IN THE MAGAZINE

THE DUCHESS OF YORK

On the Town With Bloody Wounds

BY LISA CRYSTAL CARVER
PHOTOS BY KEITH NEWELL

There is nothing interesting about York/There is no life/It’s killing me to be here.
—Bloody Wounds, “York”



Bloody Wounds is a strange person, and she makes strange music that is so undefined by conventional genre, you end up finding yourself in it. I hear a helpless, distorted-thinking, ambitious little person up against a vicious town with nothing but music as a shield, because that’s who I was as a kid. The photographer I took with me to Bloody Wounds’s hometown of York, Pennsylvania, noted her obsessive need for control over her environment—the towels folded military-style in threes in her bathroom—because he’s that way. A pop-culture referencer saw William Hung. An ugly, unimaginative woman I know remarked simply, “Hideous!” Well, that’s my whole opinion about that woman too! A guy who grew up overweight and repressed and then, through drug abuse and sex with strangers, transformed himself into someone rich and chic and perfect and now sees potential anywhere he goes said, “She’s so beautiful!”

Her open and unusual heart acts as a mirror. Go listen to her here and see who you are.

Bloody Wounds: This is Bloody Wounds.

Vice: How old are you?
Twenty-six.

Do you work?
No.

How come you keep missing my calls?
Well, earlier today it looked like we were going to get a tornado, so I had to go to the store. The sky was mad black.

I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks!
[offers no explanation]

Do you read a lot of books?
Not really. The one book that I would say, if I would ever read a book in my life, the one book would be... it’s by Derek Jeter... Life Lessons for Achieving Your Dreams.

Is music like your best friend?
Yeah, it is. It is my best friend.

Do you really think Hollywood would be different from York, no “gossip and hate” like you sing about?
Honestly, I think there’s gossip and hate anywhere you go. A lot of times I get messages on MySpace just hating on me, bashing on me, telling me I sound like an eight-year-old with…

With what?
It’s... pretty inappropriate.

Why do you think they say such things?
I think they’re jealous.

If you become successful and move to Hollywood, there would be more people to be jealous and dump on you. So, in a way, the better things get for you, the worse they will get.
Oh, of course.

You don’t mind?
No. I think it’s important people don’t let all that hate get to them and they follow their ambition, their destiny. I don’t think enough people out there are doing that.

In one of your photos you’re wearing a Spider-Man t-shirt. Do you like the story of a life transformed, after the bite?
I just like the colors.

I like King Kong myself. A tragic individual.
I know the Hulk—he’s green.

Did you ever attend a rodeo?
No.

Did you go to the prom?
No, I didn’t.

Do you go to the beach?
I’ve been to a beach... Virginia Beach, when I was younger.

Ever witnessed a group of kids bullying a kid and a teacher looking the other way?
Definitely. I was one of them.

How so?
Just kicked, punched, beat up.

Aw. What happened about it? Did you report it?
Nothing happened. I didn’t tell anyone.

Was that in high school?
High school, middle school.

Ever been to Six Flags?
I may have, once.


Every once in a while you hear about a person whose inner world and outer appearance are so different from your own or anyone you’ve ever met, you don’t know what to think. Remember the first time someone played you the Shaggs? Or showed you a Ligabue painting? Each time I’d come across some great outsider art like that, the artist was either dead, old, and living with their mother, or cured and fat and family-oriented: It was all over. Bloody Wounds is right now! Everyone I introduce her music to goes bananas. All across the nation, people are downloading her songs and emailing her photos interoffice, trying to figure out what is going on.

Wooing an article out of her proved difficult. At first she would only speak to me by phone, and then only irregularly, unpredictably.


Bloody Wounds: I was kind of worried that you wouldn’t call today. I was waiting it out, waiting it out.

Have you ever done an interview before?
Yeah! I actually have. I just did a Flipside magazine interview this morning at 11. That was my first one.

Hey! I’m your first!
OK, OK, I’m sorry. You were the first, yesterday. Flipside was the second. Now it’s back to you.

How was it? What kind of questions did they ask you?
They asked about my musical influences.

[laughs] Flipside has been asking everyone their musical influences for 25 years now, God love them. Let’s do some more “ever” questions. Have you ever done something that needs to stay in Vegas?
HAHAHAHAHAHA! No, actually. Not yet.

Not yet! Did you ever meet a famous person? Gone backstage?
No. Never. I wish. I’ll be on my own stage someday!

Yeah! Did you ever win an award?
No.

Do you prefer mountains, sea, forest, or field?
Some days I don’t go outside at all.

Ever been out of the US?
No.

Tripped the light fantastic?
What?!

I’m asking if you ever did psychedelic drugs.
No. That one was weird, I’m sorry!

Ever done something so awful that you know you’re a different person from that moment till the day you die?
Oh, definitely.

Are you going to tell me what you did?
No.

Will you give me a hint?
No.

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Comments

Anonymous, on Nov 20, 2009 wrote: I love lisa yes I do, I love lisa how ’bout you
Anonymous, on Nov 19, 2009 wrote: is her music not crap?
	Kirby Puckett, on Nov 19, 2009 wrote: Wow, she’s really one for words, huh?
	janin, on Nov 19, 2009 wrote: i like how she dilutes the whole crazy sex drugs and cash lifestyle of those who usually pursue their dream. there’s no need for all that crazy shit even tho it’s wassup. she’s all about the heart. sweet girl thus far.
	Manos Turbo, on Nov 19, 2009 wrote: they hate you too daddybourban
Anonymous, on Nov 18, 2009 wrote: I don’t blame you for being frightened of her...
Anonymous, on Nov 18, 2009 wrote: She sounds like EMO-Jandek
Anonymous, on Nov 16, 2009 wrote: that picture got a little too real after a few questions
	daddybourbon, on Nov 16, 2009 wrote: i hate these types of freaks.
Anonymous, on Nov 16, 2009 wrote: Having the capacity to be a smart ass on Vice is a real gift. Don’t take it for granted. Read this article and cross yourself (or whatever you do)
	KiloDeltaNovember, on Nov 13, 2009 wrote: "Wooing an article out of her proved difficult" but apparently you, Lisa, helped Bloody Wounds past her reticence and an enjoyable piece is here to read. Thank you both.
Anonymous, on Nov 12, 2009 wrote: lisa, you rock. miss you
Anonymous, on Nov 12, 2009 wrote: Sounds like a true punk rocker!! Total focus on her craft. I hope she keeps doing more songs.
Anonymous, on Nov 12, 2009 wrote: please someone send this to derek jeter. pretty please.
Anonymous, on Nov 12, 2009 wrote: virginia beach. yeah, that sounds about right.
Anonymous, on Nov 12, 2009 wrote: Because everyone knows the first thing you do when a tornado is coming is go to the store.

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