Another rebellious young player to be inspired by Rasputina’s music is Daniel DeJesus, who in 2008 had a dream fulfilled when he became its first-ever male cellist (the group has had mainly male drummers over the years, but currently that chair is occupied by a woman, Catie D’Amica). “I was so excited to audition [for Rasputina] because I was already such a big fan,” says the Philadelphia cellist, who Creager met when she saw his old band, also called DeJesus. “I loved Melora’s music because of the combination of rock and classical music, and the stories in her songs are just so bizarre. Like her, I kind of live in my own make-believe world, so that aspect [of the band] really appealed to me too.” (DeJesus also plays in the trio TivaTiva.)
Outside of the make-believe world of her band, Rasputina’s matron is a real-life mother with two daughters: 11-year-old Hollis, who lives in New York, and 10-month-old Ivy. “Before I became a mom I was a really competitive person,” Creager reflects. “I don’t think anything other than having kids would’ve taught me to be less self-centered. And I’ve found that being a mother somehow also helps my singing. I’m not sure why, but I feel more relaxed and in control. There’s less fear.” Naturally, lengthy tours will have to wait until Ivy grows a bit, but in the interim Rasputina is able to do shorter jaunts and the occasional festival date. Between gigs, Creager supplements her income with a successful line of handmade jewelry that includes the prefect fan keepsakes: necklaces made from old cello strings.
Warp ahead to the year 3010. A little girl with esoteric tastes finds a dust-covered record cover in the basement of an old house. The front bears the name Rasputina and the vinyl inside is still intact. When the curious child places it on her antique turntable and lowers the needle into the groove, what would Creager hope she experiences?
The singer thinks a moment. “I guess I’d hope she’d be surprised,” she says. “And that she liked the music enough to share it.”
Not a difficult outcome to imagine, really.
Sister Kinderhook is out now on Filthy Bonnet Recording Co. www.rasputina.com.
