Et voila! The Mid-March Edition my
“Erratic & Occasional Tidbits of ODD-itory News”!
Veronique Chevalier, The “Weird Val” of Dark Cabaret, aka The Original Mad Sonictist; Spooky Polkanista; Perv-ormance Artiste; MC-ess, Model & Authoress. A fan described her as simultaneously “Ooh La La!” AND “Laugh-out-loud hilarious!” While her fellow music artistes are obsessing with the “Punk” portion of the genre, MAD Veronique specializes in producing the “Steam”.
Along with originals, and twisted covers of familiar tunes, she’s known for parodies, remodeling & Steam-i-fying works by Thomas Dolby, Frank Zappa, Led Zepplin, ZZ Top & The Beatles.
She takes pride in the fact that she plays no musical instrument whatsoever, and has, over the years, defied the methodology of numerous respected maestros, pedagogues and instructors, in their fruitless attempts to instill any form of known music theory into her fevered brain.
Working faithfully with her during her dazzling career, is the mysterious Francois, The “Invisible” Accordionist. Though his origins (and the rest of him) are obscure, suffice it to say, his presence adds just the je ne sais quoi to keep the doings of The MAD-emoiselle One Herself from ever straying into abject respectability.
Inventrix of Gothic Polka with the recording “Polka Haunt Us: A Spook-tacular Compilation” (aka PHU), which she lovingly calls her “Sonic Franksteam”, she leaves no stone unturned, nor any sacred cow unmilked, in her quest to bring levity where the sun don’t shine. Veronique is the recipient of the Unanimous Choice Award for Best Independent Cabaret Artist at the 14th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, and PHU was an Official Selection on the 51st Grammy Awards Ballot.
In 2012, no less a personage than Lord Hastings Bobbins III himself, Founder of TeslaCon, bestowed upon MAD Veronique the honour of having her name placed on the plaque of the door to the “Chevalier Music Hall” for the “Trip To The Moon” that year.
“Weird Val” logo by Myke Amend
Her music’s been played on Dr. Demento Radio; Rue Morgue Radio, & Volver a la Magia Radio-Show in Buenos Aires, & her tracks can be found on compilations, including A Sepiachord Passport released by Projekt Records.
In addition to ink in Gothic Beauty, Rue Morgue & Fangoria, Gearhearts Steampunk Glamour Revue & more, her image is included on pages 176 & 177 of “1000 Steampunk Creations“ by Dr. Grymm, as well as the book “International Steampunk Fashion” by Lisa Lewis. Known for her sartorial splendor, and Parisian elegance, Veronique is the recipient of The Steampunk Chronicle Readers’ Choice Awards for “Best Dressed Female Steampunk 2012.”
Screened as a comedy short at arts festivals & steampunk events across North America, such as Steampunk Bizarre, Seattle International Cabaret Festival, PDX Steampunk Film Festival & S.T.E.A.M.fest, “Internet Date“is Veronique’s lampoon of the preposterous process of online courtship.
With art & direction by Disney’s Kyle A. Carrozza, this winsome bit of neo-retro cartooning elicits fits of mirth, with it’s witty lyrics, & beguiling sight gags. She and Kyle are currently co-creating a new animated video to her parody “Sprocky Spittoon”.
The MAD-emoiselle One Herself is also Creatrix of Steampunk Haiku & authoress of “My Cog Is Bigger Than Your Cog: SteamKu & Other Verstrocities“ w/full-color, retina-staining illustrations by Walter Sickert.
Veronique holds the distinction of having been buzzed off of the premiere airing of America’s Got Talent, with her rendition of “White Rabbit”.
Seattle Gay News says, “If Charles Dickens had created A Ghost of Christmas Mirth, Veronique would be she.”
Danny Elfman once remarked, “’Mad Sonictist’ is an accurate descriptor for Veronique…”
EXCLUSIVE!
“Gearhearts Steampunk Glamour Revue” Issue #6 with Veronique Chevalier on the cover!
“Bountiful bouquets and boxes of bon-bons, all that is sweet and lovely in “Gearhearts Steampunk Glamour Revue”. This issue features the (in)famous steampunk chanteuse Veronique Chevalier on the cover, & in an exclusive interview! So rejoice! Love is in the air, and the sweethearts of steampunk abound!”