Ryan Bracha is a writer known for his transgressive and darkly humourous pieces, where people do nasty things to nasty people.
His latest work, Phoebe Jeebies And The Man Who Annoyed Everybody, is a love story/satirical tale told through the colourful prism of Bracha-Vision.
PMM got in a few words with the man.
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PFatMWAE is, as its title tells us, a book filled to its evil brim with ways of poking fun at the seriousness of fellow humans and their choices to conform to the 9 to 5 life, why did you choose to focus on cultural pranksterism and its way of exposing the hypocrisy and desperation in a bid to enlighten or enrage others?Continue reading “A seriously dark place” – PMM Interview with Ryan Bracha→
Ryan Bracha‘s writing is not for the faint hearted. I think I can say that with confidence. His stories are transgressive and smeared with a gallows humour dripping around the chops. He is the best selling author of Strangers Are Just Friends You Haven’t Killed Yetand the Dead Man Trilogy. Take a trip into the darkest corners of his mind as he talks to me about dwarves, ninjas, and his latest supernatural thriller, The Switched, his blackest work yet.
To quote :“It’s basically a look at what would happen if the most fucked up people in the country just inexplicably woke up as one another, with no grasp of the concept of consequence. It’s funny.”
Marc E Fitchwrites dark, pulpy fiction, tackling subjects of mythology and morality. His writing clearly shows his intelligence, humor and a unique perspective on human nature. He joins me today to talk about his latest bookParadiseBurns recently released by Damnation Books.
ErinColeis a dark, mischievous writer. She plants stars in your eyes while sewing midnight into your soul. I read everything she puts outs, always anxious to unlock the mysteries woven through her work. She kindly joins me today at PulpMetalMagazineto talk about her latest release FERAL THINGSfrom Damnation Books.
Julia Tourianskiis a film maker, a writer, a self-confessed anarchist and one of a loose group of young and, of course, tech-savvy rebels that Paul Rosenberg named “The Bitcoin Kids“. They do not give two shits about your, my, nor any government’s, approval in order to reshape, what they see as the corrupt culture and society inherited from older generations with the new technological culture that they were born into. She kindly agreed to be interviewed.
There was once a time, ladies and gentlemen, when French girls wore tight-fitting motorcycle outfits and flew around the cities on dreams of the perfect POPsound.
Those times have sadly flown us by, but self-proclaimed French “Pop Activist” JEAN-EMMANUEL DELUXE is determinedto never let us forget such candied aural delights. He has a new book out –
~Yé–YéGirlsof’60sFrenchPop~
– at the always surprising FeralHouse to remind us of the halcyon days of the vibrant French POP miracle that was Yé–Yé.
I was lucky enough to chat with him:
JM: Bonjour Jean-Emmanuel! Could you encapsulate the Yé-Yé phenomenon in one immaculate saccharine phrase?
JED: ”My records are a mirror in which everyone can see me” – (France Gall /Gainsbourg : Poupée de Cire , Poupée de son)
JM: What was it about the early Sixties in France that caused young French female singers to produce these ditties of pop perfection?
JED: It was time for a change after the grey 50’s – It was the beginning of female empowerment – the teenagers were targeted as a consumer force – But the fact that French Yé-Yé is unique probably goes back to France’s cultural history! Love of jazz, risqué chanson lyrics, literacy legacy & surrealism …
JM: How much of an influence on the genre was the late great Serge Gainsbourg?
JED: At first, Serge Gainsbourg thought that Yé-Yé was just a flash in the pan. After all, Gainsbourg came from a left banke chanson & Jazz background – But as he says when he saw that the inside of his coat was ”covered in fur”, he was prompted to turn his jacket inside out!!! Serge Gainsbourg was talented, that’s a fact but never forget he was also a big opportunist and not very nice towards women!
JM: Why has Yé-Yé often been neglected to a certain extent in favour of the nostalgia of psychedelia or punk? Is it purely the fact that they sung in a language other than English, or was it a form of pop journalistic snobbery involved?
JED: It’s probably because of cultural imperialism . Remember when John Lennon was saying that French rock was as good as English wine? I’d say the cultural landscape changed around 1993 and April March for me is the main pop activist who made that evolution possible. People like Sheila Burgel (Cha Cha charming) and Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) were important in this Yé-Yé mania!!!
And nowadays with the net – I think the new generation of music writers are more open minded. They have realised there’s people doing music outside the UK and the USA in different languages!!!
JM: Why, do you think, has there been a recent resurgence in interest in Yé Yé with, for example, songs popping up in both Tarantino and Wes Anderson movies?
JED: Denver listening to a French Yé-Yé girl song is like me discovering a long lost Turkish pop musician- It’s exotic!!! and mesmerizing too!!! Le charme de l’inconnu!!! I think Wes Anderson is probably like many others creators tired of standardized products. Starbucks, McDonalds, generic pop & corporate shit everywhere in every cities – so I’m pleased but not surprised!! Vive la résistance!!
JM: Where do you see the sugar coated influence of Yé Yé on the digital future pop cultural landscape?
JED: Lio is a very important artist you should discover if you do not know her
– she was very important in using Yé-Yé perkiness in a post punk way –
She is really an icon and I’m really honored to have her writing my book foreword – I can die happy – Then there’s April March but let’s not forget the brilliant Helena Noguerra a true genius and the spiritual daughter of Raquel Welch and Magueritte Duras! And last, but not least I’ll mention Fabienne Delsol, Mademoiselle Nineteen, Stereo Total and the great Liminadas!!!!!
So, as you say like with reggae, psychédelia, punk or blues, Yé-Yé is now a source where new artists can get what they want-
Not as revival acts but as a way to find unique inspiration!
JM: And finally, which are your Top Five Yé-Yé favourites that you would like to share?
Jean–Emmanuel Deluxe is a pop culture specialist writing for French, American, English and Australian publications. He is a pop activist also working in TV & music. “Yé-Yé Girls of ’60s French Pop” is available at Feral House. It is also available at Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk
It is pleasure and honor to introduce Pulp Metal Magazine readers to a true inspiration child of the imagination. She is a producer, scriptwriter, and actress, but most of all she is a storyteller. Ladies and gentlemen, vixens and wolves, meet Yelena Sabel.
Long-time followers of this here quality magazine for the finer afficinado of PULP will know the name Richard Godwin & know that his writing holds a special place in PMM’sblack little heart. So, when Richard told me that he was releasing yet another dangerous little gem, I offered him an interview & a chance to say his piece …
Ryan Bracha is a writer known for his transgressive and darkly humourous pieces, where people do nasty things to nasty people.
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