A few moments with Mille and Mie...
METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Mille and Mie, so glad to be catching up with you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us at Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
MILLE/ MIE: Thank you so much for having us!!
MPAP: How are things going for the both of you? Are you currently out on the Party In Hell Tour? How is that going so far?
M/M: Yes, we are currently on our Party In Hell Tour and loving every second. This tour is going to be our first time in Ireland so we’re super excited about that too but it’s been amazing so far we love the UK!!
MPAP: You have a new release coming out July 28th, called Society’s Rejects? What can you tell us about it? Are you excited for the world to hear it?
M/M: It’s a song, we’ll an anthem really for everyone who basically is weird, wacky and wonderful or a society’s reject in other words, it’s us saying thank fuck we’re not "normal" like the people turning blind eyes to the real issues of this world.
MPAP: You got your band name, The SoapGirls, because as little girls aged between eight or nine years old, you would street perform to sell handmade soap to raise funds for public hospitals and homeless people? What inspired you to do such a thing, when most children your age are playing with toys or playing on computers?
M/M: When you have a mom like we do who has always made sure that we were aware of other people and especially those without a voice you grow up wanting to help. She taught us from a young age that it’s not just about you nor me, it’s about everyone and no matter how seemingly small a simple act of kindness may be its usually a huge thing for the person receiving it. In South Africa, there’s so much need you can’t just turn a blind eye and seeing babies dying because a government is too greedy to help really shocked us so we knew we weren’t going to be a part of the crowd that says it’s not our problem because it’s everyone’s problem. And so, we asked our mom if we could take a couple of her soaps to sell to raise funds and from that day one we never stopped and ended up buying the much-needed equipment for the hospitals etc.
MPAP: You also did it for 365 days a year for eight years? Along with the previous question, what inspired you to do this? Why not do it once a week, or even once a month? Why eight years straight?
M/M: Haha because we’re crazy, that’s why. Now I think it was more the fact that we were so driven and determined to help and reach each goal of equipment and people coming up to us and saying give up you’re never going to reach it, or give it a year and you’ll be into boys and you’ll give this up. We knew nothing was going to stop us not even the weather, we’d stand out in the sun, the rain, and the wind, we didn’t care, we had a goal and a purpose. And people would come and bring their families to come and meet us so we felt we’d be letting them down if we didn’t go.
MPAP: Were there ever times when you both said, "I can’t do this anymore. This is too hard to do daily"?
M/M: The only times we ever felt like that were when people would get nasty with us and bear in mind this is from the ages of 8 and 9 and the amount of shit people would give us even today I’m still shocked, kids from school would bully us come down take our soaps smash them up spit at us and those were the times when we felt really low but then we’d get beautiful emails from people all across the world saying how much of an inspiration we are and that we’ve given them new hope for mankind even we’ll never forget the one day this very sad old man was walking past us to go onto the pier and we said hello to hi and talked and we both felt he was very sad so we gave him a hug, we saw him the next day ad he told us that was the first hug he’d had in a year since his wife passed away and we knew no matter how horrible people were to us we were doing something important and we showed a lot of people that anyone can make a difference no matter how big or small.
MPAP: Now that you are no longer performing out on the streets, and you’re much older playing music to your fans on a large stage, do you still remember where your roots came from? Do you still care for the public hospitals and homeless people?
M/M: Of course, we do that was such a major part of our lives it would be impossible to just forget! Yes, we do and animals we saw a documentary called earthlings which everyone should watch especially if you eat meat you should know what you’re putting inside of yourself people need to become aware of the ill treatment of so many animals.
MPAP: For everyone that might not know, The SoapGirls, are sisters and from Capes Town, South Africa correct? What year did you both decide to start making music?
M/M: It was never a conscious decision, but we started performing at 5, our nanny used to sneak us out and take us to illegal shebeens and we’d make enough money singing for her to buy drinks from there it was street performing from age 8/9 years old and we really just grew into where we are at now guess like one would a pair of shoes.
MPAP: So, after someone has seen The SoapGirls play live for the first time, what do you hope they walk away with? Is there not only a message in your music, but also seeing it performed live?
M/M: We hope they walk away with a feeling of empowerment, they feel encouraged to be fearless and all they can and want to be and go after their dreams and also, we hope that they realize that not giving a shit about people’s ideas and or judgement isn’t that scary to do.
