Who is HayDee Sparks?
A latex fashion designer, fire artist, performer and guitarist. An enthusiastic person with a passion for life, always ready to try something new – at least once. Sometimes too perfectionistic.
You are originally from Finland, how did you end up in Berlin?
For the first time I came to Berlin with Two Witches for some gigs in 2002. I really liked the city, so I started to plan to move there. Actually we all from the band moved to Berlin, but now I’m the only one from us that’s left here. That I moved happened about one year later because of personal reasons, not because of the band. In Berlin I started with Savage Wear in early 2004.
What is driving you in life? What is the thrill you chase in life?
Getting experiences, trying not to live that “usual ordinary life”, I want it to be something else. I have always been creative. I just try to use what I’ve got and what I’ve learned during the years. I’m maybe a bit stubborn, I will be doing the things I love as long as I have chances for that.
You are a selfmade showgirl, how does someone become a selfmade showgirl?
I’ve never taken any burlesque or dance lessons, but I have always danced a lot, I just love dancing, going with the music… it gives one a feeling to the body and moves. I also make the most of my show outfits by myself. Too many ideas, so little time to realize everything. Ok, I have to admit that I wish I would have been taking ballet lessons since I was a kid!
How much have you sacrificed in expense to your being and as an artist?
You mean in money or worked hours? I can’t really tell… The fire equipments are quite expensive, though I’ve made some of them by myself with good materials. Though I can make my show outfits by myself - the materials, fabrics or leather is not so cheap either plus all the hours I’ve worked to make all of this. Not to mention about doing new shows – choosing the music, mixing it all together, rehearsing… Much time, work and money, but I love what I’m doing!
What are rolemodels for you, which people have inspired you and in what way?
I really can’t name any. I have never been a huge fan for any band or for a single person. Maybe the biggest inspiration are some of my dearest and closest friends, that’s so much good energy.
Since you are doing so many things, lets start off with music. What triggered you to become a musician, was it a song or a special event?
It wasn’t a song, nor an event… I started to play guitar pretty late, I think I was 17. The reason that I started, was that me and one of my best friends wanted to create our own punk band. She wanted to play bass, I said ok, then I’ll play the guitar. And so I begun to learn how to play with my mom’s old acoustic guitar. Well, after all the band never existed but I continued rehearsing.
You are playing with “Two Witches” and “In Strict Confidence” as guitarist, how did it come you joined these bands?
I joined in Two Witches in 2001. Jyrki of TW just called me one day and asked if it’s correct, that I’m playing guitar, I said yes. He said that Two Witches will have a gig in Mexico City in couple of months and they still need a second girl to be there in the band and he asked if I was interested in coming with them to Mexico. Of course I was interested in that! So about from this phone call I’ve been in Two Witches.
In Strict Confidence I joined in the beginning of 2008, since they were looking for a female guitarist for the line-up. I wrote to Dennis of ISC and introduced myself. After many emails I played for the first time with them in Karlsruhe as a test and after that I’ve been in the band.
What do you contribute to the sound of the bands?
Years earlier Two Witches had two keyboardists, now we don’t have any – but two guitarists. I’m playing the rhythm guitar, so of course having two guitars brings more “rock” in the band.
In In Strict Confidence I’m the only guitarist on stage and the whole sound of the new songs has more rock-like touch even on the album, but the base is still in electro. I’m playing guitar for the older songs on stage too, even that many of them don’t have guitars on the album.
In my mind In Strict Confidence has, by adding you and Nina to the line-up, created the possibilities to do a great visual live show, can you find yourself in this? Do you have enough room to deliver your input in live shows?
Sure I have enough room. It was my idea to do also some fire shows with In Strict Confidence. If there is enough space on stage and if it’s allowed to use fire, I can use many different kind of fire equipments. So sometimes I’m really busy with playing guitar for most of the songs and still doing fire shows for few songs in between. I’m sure in the future we will make more plans for the live shows, the nice little things that we can do on stage while playing.
The latest album of In Strict Confidence is called “ La Parade Monstrueuse” what can you tell about the recording process?
I was there for few things, but since it took so long to get the album ready (they had started long before I joined the band), I don’t have much to tell. We also recorded couple things here in Berlin, but Dennis could tell more about the recording process, he’s been for sure working the most with that. ;)
What is your favorite song to play live and why this song?
