The Murmurs

by Jeff Jolley

Heather Grody of New York City's own, The Murmurs, spent a bit of time with RAD Cyberzine on a day when she didn't have much time to spare. Talking with us right up until she went on stage for sound check, she described the history of The Murmurs and what she feels makes The Murmurs unique and exciting.

RAD: Tell me about The Murmurs' first gig?
Heather: It was three and a half years ago. We had started up what was called the "Open Window Theater Group" on the Brooklyn side of the Williamsburg Bridge. We wanted to have live music at the theater's opening, but we couldn't afford anything. Leisha (Halley) and I had some musical experience so we did the music ourselves. That night we met a guy who told us he was starting up his own recording studio and that we should seriously consider pursuing a carreer in music. We weren't sure that his recording studio plans would work out, but over a period of about a year we recorded our first album.
RAD: So you gave up acting to pursue a music carreer?
Heather: We and some friends who were all alumni of the same acting school i of the same acting school rented this condemned building under the bridge to hold the theater. It was in a part of Brooklyn with a lot of theaters, and everyone attended everyone else's performances. But there were so many theaters and we were all so poor that you couldn't charge more than $5 a show. So when the music started working for us, it became a whole new thing. We put our all into the music thing.
RAD: Is the Open Window Theater Group still around?
Heather: No, that didn't last long. Neither did the building.
RAD: Tell me about that first album, is it available anywhere?
Heather: There were 2500 records pressed and they've all been sold at gigs. Mainly in New York City. We did some gigs in Texas, we have friends there; Nebraska, where Leisha's from; New Mexico--Santa Fe...;that's pretty much it.
RAD: How did MCA find you?
Heather: I think they just heard of us. A lot of the record industry were showing up at our gigs.
RAD: Why did you choose MCA?
Heather: because the people there are so supportive. They looked at the future and saw what we say. Everyone was down to earth and we got along best with them. Choosing a record label that had good people behind it was important to us. t was important to us. We just need good people to back us up.
RAD: Any plans for a headlining tour?
Heather: Well, we've been on the road for the last five months with three weeks off for Christmas. At some of these radio shows we are headlining. It's been exciting touring around the college scene. This goes on for about two more weeks, then we're opening up for Bush.
RAD: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Heather: Yes there is, actually. We want people to know that there are more to The Murmurs than you can hear on the radio. We're about singing live. Our whole show is the most important thing. It's very different than what is on the CD. We can give them more that what they get on the record.... It's the two of us on the road and our two guitars.