Call and Response with Juliette Lewis
Issue #33
Venus Zine readers get their questions answered (continued from the fall 2007 issue)
By Venus Zine Readers
Published: September 1st, 2007 | 12:00am
You seem to have a strong sense of sexuality. Have you always been comfortable with yourself? How can we reclaim sex for ourselves vs. being upheld to sex symbols?
— Jenna
This is such a wild area, ’cause it’s been so muddled and twisted. Desire is one element in music, so when people respond to my sexuality, whatever that is, I guess it just lives and breathes in me. But for me onstage and expression, it’s much more spiritual than that. — you’re getting in touch with elements like a primal energy.
When I sing a song like “Hot Kiss,” that’s a sexy song, but there is also this lioness kind of power that’s something richer. In this day and age, sexuality is completely confused. I find the mainstream media’s perpetuation of a manufactured, manmade, porno, sterile girl doll sexuality — I completely reject that and don’t relate to it. I think it’s boring and stupid, and I would encourage any woman to recognize her own beauty.
Sexuality is about connection to yourself and a partner. I’m always seeking intimacy rather than, you know, when you’re younger, the sensation of frenching — it’s fun, but it’s much more fun when I’m deeply connected to a person. Wow, this a long answer, but I could go on about all that shit. [Mainstream] magazine culture is all about tits everywhere, glossed-up lips, blond hair, and flawless skin. I like looking real, I like how I look; it’s what I’ve always represented and probably why I’ve always been on the outside of Hollywood culture, and now I could just carry the torch for other ladies who relate. In my music, I’m much more empowered, I think.
I saw you at Voodoo Fest in 2004, and you had this extreme energy, joy, and love for what you were doing onstage. I have never seen that with other performers. How are you able to perform so sincerely and flawlessly?
— Sarah Kanorwala of Houston
I think it is out of joy and love for what I’m doing. Because I started music late, toward 30, I was hungry and deprived myself of this expression for so long. I appreciate every moment of this journey. In doing movies for 15 years, I’ve had fun along the way, but it’s not what fulfills me. I have actor friends who for them it’s the end all–be all — they’re consumed by their characters. I’m not that way. When I commit to something, it’s 100%, but anyway, I don’t know how to answer that other than, well, I’m healthy, I’m drug-free, and I also really found something that I have to work my ass off for and that I love.
I saw the Licks at the Azcana Rock Fest in Spain in 2005. I was wondering where you get the inspirations for your outfits? And where do you buy the pieces?
— Jessica Wilson-McFarlane of Yokosuka, Japan
It’s an endless quest. Just the other day I was in San Francisco in some weird shop, and I bought these red, white, and blue Star-Spangled Banner pants that are huge flares and Spandex — kind of what you might find David Lee Roth [in]. OK, I’m going to say David Lee Roth in the mid-‘80s. His pants are very inspiring, and I move around so much, so really there is a practical purpose for my tight clothes ’cause I need something that fits me like a second skin.
Also, even though I have been wearing black recently, I’m not a huge fan of all black. I’m inspired by acrobats, wrestlers, the circus. But I’ve been living out of a suitcase and don’t have enough time to buy things. Sometimes people just give me weird things along the way, and then I just pick things out in random stores, or I have a tailor here who can made me my first jumpsuits in the beginning. She made me a yellow jumpsuit, because that was my first wacky vision I had.
Since acting and singing are both performance arts, are there any paybacks — a special kind of release, personal revelations — that you get from one more than the other?
— Carrie Harmon
This is a really hilarious question because yes, yes, and yes, and there is so much to say on both accounts, but I’ll keep it short. Um, I think it’s ultimately the challenging of oneself to do something you didn’t know if you could achieve, and that’s the biggest sense of fulfillment. When I started this band, I didn’t know how to lead a band; I don’t know how to tell four musicians what I want sonically or how to get us all to play together and create chemistry. It starts with a vision, and you just baby-step it [laughs] along the way and don’t over-criticize where it stops yourself. With the band, my first goal is creating a really exciting energetic live show. Then, a few years later, we’ve developed really strong chemistry as a band, and we’re really good songwriters together, so I think this record is our best record.
With acting, I’m always trying to connect with emotion and make it as honest as possible. I’ve had all kinds of self-realizing moments, but one time it was three in the morning, the crew had just had lunch, and I had to film a scene where I have to discover my dad dead and react to that. You know, it’s like, how do you do that? I don’t know. You just imagine and you do it — it’s stuff like that when you push yourself, and you’re using your own juice. It’s really wild.
In your role in Strange Days (1995), you performed an incredible cover of an obscure PJ Harvey song. What is your perspective on Polly Jean Harvey as an artist? Did her work inspire you to shift from acting to music?
— Jessica Drenkel
I love PJ Harvey. She’s one of the renegades especially for this generation, because before her it was Patti Smith, Grace Slick, Stevie Nicks, and Blondie. I love her music and her evolution; I love how she takes chances, I love her strange voice. I discovered her when I did that movie, actually, and I picked that song “Hardly Wait,” I brought it to the attention of the director. The director picked “Rid of Me,” and then there was going to be one other song. I just loved “Hardly Wait.”
What do you find to be the most important thing in your life right now? The meaning of life? Meaningful relationships?
— Ann Marie of St. Louis, Missouri
Oh my god. [laughs] This is going to come out so gay, like trying to be a good person, blah blah blah, ’cause what does that mean? What does that mean? Let’s see. Um. Wait, oh god, all those clichés, is the cup half empty, is it half full, you gotta believe it’s half full, okay, what, the fucking meaning of life? I don’t know. Hunger! I don’t know, this is what I’ve learned to embrace, it used to drive me insane when I was a kid. I don’t mean hunger for food, I mean the quest, the search, what is it for? Love? Fulfillment? You know, A better job, a better this, a nicer skirt? Who knows? But I’ve realized, it’s the hunger it’s the want that keeps you alive. Could you imagine you know not being hungry? Being completely, to me the opposite of that is apathy, is like, ho hum, conformity, like you don’t care to change a damn thing. So, I think this is what I’ve learned, it’s the search. Okay that’s pretty, um, but that, and then all that goes with that is like, focusing more on the positive, it’s easier said than done. Spend time with kids! Okay, you have to find kids, nieces, nephews, friends’ babies, go to a park. That’s the magic of life. If we could all maintain our youthful selves when we were in our later years then we would’ve accomplished something. You know? And not get beat down by the system, the man, losses, whatever.
Listen to more of the interview!
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