#fan interview

Interviewer: Hello there, Ms. Cyborg Noodle. How are you?

Cynthia: Oh, I don’t go by that name anymore.

I: Oh. My apologies, I wasn’t informed. What do you go by now?

C: Don’t worry about it too much, you didn’t know. I get that a lot anyway. I’ve been going by Cynthia more recently. Don’t know if I’ll keep it just yet but my friends seem to like it so maybe I might.

I: Well, it is a very pretty name. Anyway, shall we get started?

C: Yes, let’s.

I: Okay, first of all, let’s go back to the beginning. Tell us how you came up with The Rejects. How did this all start?

C: That’s kind of a loaded question, isn’t it? [laughs] Well, after my swift departure from Gorillaz back in 2010 thanks to Murdoc (that bastard) abandoning ship as it were, I floated along the open sea for several years. I pretty much shut down completely after the first three. Couldn’t tell you how I even managed to be alive for so long without power or spare parts, though. Guess if I were to thank my creator for one thing, it’d have to be a long-lasting battery life. Anyway, when I woke up, I realized I had washed up onto U.S soil. Well, more specifically a landfill, which in hindsight was pretty ironic. But regardless, I was saved by man who lived there alone. Apparently, he gave me some spare parts that were there as well as his vocal cords just so I could live. I had never met anybody who was filled with so much compassion for a stranger before. Then again, I was never shown much compassion in my decade long existence. So he became my friend almost instantly. We lived on that landfill for years until we managed to fix up a beat up 2003 Pacifica and we drove that across the country. Through that journey, we basically came up with the name ourselves. We both realized that were just projects that were thrown away by our creators. Nobody wanted us because we were associated with memories that people just wanted to forget. Thus, "The Rejects“ were born and the rest is history.

(Poster from their first concert at the Demon Dayz Festival LA 2018 before being subsequently canceled due to technical difficulties)

I: Fascinating... do you think that last statement still applies now to the current state of your band, now that there's four of you?

C: Oh definitely. Maybe not in the same sense, but it we still find comfort in each other that way. We've grown comfortable with the uncomfortable, so to speak. We're people who don't fit into a defined label and we very much like it that way.

I: That’s all very inspiring to hear. Going back to some things you said earlier; it sounds like you have some contempt for what happened to you during your time with Gorillaz. So tell me, how did the temporary Gorillaz bassist, Ace D. Copular get into the picture?

C: I had no idea Ace was involved with Gorillaz during the time we met him. In fact, me and Lenny weren’t intending to add a new member since we were pretty content in doing all the music ourselves. But he gave us a place to stay in his duplex when we visited Townsville and he had some really great skills on bass, so we just invited him on. He originally was just a manager for our shows but eventually he started doing bass with us and we had a really fun time. We didn’t find out that he used to be a part of Gorillaz until 2-D came along. Like, when we moved in initially, we were pretty worried about rent but he assured us that he would pay it all himself since he got — in his words, not mine, ”a substantial pay raise thanks to [his] latest gig” and we didn’t realize his little ”gig” was working with Gorillaz until we met his new boy-toy. (No offense, ’D) Wouldn’t call that a gig with a band as big as them but to each their own, I guess.

I: Well, what about 2-D? How did he end up joining The Rejects?

