In Greek mythology a group of three goddesses known as the Moeraes determined the fate of mankind and the gods, incuding their own.

 
For the Toronto area band Dame, recently changing their name to Moeraes Fate can thus be seen as a kind of seizing of their own destiny. Recently I had an occasion to chat with the members of the award-winning power trio in the comforts of their loft/rehearsal hall located in a Toronto neighbourhood that time has seemingly long forgotten.  

I caught them right in the middle of composing their next album. I tried to make the most out of the half-hour they were able to give me. They were gracious but also anxious to get back to composing the new material.  They are enthused with their new name having felt compelled to change it when the meaning of Moeraes in Greek mythology was brought to their attention. The added incentive was the fact that their former name was held by at least eight other bands worldwide.

You can tell that they have thought this out thoroughly merely from the fact that they know of at least eight other bands with the name "Dame"..   "The name Moeraes Fate ties in to us and who we are. You know, there are three of us and we feel powerful together when we play" Says Ali, the guitarist who will be celebrating a full year in the band in January having been discovered off of Youtube in videos which amazed her colleagues in Moeraes Fate. "The name is a celebration of powerful women and as a group of three you can draw parallels. We liked that. Not that we didn't like the name 'Dame' and we actually got a lot of compliments on it but it was clear a change of name was going to help distinguish us beyond what our sound already does" Agrees Katee, the singer/bassist.  

The band formerly known as "Dame" was one well known for its efficiency in utilising the internet and its social networking sites to further their cause. One tends to associate youth with naivete and lack of focus but these young women have matured beyond their years in a short time not merely in terms of their musicianship but in how they view the music industry. "Its changed for the worse in my view. Bands used to actually have to be able to play. Now there are all these artificial effects to enhance a singer's voice. I can really hear it when I listen to modern stuff. I am not gonna mention any names but there are a number of vocalists that use...let's say embellishment" says Kayla, the hard-hitting drummer, a disciple of noted percussionist Jeff Salem. I ask her if drum music is not also embellished these days. "Oh absolutely it is. But I notice it more in what they do with singers voices." "We refuse to do anything like that. Our sound has to be real when we record. It has to sound like our live shows. It is one thing we always insist upon" Says Katee.  

Each intends to further study aspects of music production and promotion after they graduate high school. This is in line with the firm commitment they have made to the industry which they remain critical of. They are serious, firm in the approach they want to take and already have an impressive well of experience to drawn upon.  

The band is playing a Christmas special broadcast on Image FM (www.Imagefm.ca) in December and a live concert in Niagara Falls to be broadcast on New Year's Eve on Global television. Tune in to catch the next chapter in the odyssey of these three young rock goddesses.  

www.myspace.com/moeraesfateband   They are also on Facebook under "Moeraes Fate".

Photo kudos to Allison Caroline Smith, Kathy Brewer & David Gross. Outfits by Starkers.