MPAP: What would you want to say to them just to make sure they come back and see you again?
M/M: We’d say we know where you live so you better come back. No we’re kidding, we would never expect that of people, it’s all free will but they should come back because each show is different so you never know what’s going to happen next!
MPAP: You both have a wide range of musical interests, from one or the other liking Fleetwood Mac, Napalm Death, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, to The Butthole Surfers. How do you both decide on how the song will sound like when you start writing new music?
M/M: It happens naturally without any preconceived ideas, we never write to a formula, it happens instinctively and our varied music tastes only make it more interesting, we make sure it balanced out though, but I’ll tell Mie straight up if something is sounding too soft just like she’ll reign me in if she thinks what I am doing isn’t working. We both respect the others opinion though and writing songs is super organic with us it’s never a planned out process it’s just us and a guitar and a pen and piece of paper and whatever needs to be said is said through the song.
MPAP: The SoapGirls play rock 'n' roll the way it’s meant to be: loud, raw, dirty, and fast and furious. Do you feel that this is missing in the world of music today?
M/M: We are living in the age of digital and commercial perfection so many bands are scared of being raw and not being accepted on commercial platforms, it’s rare to find bands that stand for something.
MPAP: In an interview, you were asked, "what’s the most challenging things about being a SoapGirl", and your answer was, "breaking through preconceived misconceptions." What are some of those, and what have you done to break free from them. What have you done to give the naysayers the middle finger?
M/M: Since the beginning going back even to the ages of 14 years old we have been labelled sluts, whores, skanks, drug addicts, insane among other derogatory titles by both media and the greater public, but we have never changed and kept on being as we are without compromise, the best middle finger is success.
MPAP: It’s been described by some in the music industry, that The SoapGirls are the new kids on the block, The SoapGirls are here to set the standard for the new generation. How do you feel about this? Is that something you have no problem being a part of?
M/M: It’s a humbling compliment and we hope to inspire others to stay fearlessly original.
MPAP: Your message is about making women feel empowered and that they should be able to do and act as they wish?
M/M: Freedom and self-expression without fear I wouldn’t say its exclusively for women but men too we should all be empowered to be comfortable in our own bodies and skin we live in a body shaming society where both men and women are made to feel ashamed and inferior if they don’t fit into societies beauty standards , what I love about our shows and our music is that it’s a celebration of the very fact that we’re different therefore societies rejects and we show people that they are beautiful because they don’t "fit in".
MPAP: Is that why one of you perform topless Mille? Is there a bit of a Wendy O Williams influence there also?
M/M: I’m a nudist and my clothes don’t play my instrument, it irritates me that a women’s body is almost exclusively reserved for sex and pornography thanks to society’s warped ideology, I love forcing people to look beyond!! We both have huge respect for what Wendy O Williams did
MPAP: Back in late 2016, you said you are currently in the process of relocating to be better positioned within the music scene. Where do you hope on planning to relocate to be better close to it?
M/M: The UK for us is the capital of music so we would love to relocate here.
MPAP: Last, and I know this may be difficult to answer, but hopefully your message of how you’re moving forward will inspire others. You both, unfortunately, had an incident happen at one of your shows while playing at The Union Bar in Hastings in September of last year. You were both attacked with buckets of fake blood. This happened three songs into your set. Most people would have walked away, but you finished anyways? What can you say to someone about how you are getting through it. This assault against you was like a form of bullying you could almost say correct?
M/M: Yes it was an organized bullying and done because the owner of the venue decided that we were sluts and damaging to the feminist movement so he decided to teach us a lesson, we only stopped playing when the liquid burnt Mie’s eyes so badly she was blinded and her guitar pedal started malfunctioning due to all the liquids, we will never change or back down from who we are and what we do and hope to inspire people to live their lives as they want and to not be afraid to be different because they are scared of hate.
MPAP: On behalf of myself, and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you both for spending some time with us and letting us get to know you and The SoapGirls a little bit better. Look forward to what The SoapGirls do to finish out the year 2017 and beyond.
Would you both like to say anything else to all the readers and your fans out there?
M/M: We just want to say never be afraid to stand out and remember if you don’t fit in its because they never made a mold for you so you’re unique.
