Review Fix Exclusive: Natalie Denise Sperl Talks Kill My Coquette’s Debut EP

Review Fix chats with Kill My Coquette frontwoman Natalie Denise Sperl, who discusses the band’s debut EP. Discussing her inspirations and creative process, the model and actress turned singer songwriter talks about her hopes and desires in music and her relationship with the EP’s producer, Danny McGough.

Review Fix: How did you get your start in music?

Natalie Denise Sperl: I grew up listening to Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young – my Dad played them every day before school. I hated it at the time. It seemed so dated. Listening to it now though, I get it. There was so much to be angry about back then. So much was changing so fast. Still is now. These guys, and the females like  Joan Jett, Janis Joplin, etc, were the trailblazers out there, the leaders championing their cause. I took note.

Flash forward to the present. The acting roles I was being offered just weren’t fulfilling enough. I was aching to do something deeper. More raw, exposed. A music fan all my life, I went to so many concerts, but it was at a particular Social Distortion show that I witnessed the real power of performance. Mike Ness has a way of getting to the point with eloquence and swagger. His lyrics hit your heart and guts, all at the same time. I decided, “I wanna do that. I’m gonna try.” I looked over at my friend and said “I’m not waiting anymore.” The next day I hit the local Guitar Center and bought a crappy guitar and shitty amp and started learning a few three chord songs.

Review Fix: How is Kill My Coquette special?

Sperl: Well, how many model/actresses do you know that front rock and roll bands?  I’m up for more criticism, an easy target. “Why is she playing music? She’s just a model,” yadda, yadda, yadda.  It’s also a tough job. It’s dirty. It’s messy. Guitars are heavy. It’s easier to be a fan enjoying the music, living vicariously through the band. It would be a lot less messy if I played solo with an acoustic.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Sperl: There’s no rhyme or reason, really. I’ll think of something I think is poignant and run with it. Sometimes, just the idea of “I wanna write a cool song about (fill in the blank),” and go from there.  I read a lot. I’ll think of passages I’ve read, quotes I’ve admired, points I want to make, etc, and demo it. Then I’ll sit with it for a moment and go back to it a few more times. Can I make that line better? Do I want to add a bridge here? What about back up vocals? Harmonies? I’ll layer it more until I’m ready to share it with the band.

Review Fix: What song on this EP do you think is most indicative of your sound?

Sperl: That’s a tough question since Kill My Coquette’s forthcoming EP (due out January 20t is my first release  I’m still finding my sound, but I think “Festival Boy” and “3rd & Bonnie Brae” are close. I haven’t written the definitive Kill My Coquette sounding track just yet. It’s in here (points to herself), fermenting and gestating.

Review Fix: Is there a story behind any song on the EP that you think your fans would like to hear?

Sperl: I found an old cassette recorder in my garage and demoed each song on it before recording them.

Review Fix: What was it like to work with producer Danny McGough?

Sperl: Danny is the guy you want to work with on your first record. He’s patient. He’s whimsical, yet serious. He knows his way around all instruments like no one I’ve ever seen. His ear is impeccable. He is the consummate professional. Also, he likes weird music, like me.

Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through this EP?

Sperl: That it’s never too late. Something you want to try? Go out and do it. Life is short. This ain’t no dress rehearsal. You may fail. You may succeed. Anything can happen…

Also I learned you’re only as good as your band. I’ll bring the song to the table, the band brings it to life. I have a group of talented guys in my band who bring it each time we play. I’m lucky.

Review Fix: What’s next for you and Kill My Coquette?

Sperl: I’m writing more songs, living more life, racking up experiences. I have a slew of new material I’d like to record. It’s a process. It costs money. We’re setting up gigs around SoCal for the next couple months. Check our website:  www.killmycoquette.com for show dates.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14230 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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