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Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Sara Bell of Regina Hexaphone

Regina Hexaphone has been kicking up a storm in local music since 1997. The band’s seen line-up shifts and activity lulls, but they’ve held steadfast to the rootsy pop/rock sound that’s kept them relevant and front-woman Sara Bell a creative force in local music.

Sure, the band has a way with jangly riffs and hooking melodies, but can one of their own handle our five questions? See for yourself after the jump.

 

1. If your band were a vacation, what sort would it be?
I think we would be a beach trip to Oak Island where you drink lite beer with lemon all day and rum and Campari all evening and eat fried bluefish and mussels from the sound that have been grilled and dipped in melted butter. I might be thinking this because most of our songs were written there. Or maybe because we have fantasized about making a record this way.

2.When did you start to think music might really work out as something more than a living room hobby?
I never thought my life would become so absorbed with music, I never officially pursued it when I was younger, it just sort of happened after years of hanging out and playing with friends in living rooms and rock clubs in our hyper musical little triangle. But I think something clicked for me after Dish, the band that Jerry and I were in, had the basic exhilarating-then-dreadful major label experience. It really winded my bandmates who are all amazing musicians and had more of an ambition of operating in that professional realm. Somehow I came out of it even more energized, thinking (probably because I had been schooled so effectively in the *corporate rock sucks* hardcore era) that the whole machinery was completely absurd and ridiculous and you have to have other reasons for playing music and judging its success that are not based on artificial big business management models. It somehow made me want to keep on with it, to prove that whole thing wrong with a band where nobody had to experience that kind of pressure…this is hard to articulate! Because, you know, don’t get me wrong, it’s pretty amazing when somebody wants to throw a bunch of money at you to make records and drive around the country with your friends playing rock and roll. I guess refer to question one. It was like when people finally get sick of their corporate jobs and they check out and move to the beach full time. It’s the beach bum model of music making.

3. Describe the last time you totally jammed out to a song.
When my niece came over and wanted to listen to Led Zeppelin II on the record player and dance around the living room.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that would really surprise people?
I love Madonna. I think she’s a great songwriter. I also was very fond of Hanson, and the first time I heard Kings of Leon I wanted to know what their favorite colors were and what signs they were and what each of their dream dates would be like.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)
When I was in high school I read an article in the N&O about the curator of the UNC Folklore Archives–it was probably around the time they had acquired the John Edwards music collection and it was turning into the Southern Folklife Collection–and I thought that sounded like the coolest job.

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Keep an eye out for your next chance to see Regina Hexaphone live. And, by all means, give Sara a high five when you see her.