With In Strict Confidence that would be now probably Set Me Free from the latest album. It’s always nice to play newer songs and especially this song has a lot of guitar!
With Two Witches Spirit Sacrifice or Burn the Witch, I like a bit faster songs.
With In Strict Confidence you have done some pretty big shows for large audiences, how do you prepare on such a show, does it deviate from your solo performances?
Oh yes, using so much fire needs also much preparation beforehands. I’ve been on stage during so many years, I started doing shows already few years ago as a burlesque performer and fire artist. It’s everything just stage experience… But otherwise I don’t have any other “preparation methods” for bigger shows than smaller ones, it depends only on what I’m doing in that particular show.
What is Burlesque for you? How do you put a part of HayDee Sparks into the shows, put your stamp on it?
I think everyone has an own style to do Burlesque. If it’s possible to do a bit longer show, about 8-10 minutes and if there is enough room, I’m trying to create a story, I think it’s always more interesting than just dancing and taking clothes off. Of course longer, bigger stories are sometimes not possible to realize, so I’m doing then also more “classic” shows. Burlesque is for me one way to have a good time, way to create something very own by dancing and acting. I like the most doing it with fire, I love fire, it’s just so my element!
Burlesque finds its origin in the 20’s and 30’s. Do you try to stick to the original atmosphere or bring it to the present time?
No, not really. It’s neo-burlesque or new burlesque what I’m doing – I like it because then about everything is allowed! I don’t want to limit my shows to some specific genre or era.
Is it hard to keep your integrity, how do you do this?
Not trying to be someone else. I’m just doing my thing.
What would be an ideal show for you, can you describe it?
Because I love traveling, it should be somewhere far away. Some large and high stage where I have plenty of room to dance and use big fire, good light and a good light engineer, because the light is important. And some great audience, that knows what to expect from burlesque. And last but not least, great team behind the stage and at the backstage!
What is the best experience you had so far doing shows?
Hm, I have so many great experiences… I’ve been traveling quite a lot of course with the bands but also because of my own shows. Lately I have been doing shows in Athens, Amsterdam and one gala show in Moscow… Well, I liked the Tattoo Convention in Chemnitz a lot too, great audience and the main stage was excellent! But I think the best experience was doing a fire show for Manowar in front of many thousands of people at the Magic Circle Festival. The stage was huge and the crowd was crazy, I had such a good time!
You also do fireshows, what kind of things have you burned down while practicing?
Haha, I haven’t burned down anything! If you don’t count some little skin burns… But this will happen to everyone sooner or later! ;)
What is the reason you choose to pursue modeling? People opt to pursue it for a number of reasons, for vanity, recognition, monetary compensation or as acts that are in themselves an extension of the self & personality.
It’s one more way for me to have some fun and some change. I’m not doing it very often though, because shootings always take so much time. Maybe it’s vanity, but I need some new photos from time to time for my portfolio too – nowadays everything is in the internet and you need to have some nice photos to show.
What is your interpretation of beauty? What qualities do you find attractive in other individuals?
Difficult question. Beauty is not only the body or face of a person… It’s in the eyes, the character, positive vibes and the most attractive things: charisma and intelligence.
Do you have a favorite chord progression in a particular song, that may even be by another artist that takes your breath away or reinstates why you chose this particular instrument?
Even more difficult question. I can’t even name my favorite genre in music, because I’m listening to so many kind of styles!
What is your favorite guitar make/year?
In this case I’m such a girl, I gotta say silver glitter Gibson, model Les Paul! I don’t have it yet, but I will when I’m rich…. ;)
Because of your varied talents and abilities do you intend to incorporate these into the show's presentation more so in the future? Nowadays show delivery also takes into account overall aesthetic and can become like a sort of live theatre.
It depends always on the show, what is possible. But for example in Savage Wear fashion shows I have used fire, for burlesque shows and with the bands I can use Savage Wear latex and fire of course. When I’m doing fire burlesque, that’s exactly what I want to do, a small live theatre.
Do you personally have a favorite song line or verse that you carry with you in your heart?
“Live by your heart” – short and clear, doesn’t need any explanation.
www.savage-wear.com
www.haydeesparks.com
www.instrictconfidence.com