm and the cover is $8. The Chance and Must Love Trash open.