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First
of all, please introduce yourself to the Ballbuster readers.
Hi, my name is Harmony Bliss. I'm from Brooklyn,
NY. I used to sing in various heavy metal bands in both the NYC/NJ
and LA areas. With the influx of MTV-styled bands, most of the music
I used to play and enjoy is about as underground as it can get, at
least here in the US. In recent years, I have begun working as an
exotic model/dancer and have gradually been making a name for myself.
I appreciate all the attention I've received. It's been a lot of work
but it's also been very full-filling. I am still always open-minded
about joining the right band but my schedule is probably too busy
to commit to a full-time project.
BB: How would you describe yourself as a person?
I try to go against the blonde stereotype. I
don't 'play' guys or burn people. I am not some brain-dead bimbo.
I don't do drugs and I don't drink.I am very close to my family and
I am educated. Also, I am not a nasty or mean person. Why bother even
being alive if you're going to be like that? I try to always be sincere
and honest. I don't have it in me to be cold and heartless. It's just
not my way. There are too many people already doing that and doing
it well! LOL!! It's easy to be a jerk but it takes some effort to
be decent. And it's worth that effort! Likewise, I am pretty quiet
and reserved in person and I'm sure some people may think I'm a snob
because of that. I'm not but it's just that I don't feel the need
to break up silence with my own voice unless I have something to say.
BB: What made you decide to start modeling and, have you had any previous
experience with it?
I started modeling only a few years ago. My
main ambition was to be a singer. For years and years, I tried to
make it in the music business but the kind of music i was doing was
considered 'dated' by all the trendy media outlets in this country.
When i first moved from LA back to NYC in '96, I was involved in a
recording project w/ an oldschool thrash bassist who had a home studio.
Both of us were busy with jobs and our own lives so we never really
got anything going but remained in touch. He considered himself a
hack photographer so he contacted me about doing some bikini shoots
of me. He sent them to some magazines and they got published. Things
just took off from there. I imagine all the years of being onstage
as a singer helped me w/ this because I was used to being looked at.
It's still very flattering that people think I'm 'hot', though. Sometimes
I have to laugh and say "me?"
BB: How do you decide what magazines or websites to become involved
in (can you name a few that you've appeared in or will be appearing
in).
I've been fortunate that I've been approached by some great photographers
and have had recent shoots in various adult magazines that I am very
pleased with. These shoots appearances include: SCORE May 2002 - cover/placed
as 1st Runner-Up in Newcomer Of The Year Contest as voted by the readers.
SCORE December 2001 -spread D-CUP January 2002 -covergirl/spread/centerfold
Metal Maidens-I did an interview for this Holland-based mag that focused
on my past singing in bands. The people from this magazine are very
cool knowledgable fans of 80's metal and were familiar with one of
my former bands so they were gracious enough to include me in an issue.
BB: How has the response been to your pictures so far and are you
happy with what you've done so far?
The response has been overwhleming, to say the
least! There are a zillion busty blonde babes trying to sell themselves
so when I get email from people who visit my site or who want to purchase
my 8X10's or who have seen my magazine spreads, I am taken back. I
really appreciate all the positive replies! I say a huge Thank You
to eveyone! Like being in a band, it makes all the hard work worth
it when someone you don't know tells you that they are a fan.
BB: What do you hope to accomplish by appearing in magazines, or is
t his just a hobby? Would you like to make a career out of it?
I am already making a career out of it. The
modeling doesn't cover my bills so I work as an exotic dancer. I suppose
that labels me as a 'bad girl' but stereotypes are not always true
for dancers. All dancers don't do drugs or alcohol, they don't all
have un-wed children, they don't come from abusive families nor are
they 'whores' or porn stars, either. Too many negative stereotypes
surround girls in this industry and it's just wrong. It's just like
the 80's when bands like Iron Maiden and heavy metal fans in general
were always accused of being these so-called 'evil devil-worshippers'.
It's too common in our society for people to point the finger at others
who are different and attempt to brand them as 'immoral' or 'evil'.