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MILLE/ MIE: Thank you so much for having us!!
MPAP: How are things going for the both of you? Are you currently out on the Party In Hell Tour? How is that going so far?
M/M: Yes, we are currently on our Party In Hell Tour and loving every second. This tour is going to be our first time in Ireland so we’re super excited about that too but it’s been amazing so far we love the UK!!
MPAP: You have a new release coming out July 28th, called Society’s Rejects? What can you tell us about it? Are you excited for the world to hear it?
M/M: It’s a song, we’ll an anthem really for everyone who basically is weird, wacky and wonderful or a society’s reject in other words, it’s us saying thank fuck we’re not "normal" like the people turning blind eyes to the real issues of this world.
MPAP: You got your band name, The SoapGirls, because as little girls aged between eight or nine years old, you would street perform to sell handmade soap to raise funds for public hospitals and homeless people? What inspired you to do such a thing, when most children your age are playing with toys or playing on computers?
M/M: When you have a mom like we do who has always made sure that we were aware of other people and especially those without a voice you grow up wanting to help. She taught us from a young age that it’s not just about you nor me, it’s about everyone and no matter how seemingly small a simple act of kindness may be its usually a huge thing for the person receiving it. In South Africa, there’s so much need you can’t just turn a blind eye and seeing babies dying because a government is too greedy to help really shocked us so we knew we weren’t going to be a part of the crowd that says it’s not our problem because it’s everyone’s problem. And so, we asked our mom if we could take a couple of her soaps to sell to raise funds and from that day one we never stopped and ended up buying the much-needed equipment for the hospitals etc.
MPAP: You also did it for 365 days a year for eight years? Along with the previous question, what inspired you to do this? Why not do it once a week, or even once a month? Why eight years straight?
M/M: Haha because we’re crazy, that’s why. Now I think it was more the fact that we were so driven and determined to help and reach each goal of equipment and people coming up to us and saying give up you’re never going to reach it, or give it a year and you’ll be into boys and you’ll give this up. We knew nothing was going to stop us not even the weather, we’d stand out in the sun, the rain, and the wind, we didn’t care, we had a goal and a purpose. And people would come and bring their families to come and meet us so we felt we’d be letting them down if we didn’t go.
MPAP: Were there ever times when you both said, "I can’t do this anymore. This is too hard to do daily"?
M/M: The only times we ever felt like that were when people would get nasty with us and bear in mind this is from the ages of 8 and 9 and the amount of shit people would give us even today I’m still shocked, kids from school would bully us come down take our soaps smash them up spit at us and those were the times when we felt really low but then we’d get beautiful emails from people all across the world saying how much of an inspiration we are and that we’ve given them new hope for mankind even we’ll never forget the one day this very sad old man was walking past us to go onto the pier and we said hello to hi and talked and we both felt he was very sad so we gave him a hug, we saw him the next day ad he told us that was the first hug he’d had in a year since his wife passed away and we knew no matter how horrible people were to us we were doing something important and we showed a lot of people that anyone can make a difference no matter how big or small.
MPAP: Now that you are no longer performing out on the streets, and you’re much older playing music to your fans on a large stage, do you still remember where your roots came from? Do you still care for the public hospitals and homeless people?
M/M: Of course, we do that was such a major part of our lives it would be impossible to just forget! Yes, we do and animals we saw a documentary called earthlings which everyone should watch especially if you eat meat you should know what you’re putting inside of yourself people need to become aware of the ill treatment of so many animals.
MPAP: For everyone that might not know, The SoapGirls, are sisters and from Capes Town, South Africa correct? What year did you both decide to start making music?
M/M: It was never a conscious decision, but we started performing at 5, our nanny used to sneak us out and take us to illegal shebeens and we’d make enough money singing for her to buy drinks from there it was street performing from age 8/9 years old and we really just grew into where we are at now guess like one would a pair of shoes.
MPAP: So, after someone has seen The SoapGirls play live for the first time, what do you hope they walk away with? Is there not only a message in your music, but also seeing it performed live?
M/M: We hope they walk away with a feeling of empowerment, they feel encouraged to be fearless and all they can and want to be and go after their dreams and also, we hope that they realize that not giving a shit about people’s ideas and or judgement isn’t that scary to do.
MPAP: What would you want to say to them just to make sure they come back and see you again?
