We have received lots of requests since we decided to offer free interviews to artists involved in or connected to the gothic subculture. As the blog has become quite famous (almost 10,000 views per month), we decided to start this project to give opportunity to all to advertise themselves and their career and make themselves known among the gothic community. This is also a great chance for the readers and followers of this blog to get in touch something different from the usual famous overheard stuff and to discover the interesting "little known acts" in the gothic world.
Among all the requests we have received we chose as victim for an interview a very pretty alternative female model from Germany called
Melle Noire
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| Photography by: Tobias K. |
First of all, what inspired you to become an alternative model?
I loved to be photographed since I was a child ( but for a long time I thought I would get no chance to start modeling ). Then in the late summer 2001 somebody approached me in a club and asked me if I wanna try to start an alternative model career :) I didn't know that alternative and amateur modeling was existing ! O.o
When did you career start and how?
I started modeling in September 2001, I had my first regular shootings with a good friend – she was searching for alternative models to get an art school diploma - and with Morpheus Arms in Darmstadt. He who had approached me for alternative modeling knowed this photographer and helped me to arrange the shooting.
What are the pros and cons of being an alternative model?
At first it's amazing to work with so many creative people, I can play several roles in front if the camera, I can be however I want ! :) I am very versatile and love to show 1000 different faces ! And of course it's always great to get good pictures of me after a shooting, modeling is pushing my ego and it's absolutely wonderful for me to get publications ! :) Furthermore I just enjoy the change of scene when I am out for shootings and sometimes I can get new views of life, that's very interesting ! :)
Otherwise it's sometimes exhausting for me to be Melle Noire when I go out for clubbing in my private life, because I need much time for my styling and for my make-up ( 2-3 hours ) and my look should be always PERFECT, I never would celebrate the nights in clubs without a good make-up, I have to cultivate my image ! That can be very stressful and I don't always like that. Since a few years in my normal course of life there is no make-up in my face, then I can be just me without any stuff.
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| Photography by: MM-Pictures (http://mm-pictures.info) |
You say that
being Melle Noire can be quite stressful because you have to keep your image
perfect all the time, like you created an alter ego. Which are the common
things/characteristics between Melle Noire and the "real" you?
I would say in my private life I am just an
ordinary gothic girl. In my normal course of life not all things have to be
perfect, I don't have to be perfect all the time and that's good. Then it's
very important for me to remain true to myself, I am rooted to the soil and I
economize, I am sparing with money, sometimes I am really stingy ! :D
At the most time Melle Noire is an extraverted
person, indeed in my private life I am extraverted, too ( I love to go out, to
talk, to meet my friends, to have a lot of fun... And I am not shy ! ) but in
some areas of life I am introverted, I brood over many things in my life and I
worry about all sorts of things. Furthermore I want to do some things in peace,
please do not disturb me for example when I am editing pictures or doing office
work ! I cannot concentrate when too many people are around me. And I am not
always in contact with my friends, sometimes I enjoy to spend time alone just
with myself . :)
In front of the camera Melle Noire seems to be
always self-confident. But on some days the private person has a low
self-esteem. Then I am depressive, I feel inconsequential and unsightly. In my
childhood I was bullied by my schoolmates for many years. That lacerated me, it
was a trauma and I still have bad dreams. When I was a child I had definitely
thoughts of suicide. O.o
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| Photography by: Tobias K. |
From your pictures we can see you love gothic style. Do you consider yourself a Goth? How long have you been into the scene?
Oh yes, absolutely, gothic is my life ! I joined the scene in 1998, I met somebody at school, who was always dressed in black - I was fascinated and a few weeks later I wore black clothes only, too and started listening to dark music.
Which are
the first bands that you listened to? And which are your favourite bands today?
At the beginning of my darker life I was
listening to Rammstein ( that was the first band ! ), Garbage, Guano Apes, Die
Toten Hosen, Böhse Onkelz, The Offspring, Marilyn Manson, Iron Maiden, Alice
Cooper, Slayer, Blind Guardian, Cradle of Filth...
Over the years my taste in music has changed,
today I like more different music genres. Favourite bands : The Crüxhadows,
Wolfsheim, VNV Nation, In Strict Confidence, Covenant, Apoptygma Berzerk,
Project Pitchfork, Absurd Minds, Suicide Commando, Feindflug, Grendel,
Wumpscut, Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, Spetsnaz, Leatherstrip, Front Line Assembly,
Skinny Puppy, SPK, DIVE, PAL, Haus Arafna, Deine Lakaien, Lacrimosa, Das Ich,
Janus, ASP, Rammstein, OOMPH!, Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper, Type-0 Negative,
The Sisters of Mercy, Nightwish, Metallica, Subway to Sally, Faun, Schandmaul,
Mila Mar, Die verbannten Kinder Evas, Qntal, Fiddler's Green, Joy Divison, Die
Toten Hosen... and so many more !!!
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| Photography by Marcell Waltzer (www.schwarze-farben.de ) |
Who are your idols and main inspirations?
I have no idols. But of course sometimes I am inspirated by a work of somebody ! Watching movies or TV series can inspirate me for new ideas, a nightly dream, my everyday life, some situations in my life, stories of other people's life, romances, teratologies, legends... :)
Could you
make an example of something that has particularly inspired you in your life?
For example I very like the look of movies
directed by Tim Burton ! Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton's
Corpse Bride, Alice in Wonderland... SO wonderful and amazing !!!! But I
generally love the fantasy genre - and science fiction, too ! :) I think that
has influenced my modeling work a little bit... ;)
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Photography by:
Incarda DesEYEn ( www.facebook.com/pages/Incarda-DesEYEn/178908248832532 ) |
Beside modelling, do you have other hobbies?
Yes, of course ! My hobbies are : Watching TV, going to the pictures ( I love movies and TV series ! ), surfing the Internet, meeting friends, going out for clubbing, listening to music, doing crossword puzzles, editing pictures, writing poems, drawing, reading...
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| Photography by: Catherine Lee Mason ( www.catleema.de ) |
Find out more about Melle Noire at the following links:
Website : http://www.melles-midnight.de
Blog : http://mellenoire.wordpress.com
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/mellenoire
