Hot Lesbian Band Alert! The Ladies of Saucy Monky Talk to Cherry Grrl

Annmarie Cullen and Cynthia Catania are two very pretty, very talented, and very funny ladies who together – with Steve Giles and Megan Jane – make up the band Saucy Monky. Annmarie and Cynthia are also out and proud lesbians, which means that their music (which is amazing no matter what their sexuality may be) is becoming increasingly more popular with the grrls – especially since it was chosen to be a big part of the soundtrack of And Then Came Lola. Here, Cherry Grrl talks to the two lead singers of the rock band to learn more about how they came together, their feelings on being out in the music industry, and where they hope to take their careers next.

Cherry Grrl (CG): How and when did you each get started in music?
Annmarie: I think I first picked up the guitar when I was about 9 years old.  My big brother had one, and I think that inspired me to give it a try (he doesn’t play at all anymore). I took a few lessons, got bored, and then returned to it a few years later.  The same thing happened with piano.  I’m glad that I learned the basics when I was very young.  Kids are like sponges, and learning the foundations at a young age made it infinitely easier to pick up later where I had left off.
Cynthia: I started playing the piano at 13.  Shortly thereafter, I weaseled my way into my brother’s garage band.  That’s when the singing began… and I discovered my voice.

CG: How did you first meet and come together as a band?
Annmarie (pictured left): I was aware of Cynthia’s solo project (I had a solo project too) and I went to a few shows of hers.  I was a fan.  When I first met her I thought she was VERY serious (which was totally wrong because she’s a hoot once you get to know her).  I was a bit disillusioned with the music business at the time and was looking for more ways to have “fun.” I set up a Sunday night “jam” night in Venice for my musician friends. Cynthia knew way more musicians than I did, so I asked her to help me invite people.  We started playing on each other’s songs during those “jam” nights, then we began writing together, and before we knew it we had formed a band.
Cynthia: I used to get Annmarie’s emails; she had recently scored a publishing deal with Warner Chappell.  I was so impressed by what she had accomplished.  I went to one of her residency shows in Venice, and I was blown away by her following, her energy, her music – it was inspiring.

She eventually came out to one of my solo shows.  And we began working together on a songwriter’s night in LA.  Those gigs were the most fun I’d had (with music) in a long time.  It was great fun.

Somewhere in all that, chronologically, I auditioned for her guitar player’s band – they were going on a 6 week tour of England.  I thought I was a shoo-in – and wanted to see London, etc. I didn’t get the job, and much later on, I found out that Annmarie had told him NOT to hire me (because she thought I was too serious!)  I’m also pretty tall.
I think I dwarfed him a bit.

CG: How do you describe the sound of Saucy Monky
Annmarie: Man, that’s a tricky one for me because it’s quite diverse.  My latest description is “pensive rock with harmonies” but I think that may be a lame description.
Cynthia: Lots of harmonies, lots of hooks, well-thought-out arrangements and good little songs!  SAUCY has great chemistry.

CG: What have been some personal highlights for each of you so far in your music career?
Annmarie: There have been a few.  Releasing our first two records on our own label (olivoiL records) in Europe and touring there (especially in Ireland, where I grew up) was great. We didn’t have a manager, but Cynthia and I worked our butts off and we managed to get our music on the radio, play at festivals with the Black Eyed Peas and Wilco, and create enough buzz to get on the cover of the rock magazines over there.  Our Czech Republic Festival debut with Marianne Faithful last year was awesome too…and lately, hearing our music in the movie And Then Came Lola has been a huge thrill.
Cynthia (pictured left): Doing shows abroad.  Playing in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ireland, England.  It is absolutely amazing to be able to travel for your work, and to have fun while doing so.

Traveling America together, just the 2 of us, and my dog, in my old Honda Civic.  I think we drove 16k miles in one year…  (I think I drove 2k, and Annmarie drove the other 14k.  She doesn’t care much for my driving).

Learning how to record and becoming a producer.  That’s been an unexpected perk. There are so many wonderful layers that go into creating your own music.  There have also been many twists and unexpected turns; the things we’ve been through, the adventures we’ve had… we’re very lucky.

CG: What, for each of you, is your favorite part of being in Saucy Monky?
Annmarie: Playing live. I love to play live…and having the camaraderie with our band mates Steve Giles and Megan Jane who are as much a part of the band as we are (singers just tend to get more attention).  It’s a blast.  I like the little adventures we have, especially when we go out of town to play.  I also love to hear our songs come to life.  I think I’d be a more unstable person if I didn’t write music as an outlet of expression.
Cynthia: Being part of a great team.