M/M: We’d say we know where you live so you better come back. No we’re kidding, we would never expect that of people, it’s all free will but they should come back because each show is different so you never know what’s going to happen next!
MPAP: You both have a wide range of musical interests, from one or the other liking Fleetwood Mac, Napalm Death, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, to The Butthole Surfers. How do you both decide on how the song will sound like when you start writing new music?
M/M: It happens naturally without any preconceived ideas, we never write to a formula, it happens instinctively and our varied music tastes only make it more interesting, we make sure it balanced out though, but I’ll tell Mie straight up if something is sounding too soft just like she’ll reign me in if she thinks what I am doing isn’t working. We both respect the others opinion though and writing songs is super organic with us it’s never a planned out process it’s just us and a guitar and a pen and piece of paper and whatever needs to be said is said through the song.
MPAP: The SoapGirls play rock 'n' roll the way it’s meant to be: loud, raw, dirty, and fast and furious. Do you feel that this is missing in the world of music today?
M/M: We are living in the age of digital and commercial perfection so many bands are scared of being raw and not being accepted on commercial platforms, it’s rare to find bands that stand for something.
MPAP: In an interview, you were asked, "what’s the most challenging things about being a SoapGirl", and your answer was, "breaking through preconceived misconceptions." What are some of those, and what have you done to break free from them. What have you done to give the naysayers the middle finger?
M/M: Since the beginning going back even to the ages of 14 years old we have been labelled sluts, whores, skanks, drug addicts, insane among other derogatory titles by both media and the greater public, but we have never changed and kept on being as we are without compromise, the best middle finger is success.
MPAP: It’s been described by some in the music industry, that The SoapGirls are the new kids on the block, The SoapGirls are here to set the standard for the new generation. How do you feel about this? Is that something you have no problem being a part of?
M/M: It’s a humbling compliment and we hope to inspire others to stay fearlessly original.
MPAP: Your message is about making women feel empowered and that they should be able to do and act as they wish?
M/M: Freedom and self-expression without fear I wouldn’t say its exclusively for women but men too we should all be empowered to be comfortable in our own bodies and skin we live in a body shaming society where both men and women are made to feel ashamed and inferior if they don’t fit into societies beauty standards , what I love about our shows and our music is that it’s a celebration of the very fact that we’re different therefore societies rejects and we show people that they are beautiful because they don’t "fit in".
MPAP: Is that why one of you perform topless Mille? Is there a bit of a Wendy O Williams influence there also?
M/M: I’m a nudist and my clothes don’t play my instrument, it irritates me that a women’s body is almost exclusively reserved for sex and pornography thanks to society’s warped ideology, I love forcing people to look beyond!! We both have huge respect for what Wendy O Williams did
MPAP: Back in late 2016, you said you are currently in the process of relocating to be better positioned within the music scene. Where do you hope on planning to relocate to be better close to it?
M/M: The UK for us is the capital of music so we would love to relocate here.
MPAP: Last, and I know this may be difficult to answer, but hopefully your message of how you’re moving forward will inspire others. You both, unfortunately, had an incident happen at one of your shows while playing at The Union Bar in Hastings in September of last year. You were both attacked with buckets of fake blood. This happened three songs into your set. Most people would have walked away, but you finished anyways? What can you say to someone about how you are getting through it. This assault against you was like a form of bullying you could almost say correct?
M/M: Yes it was an organized bullying and done because the owner of the venue decided that we were sluts and damaging to the feminist movement so he decided to teach us a lesson, we only stopped playing when the liquid burnt Mie’s eyes so badly she was blinded and her guitar pedal started malfunctioning due to all the liquids, we will never change or back down from who we are and what we do and hope to inspire people to live their lives as they want and to not be afraid to be different because they are scared of hate.
MPAP: On behalf of myself, and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you both for spending some time with us and letting us get to know you and The SoapGirls a little bit better. Look forward to what The SoapGirls do to finish out the year 2017 and beyond.
Would you both like to say anything else to all the readers and your fans out there?
M/M: We just want to say never be afraid to stand out and remember if you don’t fit in its because they never made a mold for you so you’re unique.
WEB
ITUNES
_________________________________________________ XXXXXXMPAP HOMEXXXXXX
©metalpulpandpaper