Black Opium lights up stage
Melissa Swanson
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment
The members of the band, all who are either from or live in the Boston area, chose Cambridge as their headquarters and say they enjoy playing there because of its convenient location.
"We do like playing around here," said Ajda. "The Plough has been really good to us, every time we go there people are so quiet and respectful. People think it's a pub and people are just not really going to be listening and just are there to drink, but that's not true."
One of their best songs is the "Model Café," which is a mellow love song that describes a time in Ajda's life when she was in a different band with her boyfriend at the time. The lyrics illustrate how they practiced their music close by the Model Café in Allston and how it was a happy time in her life because of the peacefulness and love that surrounded her. When listening to this song in particular, there is a blissful feel. It is very simplistic with a beautiful musical arrangement accenting her voice and the lyrics of the song.
One of Ajda's favorites is the song "Ari," which deals with singer Nico's son Ari, whose story Ajda found interesting. "Its my favorite because I was really so touched when I heard the story," said Adja. "I saw a movie about Nico and it showed her son being interviewed and it just screamed out at me and a part of me I could relate to because I'm an only child."
The song focuses on the ideas of "addiction, loneliness and isolation," she said. In it there is also a strong concentration on the vocals and the musical arrangement becomes more apparent towards the middle and near end of the song.
With a wide range of sounds and songs, the band proves it is capable of tackling many different genres of music. They compare themselves to the likes of Dead Can Dance, Mazzy Star and Nico, yet are able to stand out on their own. Like any musicians they hope that their music reaches people and that people can relate to what their songs are about.
"We usually say that our songs are about the human situation, life, love, misery, happiness you know all those things," said Ajda. "To me, it's serious business and I know that the whole band feels that way about the songs that we do."
The Black Fortress of Opium will go on at 10 p.m. at the Plough & Stars in Cambridge. Tickets are $6.
"We do like playing around here," said Ajda. "The Plough has been really good to us, every time we go there people are so quiet and respectful. People think it's a pub and people are just not really going to be listening and just are there to drink, but that's not true."
One of their best songs is the "Model Café," which is a mellow love song that describes a time in Ajda's life when she was in a different band with her boyfriend at the time. The lyrics illustrate how they practiced their music close by the Model Café in Allston and how it was a happy time in her life because of the peacefulness and love that surrounded her. When listening to this song in particular, there is a blissful feel. It is very simplistic with a beautiful musical arrangement accenting her voice and the lyrics of the song.
One of Ajda's favorites is the song "Ari," which deals with singer Nico's son Ari, whose story Ajda found interesting. "Its my favorite because I was really so touched when I heard the story," said Adja. "I saw a movie about Nico and it showed her son being interviewed and it just screamed out at me and a part of me I could relate to because I'm an only child."
The song focuses on the ideas of "addiction, loneliness and isolation," she said. In it there is also a strong concentration on the vocals and the musical arrangement becomes more apparent towards the middle and near end of the song.
With a wide range of sounds and songs, the band proves it is capable of tackling many different genres of music. They compare themselves to the likes of Dead Can Dance, Mazzy Star and Nico, yet are able to stand out on their own. Like any musicians they hope that their music reaches people and that people can relate to what their songs are about.
"We usually say that our songs are about the human situation, life, love, misery, happiness you know all those things," said Ajda. "To me, it's serious business and I know that the whole band feels that way about the songs that we do."
The Black Fortress of Opium will go on at 10 p.m. at the Plough & Stars in Cambridge. Tickets are $6.
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