Catching Up with Greg Weeks (The Valerie Project, espers)

Re-envisioning the soundtrack to 1970's Valerie and Her Weeks of Wonders took the strength and creativity of 10 talented musicians. But the catalyst for The Valerie Project's inception? Look no further than Greg Weeks, better known for his work is espers. EVP was able to nab a quick Q&A with Mr. Weeks about the past, present, and future of The Valerie Project.

We are humbled to present our interview with Greg Weeks:


EVP: When did you first see Valerie and Her Weeks of Wonders?

Greg: Oh probably about 3 years back or so.

EVP: What about the film drove you to create an alternate soundtrack?

Greg: It was a confluence of circumstances. The opportunity to DO a live performance of a new score to a film presented itself in the form of Joseph Gervasi, a local film promoter, and he and I both hit upon the idea to do Val, I because I was obsessing on it, and he because he owns a 16mm print of the film.

EVP: How did the other members of The Valerie Project come aboard? Did you actively seek out anyone new to work with?

Greg: I actively sought out everyone involved with Val. The core group of six was assembled with the idea of having a band with 2 harpists and 2 cellists do a symphonic Magma-style kinda thing. Once our priorities shifted to doing a live soundtrack we ushered in other players to provide what we like to call "the frosting."

EVP: How was the music created? Did you and others come in with some concrete ideas or were these songs built on spontaneity and improvisation?

Greg: Most of the themes were composed spontaneously by myself and Margie. The rest of the band simply applied their intuitions, with a slight amount of guidance in some instances, in assimilating to our themes and the visual cues.

EVP: What themes are you hoping your new soundtrack will (re)explore?

Greg: Our soundtrack is quite a bit darker than the original. These are dark times. The idea of recontextualising the existing images with music that differs in tone from the original soundtrack is a major part of what we do.

EVP: Does the film's original soundtrack hold up today? I keep reading that the film leans on the psychedelic craze of the late 60s and early 70s and much of that scene and music style survives today including the work of yourself and many of the Valerie Project's participants?

Greg: The soundtrack is psychedelic in the same way that some sunsets can appear to be. It has no traditional psych instruments, nor relies on any such tropes of the era. Neither does the film. They don't set out to be psychedelic, they simply are.

EVP: Was any of the original soundtrack integrated into The Valerie Project's vision?

Greg: One of the major themes is hinted at in my guitar solo at the end of the film.

EVP: How are the live performances working out? Any plans to take the film and concert on an expanded tour?

Greg: The live shows have been incredible. The responses have been overwhelmingly positive. We have many plans, but financial realities will ultimately dictate who else in the world gets to see this event. It isn't cheap to tour.

EVP: The Valerie Project is just the beginning--what else can we expect? More alternate film soundtracks? Adaptations of other media?

Greg: Yes!

EVP: Will future Project Series releases contain the same core of musicians as The Valerie Project or do you hope to bring in other musicians and artists?

Greg: I'm hoping so. I'm sure the band will have a somewhat revolving cast, but I similarly suspect you'll see most all of us involved in future projects.