CG: You are out lesbian artists – which is great and so appreciated by the community – but did you ever consider not being out because you thought it might give you a broader/more mainstream appeal?
Annmarie: I think mainstream success in today’s climate is really tricky no matter who or what you are. I hid the layers of my sexuality from my Irish Catholic parents for a long time, but once I told them I didn’t care who else knew.  I hope that most listeners are sophisticated enough to like (or dislike) our music based on their personal taste and will not give a toss about who we choose to kiss.  The make-up of our band and its fan base has always been diverse in terms of nationalities, religion, and sexual preference (bi, straight, and gay).  Everyone is welcome on board. If our diversity and our sexuality for any reason makes us any less mainstream (and I hope it doesn’t make a difference), I don’t care, as I’m not about to hide who I am for commercial gain.
Cynthia: Well, I was going to save this for People magazine (laughs)… but I’ve never mentioned my sexuality in print before.  It’s easy to hide.  Especially when your “look” is ambiguous.  The truth is, I always thought the “blurry lined” performers were the most interesting, and artistic.  All of those great 20’s actresses, Janis Joplin, Madonna, Ani Difranco, and so on and so on.  I’m a “shades of grey” kinda girl.  I prefer the odd, off-the-beaten-path path.  That’s why I love being indie. I’m proud of who I am, and of my experiences; I’ve had some wonderful relationships with women.

I spent years worrying about the mainstream, but I just DON’T anymore.  We couldn’t be further from it!

CG: Several of your songs were used in the much talked about lesbian film, And Then Came Lola. What was it like to be a part of that experience and hear your songs when watching the film?
Annmarie: Yes! We have 4 songs in the movie. Our musician friend Corday recommended us for the project so a big THANK YOU to her (she is also on the soundtrack).  It has been THE biggest thrill for me this year, hands down. Everyone involved has been so nice and supportive of us, from the directors (Ellen and Megan), to the editor (Eli), to the cast (Ashleigh, Jill, Cathy, Jenoa, and Jessica). The project was a labor of love for all involved, and it shows.  You can’t fake that stuff.  Our song TRAPPED was heavily featured in the love scene at the end between Ashleigh Sumner and Jill Bennett, which was intense.  I like to say that we were a “part” of that love scene, but that’s probably misleading. Ha!
Cynthia: I don’t really care for the term “awesome,” but it was AWESOME… best way to describe it.

CG: What did you each think of the film?
Annmarie: I LOVED it. It’s light-hearted yet layered, clever and funny.  I think it was cast SO well. Everyone did such a great job.  I predict that Ashleigh Sumner (“Lola”) will become the new “Shane” in the gay world. Watch out Kate!
Cynthia: I loved it.  I loved the directing, the editing, the ANIMATION, the soundtrack (all the other great music), I was proud of the actresses’ performances.  They were all REALLY good and believable, that was very refreshing.

And I don’t remember ever seeing a lighthearted gay film.  (Girls and drama… it’s exhausting!)

CG: If you weren’t talented musicians, what do you think you would each be doing?
Annmarie: Thanks for the compliment! Oh man, I have a BA in Economics so I probably would have been an accountant or doing something in finance…and I’m not so sure that I would personally have enjoyed those professions (although they are probably way more stable than being a musician).
Cynthia: Thank you for the kudos, but I can’t imagine doing anything else, AND being ME.  If I were to start over, and take a different path, I would love to explore some other art forms, like photography, painting, sculpting.  Writing!  I would LOVE to write a memoir someday – A tell-all about my (crazy) life experiences.

CG: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of music?
Annmarie: I’ve started learning how to edit video and use Final Cut Pro etc.  That’s been a fun creative process.  This year I’ve been trying to stretch my mind and learn new things (including viola).  Next on my list is to learn to be a better swimmer (I’m terrible) and maybe try my hand at surfing! I also enjoy meeting my friends for happy hour in non-hipster joints. I’m an “old man bar” kind of girl.
Cynthia: I’m lucky in DOG.  I’ve had mine for many years.
I love my bicycle.  I love ‘thrift shop’ shopping.  I’m really getting into cooking and gardening.  I think I appreciate the simplest pleasures.  Stuff that brings you into the moment.

CG: What can you tell our readers about your personal lives? Dating, etc….
Annmarie: I’m in a relationship with a wonderful, smart, supportive and funny woman who isn’t involved with the music business (which is refreshing).
Cynthia: I’m single.  And I’m a catch!  And I’m humble… (laughs)

CG: What is up next for you as a band? What are you goals for the future?
Annmarie: We are starting pre-production for our next album that Cynthia is producing (she also produced our last 2 releases) and we are continuing to try and play live in more cities and places.  Regarding goals, I’d like to keep doing what we are doing, but hopefully to a larger audience…and I’d like to have more songs in movies, because that was fun!
Cynthia: Who knows?!  More composing, more albums, more touring; hopefully, more songs in films…becoming better songwriters and performers.  Becoming a better producer.  I love the process.  I’m a LIFE-R.

(I may eventually segue into country music so I can grow old, and fat, and people will STILL want come out to see me play!)

For more about Saucy Monky visit http://www.myspace.com/saucymonky.

Photo credits, from top: Trevor Gale, Greg Chamberlain, Annmarie Cullen, Laura Crosta, Pam Lawrence.