Unsigned Spotlight: She Made Me Do It
She Made Me Do It are a London two-piece New Wave Electronica style band made up of Shaheena Dax on vocals/keyboards with Will Crewdson on guitars/keyboards.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band:
She Made Me Do It
Shaheena Dax vocals / bass
Will Crewdson vocals / guitars
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to She Made Me Do It? How long has the band been around?
Shaheena Dax: We were both in the rock band Rachel Stamp - we toured around the U.K., US and Scandinavia, we headlined the Astoria in London twice unsigned and recorded lots of albums and EPs. She Made Me Do It is the epic result of our songwriting collaboration. We’ve been going about five years.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Shaheena Dax: Our friend Nik Panic was saving the name for something cool and here we are.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Shaheena Dax: We both write the songs together. Regarding the lyrics, our new EP ‘Drenched’ was inspired by books I’ve been reading about the frontline - In Extremis about Marie Colvin, Under the Wire by Paul Conroy, Shake hands with the devil by Romeo Dallaire...War and horror, the savageness of mankind, how people deal with the aftermath. I’ve also touched on themes of love and loss, obsession and despair with perhaps a more realist type of writing in a song like ‘Broken Morning’. I’ll always be interested in these universal ideas and mankind’s selfish destructive ways - I keep a window of hope because of some amazing people trying to making a difference in the world.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Shaheena Dax: We both like so many different types of bands from all eras - it’s a real fusion of sounds the band’s subconscious. We both like Depeche Mode, early The Cure, Nine Inch Nails, dark electronic music from the ’80s, post-punk from the late ’70s into the ’80s, rock music, and so much more.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Shaheena Dax: I remember singing along to Madonna when I was little - I’ve always read a lot and written poems/lyrics. Also, having been a competitive ice skater and piano player when I was growing up, I’ve always been used to audiences. Of course, meeting Will and finding my best songwriting partner just made it all happen quite naturally.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
Shaheena Dax: Vocal warm-ups and quiet bass playing on my own.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Shaheena Dax: This latest EP - I think it’s the best work we’ve done yet.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Shaheena Dax: Touring with Depeche Mode would be pretty cool...So many amazing songs to hear every night.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Shaheena Dax: Check out our new EP ‘Drenched’, our website with all our videos including our latest one called ‘Bones’ and previous albums and EP’s.
Catch us live here:
April 13th - The Finsbury, London
May 4th - For Punk Sake Festival, Coalville
May 30th - The Old Salutation, Nottingham
May 31st - Audio, Glasgow
June 1st - The Peer Hat, Manchester
June 21st - Dax Cafe, Turnhout, Belgium
June 22nd - De Klinker, Aarschot, Belgium
June 23rd - The Rocking Bull, Antwerp, Belgium