I personally think the people who feel compelled to brand others and
to feed that stereotype by being narrow-minded are the people who
are truly 'immoral' and 'evil'. What gives you the right to judge
me?
BB: Okay, now, let's talk music. First of all, what are some of your
favorite bands? -
Iron Maiden, Alice In Chains, NIN, old Aeromsith,
Queensryche, Fleetwood Mac, Heart, Judas Priest, Cheap Trick, Neurosis,
Crowbar, Queens Of The Stone Age, Savatage, Soundgarden, Helloween,
Tool, and some of the power metal bands with melodic vocals and the
twin lead guitars. I love that kind of stuff. I'm a girl, we like
melody in our metal! LOL!!!
BB: In your opinion, what are the top rock and roll albums of all
time? Iron Maiden-Killers, Number Of The Beast, Powerslave Judas Priest-Screaming
For Vengeance, Sad Wings Of Destiny Aerosmith-Rocks, Toys In The Attic
Tool-Aenima Nine Inch Nails-Pretty Hate Machine, The Downward Spiral
Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime, Warning Fleetwood Mac-Rumors(anything
with Stevie Nicks actually. She's a true diva) Alice In Chains-Dirt
Cheap Trick-Live At Budakan, Dream Police White Zombie-La Sexorcisto
Heart-Little Queen
BB: Since this site & magazine deals with a lot of unsigned/independent
bands,what do you look for in an "unknown," ya know, what do they
have to do to get your attention and your support? - There has to
be melody in the vox. I have seen too many death metal bands that
have great riffs but the growling is too one-dimensional for me. It
gets old fast. The stuff with moody parts and atmosphere is cool but
that black metal shrieking just gets on my nerves. There are a few
bands that are exteremly heavy that I do like, Neurosis being a perfect
example as they operate a bit outside what the average heavy band
does. I've seen them live a few times and enjoy them alot. Crowbar
is another. I do like some of the power metal that fans of 'heavier'
bands consider cheesy, are appealing to me due to solid vocal melodies,
twin guitar leads, and good songwriting. Bands like Blind Guardian
and Fates Warning are two that stand out. I'm not really up on the
newest bands. I just know I like bands that use melody, groove, and
hooks.
BB: Are you active in the music scene or just a fan ?
For so many years, I was extremely active because
I was always trying to promote whatever band I was in. In LA, I sang
in an all-female band and we had a nice little following that would
come to all our gigs. Then the whole grunge/alternative trend hit
and it kinda killed the heavy metal scene out there. I guess younger
audiences were more interested in greasy guys in flannel making noise
than spandex-clad babes with lead guitar solos and soaring vocals.
Nowadays, I am just an audience member.
BB: Your likes & dislikes on the int'l underground HARD music community.
I like the fact that alot of the younger generation
are as pissed as the rest of us that MTV has turned its back on metal
as a whole. I personally hate bands like Limp Biscuit, Lincoln Park,
Papa Roach, etc, and am really tired of listening to such whining
talentless crap being pushed on the airwaves. Keep your rap out of
my METAL!!!! You can't spell CRAP without RAP. As far as my likes/dislikes
about the US underground: I go to the NJ Metalfest every year. It
has been both a good and bad thing. It's good because it's the closest
we'll get to a true 'metal festival' since we'll never have the huge
ones like they do in Europe. On the bad side, the organizers really
burn alot of bands by using the pay-to-play policy and often cutting
bands' set times. I won't even comment on the concept of having 2
stages in 1 room seperated by a curtain. I would hope that other fests
here in the US, like the Classic Metal Fest in Cleveland, the Progpower
fest in Atlanta, and the Powermad fest in Baltimore continue to draw
crowds both young and old. They are smaller than the Metalfest series
and very DIY but feature some of the most talented and overlooked
metal bands in the scene. Do yourself a favor and attend one of these
fests in 2002. Never know, you might see me there!!!!!
BB: Any final words to the people who will be looking at your pictures
and reading this interview?
Please visit my website at www.harmonybliss.com.
Don't be shy!
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