So then I started working with other people on their projects, like Jane's Addiction and Sisters of Mercy, just doing other people's ideas for awhile. That was liberating. I enjoyed it, and there was no pressure.
You reformed Berlin and went on tour. (A live CD from that tour, Sacred and Profane was released in 2000) Did you plan on recording original material with the new band members from the start, or did touring with them cement the idea?
I knew it when I first started with them, but I didn't find the magic combination until Mitchell Sigman, the keyboard player, came into the band right after the release of the live CD. His writing ability coupled with mine worked. Everything started to go. It was wonderful.
How did you hook up with your current record label, Artist Direct?
Last year, in the summer of 2001, we decided to put out an E.P. We had enough music for that, and I hadn't met a label that either I liked, or that liked me. I was going to put it out myself, but then two labels came to the table, one of which was Artist Direct. I really like what they're doing. It feels like Geffen again over there. It was started by Ted Field, who founded Interscope, and they're very progressive in their marketing. It's also giving artists a 50/50 partnership in the music as opposed to, "We own your music, Mr. Artist, here's a quarter. Thank you very much." That's been the music business, but these guys are doing what we've been asking record companies to do forever. It's phenomenal.
Where did the title of the new CD, Voyeur, come from?
I'm a pervert. I enjoy watching. (laughs) Actually, it's a commentary from me about the kind of voyeurism that's going on in America. It's scaring me a little bit, shows like Fear Factor and what people will do for a camera.
On the new CD, you collaborate with former Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. How did you hook up?
I called him out of the blue. We had 8 songs and needed another four or five, fast. My husband said, "Why don't you make a list of people you want to write with, and call them." So I made a long list and narrowed it down to three people: Trent Reznor, Moby, and Billy Corgan. Billy Corgan said he was going to be in town in a couple of weeks, maybe we can get together. I sent him a song, he called back and said he really liked it, but would like to do something different with it, would you mind? I said I wouldn't mind at all and I'd love to hear it. He came over with a guitar, played me the ideas, we messed around with it and got it done in a couple of days. It was really wonderful what he did with it. He slowed it down, made it very emotional and film-noirish.
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