by Anabel DFlux
— Sr. Photojournalist —
Senior journalist Anabel DFlux had the pleasure of catching up with frontwoman Sammi Doll of the brand new project Bullet Height. Having just debuted in Los Angeles opening for the highly anticipated Stabbing Westward concert, Bullet Height has caused quite a buzz in the California scene. Anabel and Sammi chatted about the band’s creation, the effects of moving the project from Germany to the United States, and their goals for the future.
Be sure to catch the band’s upcoming performance at Bar Sinister on Halloween night!
Hardrock Haven: Hey Sammi, thank you so much for speaking with us today! How are you?
Sammi: I’m doing excellent, thank you.
HRH: To jump right into it- tell me about Bullet Height and the debut album “No Atonement.” How was this project conceptualized? What is the driving inspiration behind the debut album?
Sammi: Bullet Height was a beast of its own before I joined the project. It’s the brainchild of my bandmate, Jon Courtney. In the beginning stages, Jon moved over to Berlin to write with producer, Tom Bellamy who is a mutual friend of ours. Oddly enough, we met on Halloween night … in 2013 – very appropriate to reference this time of year! – he was looking to collaborate with some female vocals. I came into the studio a few days later and the direction of the album shifted entirely. It completely transformed. It’s amazing to listen back to those first scratch vocal skeletons and compare them to what the album evolved into.
HRH: What was the recording process like for you?
Sammi: Jon has a very particular process – it’s like he has it all mapped out in his head exactly what he wants but executes it in little scribbles in only places he understands – he has his own language of sorts – he’s the first person I’ve worked with that works like I do. It was very complimentary – He challenged me in artistic ways I had never explored before… and the recording schedule kept me on track from completely losing myself to the depths of what Berlin can be … I’m so thankful for this.
HRH: As much as this question tends to be difficult, can you tell me what the most sentimental song on the album is for you and why?
Sammi: Here we go. For me… it’s ‘Fever’. It speaks in many ways – I had gone through a very serious and unfortunate dissolution with someone who publically manipulated the situation to seem as if he was the victim in which a good amount of people harassed me about due to his public ‘klout’ … it was a very toxic relationship and dark situation that I had been drowning in for years and that I was finally strong enough to walk away from … Berlin was my out from it. It saved me and nurtured me into a strong, autonomous woman. ‘Fever’, for me is about the push and pull of that entire time in my life dealing with an infidelitous narcissist with dark addictions. I’ve never publicly said that.
HRH: Bullet Height was originally started in Berlin, having recently relocated to Los Angeles. What do you hope to accomplish having transplanted this project to another country?
Sammi: To be honest, Berlin was not the place to release a rock record. It is an amazing place to write one though. We have been fortunate to play festivals in different parts of Germany and did a UK tour where we were very well received – I feel already the momentum in Los Angeles has picked us up in the current which is exactly where we need to be – connecting with like-minded musicians doing equally exciting things and putting tours together so we can reach all those who have waited so patiently for us to make the jump from Europe.
HRH: Tell me about your live members! How did you all come together?
Sammi: I have known them all from different parts of my life! It’s my personal super group, Frankenstein-like amalgamation. I’ve known Evan Rodaniche for about 15 years. I saw his band, Cage9, play at the Key Club when I was a teen and kept in contact, he’s got a really great take on Jon’s vocal parts and adds a so much creative and complementary input – I’ve always wanted to work with him so when he said yes, I knew we were already in a great position. Dante Phoenix and Bryan Stage I’ve known for about 10 years … Dante and I used to be housemates in a tiny little apartment in Hollywood, and I used to play keyboard in Bryan’s indie/shoegaze band ‘My Satellite’ before I joined IAMX. They are both incredibly talented and bring lots of hilarity and wit. Bryan is my musical safety net – he has all the answers to everything technical, so when something goes wrong, he steps in to fix it up. I think I’ve seen Nick Rossi more times on the road than not – always at different festivals or at random truck stops in Nashville? He plays for Combichrist as well, so when IAMX is on tour, we are usually on a similar route. I was super stoked when he agreed to come on board – it’s a really amazing team of people that have come together, I feel so lucky to have them.
