Feature: Katja Macabre Decodes “Brains”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Brains?"
I’m a massive horror movie buff so I wanted a way to incorporate some of my favourite horror movies into this song. I made the bones of the track using Logic X, with a mix of loops and then programming midi instruments around them. I took inspiration from “Halloween” (John Carpenter) for the main synth riff that runs through the song & samples from “Night of the Living Dead” (George A. Romero) which my brilliant producer, Ed, sourced for me and then added in. He also wrote some chunky guitar riffs over the track using what I sent him and “Brains,” as you know it, was born!
Could you discuss the lyrical themes or messages conveyed in "Brains?"
In “Brains,” like with any of my songs, I have a lot to say.
The song isn’t just a simple message of “my body my choice”, I chose to make sure I added lots of things that I’m very passionate about to the song.
There’s the line “Let me give you a statistic, 97%. How could you be so sadistic, 97%?!”
This is in reference to the 97% of women aged 18-24 who have experienced some form of sexual harassment. I also make an acknowledgment to the Roe V. Wade overturn with the lyrics “We are the ones who create life and who can take it away.” This also is a reference to women who have killed their assailants in self-defence some of whom are serving prison sentences for this.
I refer to the witch trials, where women were hunted down and either hung, tortured, burned at the stake or drowned, I have the line “Each story starts the same and we don’t know half their names.” This references all the women and girls who we’ve lost, who have been killed, abducted, or those who chose not to come forward out of fear of what their assailants might do/say, I then follow that up with “one day we’ll rise like zombies and start feeding on your brains!” This line just encourages those who can to allow themselves permission to speak up and that they don’t have to stay silent. There are people who are here to help and who will listen.
Have you noticed any particular interpretations or connections that listeners have made with "Brains?"
I know that people are really enjoying being able to pick out all of the different films I made references to in the music video! I made sure to add a bunch of my favourite zombie franchise films/tv shows into it (and truth be told, I really struggle with zombie movies as they really freak me out!), so seeing how people have responded to that has been amazing.
I also put it to my fans via an Instagram story post and the overwhelming response was that it was “years of repressed female rage given form” (@azteeria) and that “men f***king suck” (@ameliajritchie).
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I’m an only child of two dancers/martial artists - music was always part of my life. I went to preschool where my dad would sing into my ear and I’d make noises back to him.
I became head chorister in both primary and secondary school, I’ve been to two music colleges, studied music at university, went to two different musical theatre schools, attended courses at The Roundhouse in Camden, had private vocal coaching from Elly Barnes MBE FCCT (educate and celebrate) and Sophie Stott and even had a brief stint as a YouTube vocal cover performer. I have ALWAYS been a musician!
I now even teach people how to sing, so if anyone’s ever interested - drop me a message!
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
I always say to my vocal students, “Your voice is the only instrument no one can see. You have the power to change the emotion of an entire room with your voice alone!” And I view it as a sort of magic. For me, emotion and music have always gone hand in hand, almost like every song is a spell or a page from my diary. It’s there to invoke, to provoke and to help heal. That’s why I do it.
