Today's band in Stars of WrockWay is Pygmy Puff Invasion! It's a one-woman-band of Tracy, who besides making music, spends time making art and writing.
How did you get into wizard rock?
I think I was googling HP podcasts and came across wrock. I started listening to it because of my obsession with HP. The initial draw was that it just made me intensely happy whenever I listened. The moment I first heard a wrock song... it was wonderful, I'd never known something that cool existed. The first song I ever heard was Prefects Are Hot by the Moaning Myrtles, and I laughed so hard I could barely breathe.
I started making wizard rock a year ago, end of summer. I'd been listening to wrock podcasts for months, and looking up the bands, and that was when I started writing HP songs and decided this was way too much fun, I had to be a part of it somehow.
What's the story behind your band's name?
Pygmy Puffs are incredibly cute... I have always suspected that they will someday use that cuteness and take over the world!
How did you get into wizard rock?
I think I was googling HP podcasts and came across wrock. I started listening to it because of my obsession with HP. The initial draw was that it just made me intensely happy whenever I listened. The moment I first heard a wrock song... it was wonderful, I'd never known something that cool existed. The first song I ever heard was Prefects Are Hot by the Moaning Myrtles, and I laughed so hard I could barely breathe.
I started making wizard rock a year ago, end of summer. I'd been listening to wrock podcasts for months, and looking up the bands, and that was when I started writing HP songs and decided this was way too much fun, I had to be a part of it somehow.
What's the story behind your band's name?
Pygmy Puffs are incredibly cute... I have always suspected that they will someday use that cuteness and take over the world!
What characters, topics and themes do you write songs about ? Do you have a certain point of view?
Usually, my songs are about a character talking one on one to another. For some reason they're almost always guys talking to their significant others, and I'm not sure why this is.
What kind of musical style do you have?
Comedy/acoustic/indie. I like to aim for a kind of quirky, experimental tone, because it suits my personality.
What makes your music unique?
Well, the songs can get very bizarre, as with the Giant Squid Song.
Have you played live shows?
Never. It is one of my ultimate dreams to someday go to a HP convention and play.
Who are your favourite wizard rockers?
Harry and the Potters, for starting all of this madness. Kwikspell, because she is superbly nice and her acoustic sound is lovely. And Ministry of Magic, because I am a fan of wizard techno and their music makes me happy.
What are your top 5 wrock songs?
Would you like to collaborate with other wizard rockers?
YES! Anybody, seriously. If I can only find people near Missoula, Montana...
What is the most emotional experience you've had with wrock?
That's hard to say. Mostly, it's when I'm listening to wrock songs, and they match up perfectly with an emotion I had about the books. There was this one about Sirius talking to Harry about his father, that one always makes me sad.
What is the best moment you've had with wrock?
Realizing I could become part of the movement and make that kind of music too! Being part of the community, finding other people as crazy as I am; discovering their music, making my own. Everything, in short.
What would you do if you had more money/time to spend with wrock?
Probably get more software with which to make electronic music. Definitely go to shows/conventions and play loads of shows.
What future plans do you have with music?
More Remus/Sirius songs, and I also want to do some sort of duet song.
Besides Pygmy Puff Invasion, I have another wrock project in planning: a HP musical titled Potterwatch. It's going to be me and my friend's senior project this year at our High School. It's going to be about books 5, 6 and 7 mainly, with elements of the first 4 books to tie it together. That way we can focus on the really interesting and dramatic parts, like the Horcruxes and Malfoy leading the Death Eaters into the castle, and the final battle. It's going to vary between being serious and comedic, but I think we're going to work to make it mostly serious, to give a really good tribute to the books rather than something that is mostly based off of our own random ideas.
I really think it's going to be awesome - I'm hoping we'll learn everything possible about theater, from lighting to choreography to scheduling auditions and practices, and acting in the thing ourselves. We have a rough draft of the script, and eighteen or so songs, and hopefully it will all come together. I have no clue when it'll be released, but hopefully by next summer!
Is there anything you want to say to your fans or fellow wrockers?
THE WEAPON WE HAVE IS LOVE!
Pygmy Puff Invasion hasn't released albums or EPs yet but you can find her songs on MySpace, and also songs from Tracy's upcoming wrock musical Potterwatch.
Tracy's projects online:
Usually, my songs are about a character talking one on one to another. For some reason they're almost always guys talking to their significant others, and I'm not sure why this is.
What kind of musical style do you have?
Comedy/acoustic/indie. I like to aim for a kind of quirky, experimental tone, because it suits my personality.
What makes your music unique?
Well, the songs can get very bizarre, as with the Giant Squid Song.
Have you played live shows?
Never. It is one of my ultimate dreams to someday go to a HP convention and play.
Who are your favourite wizard rockers?
Harry and the Potters, for starting all of this madness. Kwikspell, because she is superbly nice and her acoustic sound is lovely. And Ministry of Magic, because I am a fan of wizard techno and their music makes me happy.
What are your top 5 wrock songs?
- Snape Vs. Snape by Ministry of Magic - It is too darn catchy for its own good
- Remus Lupin by Tonks and the Aurors - It makes me happy, and Lupin has always been one of my favorite characters
- Molly is the Bomb by The Shrieking Shack Disco Gang - It includes the line "if love is the weapon, then molly is the bomb"! Enough said!
- Teenage Werewolf by The Remus Lupins - Again, because of my Remus Lupin obsession
- Prefects Are Hot by The Moaning Myrtles - It was the first wrock song I ever heard, and it sort of blew my mind
Would you like to collaborate with other wizard rockers?
YES! Anybody, seriously. If I can only find people near Missoula, Montana...
What is the most emotional experience you've had with wrock?
That's hard to say. Mostly, it's when I'm listening to wrock songs, and they match up perfectly with an emotion I had about the books. There was this one about Sirius talking to Harry about his father, that one always makes me sad.
What is the best moment you've had with wrock?
Realizing I could become part of the movement and make that kind of music too! Being part of the community, finding other people as crazy as I am; discovering their music, making my own. Everything, in short.
What would you do if you had more money/time to spend with wrock?
Probably get more software with which to make electronic music. Definitely go to shows/conventions and play loads of shows.
What future plans do you have with music?
More Remus/Sirius songs, and I also want to do some sort of duet song.
Besides Pygmy Puff Invasion, I have another wrock project in planning: a HP musical titled Potterwatch. It's going to be me and my friend's senior project this year at our High School. It's going to be about books 5, 6 and 7 mainly, with elements of the first 4 books to tie it together. That way we can focus on the really interesting and dramatic parts, like the Horcruxes and Malfoy leading the Death Eaters into the castle, and the final battle. It's going to vary between being serious and comedic, but I think we're going to work to make it mostly serious, to give a really good tribute to the books rather than something that is mostly based off of our own random ideas.
I really think it's going to be awesome - I'm hoping we'll learn everything possible about theater, from lighting to choreography to scheduling auditions and practices, and acting in the thing ourselves. We have a rough draft of the script, and eighteen or so songs, and hopefully it will all come together. I have no clue when it'll be released, but hopefully by next summer!
Is there anything you want to say to your fans or fellow wrockers?
THE WEAPON WE HAVE IS LOVE!
Pygmy Puff Invasion hasn't released albums or EPs yet but you can find her songs on MySpace, and also songs from Tracy's upcoming wrock musical Potterwatch.
Tracy's projects online:
- Pygmy Puff Invasion: http://www.myspace.com/pygmypuffinvasion
- Potterwatch -musical: http://www.myspace.com/potterwatchmusical