Feature / One Question Interviews
Bilinda Butchers

Words: Andy Armageddon • April 2, 2015

Bilinda Butchers
Bilinda Butchers

Michal Palmer (Bilinda Butchers)

SPB: Was there a historical or real-life inspiration behind the concept for Heaven?

Palmer: Yes, both. The album's concept was inspired by various works of Lafcadio Hearn as well as some travel diaries written between the 15th and 20th Century in Japan, researched and written about by Donald Keene. I became very interested in one story in particular called "The Lovers' Suicide" in which two young lovers who are unable to be together decide to commit suicide in order to be together in the afterlife. 

The idea of such a grand commitment to love fascinates me. And although I think it is extreme, it reminds me how precious the love you share with your friends, family, or a partner is: a feeling that that can give you faith, meaning and purpose to your life; something to live and die by, similar to religion. 

I created this idea and story for my girlfriend with the intent to illustrate the intensity of my feelings. Heaven continues to remind me of how lucky I am to love and be loved. 

My friend Michelle Yoon and myself pieced together several elements of various women from these tales and diaries to create the story of Ume Nakajima, the woman who drowned herself to be with her lover in the afterlife from which our album is based off. She is loyal and caring, someone I can always depend on. Occasionally I think of what would happen if something bad happened to one of us and how devastating it would be to not be able to see each other. I created the concept of Heaven to help illustrate the complexity and gravity of my feelings for her. 

Bilinda Butchers
Bilinda Butchers

Related features

Shane Embury

One Question Interviews • April 23, 2025

Shane Embury (Napalm Death, solo) What is it like playing a solo set as an opener for "the Napalm Death" crowd (as compared to a solo set with an unfamiliar audience)? Playing the Dark Sky Burial set, I feel at times is a daunting task but the reception so far … Read more

Dave Eats Mud

One Question Interviews • April 22, 2025

Andrew (Dave Eats Mud - drums) SPB: What’s your favorite ‘90s deep cut in the 3 formats: punk, pop, TV series? Andrew: So many good ‘90s punk deep cuts to choose from, but I'll go with 88 Fingers Louie's "Something I Don't Know" off their album Behind Bars. ‘90s pop … Read more

Allegedly Records

One Question Interviews • April 21, 2025

Bree (Allegedly Records) SPB:Do you accept demos? What is the most surprising demo you’ve received? Bree: We do accept demos! Since Amy is on the west coast and I'm on the east coast, this is a great way for us to listen to bands in other areas of the country … Read more

Chuck Ragan

Fly fishing tour guide

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • April 14, 2025

How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative process at night. In Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Scene Point Blank looks at how musicians split their time, and how their careers influence their music (or how their music provides escape). In this edition, we caught up … Read more

Jumalvauhti

One Question Interviews • March 27, 2025

Kalle (Jumalvauhti – bass) SPB: Who is your favorite band/artist from the 2000-2010 era? Kalle: It's hard to say, but Destiny's Child definitely can't go wrong.  Read more

Related news

New Track from The Bilinda Butchers

Posted in MP3s on June 6, 2015

Related reviews

The Bilinda Butchers

Heaven
Independent (2014)

Following a handful of shorter releases, San Francisco three-piece The Bilinda Butchers (named after the guitarist/vocalist from My Bloody Valentine and made up of Michal Palmer and Adam Honingford who alternate on vocals, bass, guitar and synth, as well as drummer Ryan Wansley) released their full length debut in mid 2014 and in doing so, followed through on the potential … Read more

More from this section

Shane Embury

One Question Interviews • April 23, 2025

Shane Embury (Napalm Death, solo) What is it like playing a solo set as an opener for "the Napalm Death" crowd (as compared to a solo set with an unfamiliar audience)? Playing the Dark Sky Burial set, I feel at times is a daunting task but the reception so far … Read more

Dave Eats Mud

One Question Interviews • April 22, 2025

Andrew (Dave Eats Mud - drums) SPB: What’s your favorite ‘90s deep cut in the 3 formats: punk, pop, TV series? Andrew: So many good ‘90s punk deep cuts to choose from, but I'll go with 88 Fingers Louie's "Something I Don't Know" off their album Behind Bars. ‘90s pop … Read more

Allegedly Records

One Question Interviews • April 21, 2025

Bree (Allegedly Records) SPB:Do you accept demos? What is the most surprising demo you’ve received? Bree: We do accept demos! Since Amy is on the west coast and I'm on the east coast, this is a great way for us to listen to bands in other areas of the country … Read more