HRH: You just recently played a massive debut show with Stabbing Westward at the Regent in Los Angeles. You’ve cited Stabbing Westward as an inspiration for “No Atonement”- can you elaborate on this a bit?
Sammi: ‘Darkest Days’ by Stabbing Westward is in my top 3 albums of all time. Every song on there is immaculate. It was my introduction to accessible electronic rock and really played a massive role in expanding my musical preferences on either direction of the genre. I have a weakness for dirty synth lines and prominent vocal melodies. When Jon Courtney first showed me ‘Fight Song’ I could hear elements of ‘Darkest Days’ all over it, and it became a theme for me – this was exactly the music I wanted to be involved with because it hit so close to my musical discovery as a developing artist. For us to take those electronic crossover influences I feel are so present in ‘No Atonement’ and debut it in the US opening for the very band that inspired me from the beginning was such a massive achievement and personal accomplishment. All the members of Stabbing Westward are very kind and were very receptive to what we are doing – we hope we can do something again with them in the future.
HRH: I have to say, your attire for the debut show was fabulous! Who was the designer?
Sammi: Thank you! Yes, I’ve been wearing Ritual Fashion that is based out of Los Angeles. Jillian, the designer, has this extremely unique vision and cutthroat execution – she has cited to me that she started designing because she was ‘sick of not having anything to wear’. Something I’m sure all artists can relate to. She has been such a light in styling and very gracious with pulling items – at the Regent show I wore a prototype that hasn’t been premiered to the public yet so that was a special occasion – in our new live line up photos, I’m wearing the ‘Tracer Cage Dress’, ‘Eva’ Bikini Bottom and ‘Atomica’ top. Her designs are amazing, Im’ so happy to have teamed up with her. The la
HRH: Many likely know you from playing with IAMX. What is your musical background? How do you feel your musical experiences contribute to Bullet Height?
Sammi: My parents were both musicians – but I didn’t know them as that growing up. It was something that I was naturally drawn to. I formed a band in high school that wasn’t any good, but I was full of conviction and we made our way through winning the battle of the bands in front of the entire school – I had a wonderful support system of peers and family to launch from. I later joined ‘My Satellite’ which taught me the discipline I needed for when I joined IAMX. When I started in IAMX, I was in the back of the stage as an addition and I feel as I grew more confident in my ability to play and perform, I got upgraded in my position on stage… this wasn’t the reason why that happened on IAMX side by any means, but it felt like the more confident I was performing, the more skin I shed and the better I became. Chris (Corner) gives me more responsibility .. I even lead the female part in the provocative song ‘U Stick it in Me’ a few tours back … These little experiences built up my ability to be the performer that Bullet Height needs. It’s very demanding.
HRH: On the business side of music, what are your goals for this project? Any representation interest?
Sammi: Of course we would like to tour this album as much as we can – there’s a world of people who haven’t heard it yet and there’s been growing interest since we announced the jump from Europe. We are signed with Superball Music / Sony Music UK – they have been good to us – As the end of the year closes, I’m focused on gathering songs together for a new release – Jon Courtney is still involved in the writing and production process, but let’s see what we kind of sound we can grasp together with the new line up – anything is possible.
As far as representation goes – I’m wary to give the trust of this project to anyone .. We have had a few deadbeats say they’re ‘working’ for us and deliver absolutely nothing which has knocked us back in the beginning stages – I’m masochistic in the sense I like the weight that I’m solely responsible for the success or failure of this project .. it gives me something I can control. We are definitely open to working with people who can lift the business side off me so we are free to create more than think about logistics, but for now – this is working for us.
HRH: What does the future hold for Bullet Height? What should fans know?!
Sammi: The more you rally up your friends and make noise about a band, the higher chance there is that band can come to your town and play. We have to show there’s a demand – of course, we would LOVE to come to Brazil, Australia, Chicago … etc. The only way we are going to get there is if you rally up, share the music, and scream from the rooftops. It’s a strange time for music … it’s important to come together and share what speaks to us. Expect new things from us in the coming months, we are very excited for what comes to us next and hope you are on board with us along the way.
HRH: Thank you so much!
Connect with Bullet Height here:
https://www.facebook.com/Bulletheight/
https://www.instagram.com/bulletheight/
https://twitter.com/bulletheight
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4idIyM5JZ58bHbDn6ERkIJ