C: Well, he’s a different story. I was pretty reluctant for him to join originally. Not because I associated him with what happened to me, of course. In fact, I see him as a victim more than anything else. I admit it. I did some fucked up shit to him back then. I mean, I was programmed to do those things by Murdoc at the time but I still perpetuated the cycle of abuse on that island. In my mind, it was my fault that I didn’t do anything to prevent it from continuing. I don’t know if it was truly me or the bullet hole that I gained on my head during my time on Plastic Beach, but seeing him being broken bit by bit as we held him captive… That made me develop a concious. Seeing him change so vividly before my eyes and replaying those moments in what was left in my memory banks made me question what role I was meant to play in this world. Was being some bodyguard; unfeeling, stagnant, all that I was meant for? What more could I accomplish in life without needing the aid of a gun? It was very eye-opening experience for me. When I met 2-D again, I was more afraid that I could potentially hurt him again. I didn’t expect him to forgive me, I just hoped he and the rest of Gorillaz were doing better without me in the picture. But to my surprise, he forgave me. I thought it would’ve been satisfying to hear but it still felt unearned. I still feel that way a little bit, if I’m honest. I was just glad to know that he was living a happier life than before. I’m sure you’ll talk all about his journey with him but if I can say one thing in defense for him. The man deserves a happy ending after all the shit he’s been through.

I: Hmm… Good to know. Let’s switch this conversation up a bit. How would you describe your music now compared to when you were starting out in early 2017?

C: I’d say there’s been a huge tonal shift compared to what me and Lenny were making before and what all of us are making now. That’s partly due to 2-D’s expertise in production. I don’t know how a veteran like him could improve so much since The Now Now but really, it’s almost surreal to see him work. People like to say he’s dumb but sometimes I highly doubt that. Creatively, that man is a genius. I’m completely serious. I will admit, we’ve always taken on a more folk, indie rock aesthetic. It feels so long ago now since we’ve done something like that. We’ve strayed so far from original sound that it’s kinda funny to think about. Is it bad to cringe at your own music? Nah, nah, nah. I’m kidding. We might try to go back to it at some point. We still like that kind of music but I’m not sure how we can implement it with the way were are now. Might have to figure that out at some point. As to what I’d say our sound is now, I’d say we have a… I don’t know? Like a, uhh… we’re still pretty indie but I guess more electronica, maybe? Hyperpop? [laughs awkwardly] I don’t know! We’ve evolved so far beyond from what we used to produce that I don’t even know what genre we would fall into anymore. [laughs]

(Cynthia and 2D at Studio 13 in London) I: [laughs] Well, before you worry too much about that. Tell us what it’s like working in a roomful of men. Does it ever get chaotic?

C: Well, yeah it gets chaotic but we’re all a little chaotic in together so, to me, it all evens out. I mean, if you’re asking if I’m bothered by working with a bunch of guys then, no. We're all friends and nothing more. I know that for some people, seeing a female lead with all male bandmates can be a little... I dunno, "intimidating" for lack of a better word? I feel like women have always had this complicated relationship in the music industry when it comes to expressing themselves. There's always this air of tension whenever we try to talk about what we go through. Our identity, our struggles, femininity, sexuality; just whatever... We're constantly being scrutinized by the media whether we talk to little or too much about our thoughts. So when some see a woman with multiple guys, they just think that she's a mouthpiece for them. Not that she has her own life or is her own person that isn't solely defined by the men in her life and doesn't need protection from the world. I like to think we should be above that mindset now. That's why I don't necessarily see this as just "my band" even though I'm the lead. At the end of the day, it's all of our thoughts collectively. Whenever I write songs about myself and the shit that I went through, I make sure to sing it. No one else gets to talk about my experiences except for me, the guys just help bring those emotions to the surface. Sorry, didn't mean to make that a long rant, I just wanted to get that off my chest.

I: Oh, you're completely fine. Now, aside from that. When should we expect new music from the Rejects?

C: Something soon hopefully. We don’t have an official release date but just expect something. This is going to be our first EP with our new members at the helm, so I’m really excited to see how our fans react.

I: I think we talked about some interesting stuff today but before we go, we do have one final question from a fan on Instagram.

C: Oh really? Sweet! Fire away.

I: From @katy.ward.8494, "What's your relationship like with Murdoc?"

C: Oh, uh… I don't talk to him anymore. I've cut contact with him a long time ago. I try not to talk about him but y’know… that reminds me of something. Murdoc, if you just so happen to be reading this, I just want you to know. I’m not going anywhere so suck on my nads you sick fu—