In Her Own Words
Issue #33
Erase Errata’s Jenny Hoyston gets deep in describing her creative process on Isle Of, her second solo album
By Jenny Hoyston
Published: September 1st, 2007 | 12:00am
On the way to Detroit to record some songs for Isle Of, in the middle of yet another panic attack, I finally, reluctantly, pop a Xanax. I think for the millionth time about the inconsistency that mood-altering Xanax and alcohol are legal while cannabis is illegal when this old song of mine “Spell D-O-G” pops into my head. The song is about religion, social control, and how some people benefit from making masses of other people believe things that are questionable. Like most of the songs I’ve written, the meaning of “Spell D-O-G” is hidden. A flying dog puts the world under a hypnotic spell. It moves from home to home, touching the forehead of sleeping victims so they believe in the dog’s fantastical lies.
As I near the city, I picture the drawing I made years ago of a winged dog in a tutu. The image tickles me as I sit hyperventilating, and I release a short laugh. Laughing while panicking conjures more thoughts about inconsistencies and juxtaposition. I think about how just two weeks earlier, I was sitting in the emergency room of SF General after becoming the victim of a violent sexual assault. I am glad to be getting away for a bit, hoping to leave the trauma behind. I am also nervous that the panic attacks that began shortly after that emergency room visit are going to hinder my recording session with my esteemed engineer and percussionist friend Collin Dupuis and somehow waste his time and mine.
Still in transit, I begin to reflect ... I’ve been through a lot between writing Erase Errata’s Nightlife and recording this, my second solo full-length. In addition to the springtime assault, my father passed away near Thanksgiving. I have been determined to stay active and positive despite the loneliness and insecurity I have felt after his passing. I feel I have changed focus artistically for the time being. With Nightlife, I was compelled to write lyrics that spoke out against the U.S. military and prison “industries,” but now I am making recordings that are very personal for Isle Of. Seven songs have been recorded on four-track in my bedroom and some songs are about topics I never write about, like romantic relationships.
I think positive as I arrive in the Detroit area and remind myself that this is a fun and exciting opportunity. Collin meets me at the airport and we go check out High Bias, the studio where we’ll be recording. I walk in and immediately spot all of the vintage gear. Amps, guitars, synths, and a Hammond organ with a Leslie speaker! Wow. I originally recorded a minimalist version of “Spell D-O-G” with Bianca Sparta in our two-piece band California Lightning, but the song takes on a grand new life, complete with Hammond organ during this Detroit session. I am so lucky to be here. Collin and I are communicating well. I play him melodic parts of songs on guitar and he translates them into rhythm on his beautiful vintage jazz kit. His mixing aesthetic and the sound in my mind are in sync. I am pleasantly lost in the moment, thinking of my recent life-altering traumas only a few times a day instead of all the time.
A month later, I sit in the studio of my friend Christina Files, drinking tea while she and I mess around with her Juno synth and our drum machines to see what will sound best on “Everyone’s Alone.” I decide the electronic drums should be live instead of programmed, thinking that the contrast of natural human timing with ‘canned’ synthetic drums will contribute to the ill ease of the song. Christina is a fantastic drummer on a “real” kit and it is equally amazing to watch as she performs the electronic drum track live to tape. Her eyes focus on a point in the future. She keeps perfect time by maintaining the distance between her present self and that focal point. In the end, “Everyone’s Alone” conjures the uneasy feeling I hope for. It evokes a fear of all of the danger lurking outside my home.
One year later, I still occasionally have trouble getting my key to fit into the lock on my front door so I can leave the warehouse where I live. Step by step, I’ve pretty much overcome the PTSD that sent me to the SF Trauma Recovery Center asking for help. Happily, I have not had to get a refill on the Xanax they gave me, largely due to the help of a very intuitive trauma counselor. With her efforts, the talent of Collin and Christina, and the support of so many good friends, I’m ready to release this labor of love and get on the road to tour, just doing what I love, Isle Of.
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