Dublin-born Erica Jennings left Ireland as a teenager in the early 1990s, settling in Lithuania with her family. A fateful meeting in a Vilnius pub with Viktoras Diawara and Vilius Alesius led her to join them in forming Skamp, one of Lithuania’s best and most respected bands, which represented the Baltic country at the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest. The band has also won numerous awards for a sound that combines a unique blend of musical genres with rich, powerful vocals. In her responses below, Erica – the band’s lead vocalist – recalls her first impressions of Lithuania, reveals Skamp’s latest tour plans, and gives her thoughts on today’s Ireland. Questions by Catherine Reilly.
Q: First of all, I previously read that you are originally from Rathfarnham in Dublin, and left Ireland as a young teenager in 1994 after your dad got a contract in Vilnius. At that time Lithuania was just emerging from the Soviet era, having restored its independence in 1990. Can you recall your feelings at leaving Ireland and your first impressions of Lithuania?
Erica: Well I really left Ireland in 1992 when my father got a contract in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We spent 18 months there after which I returned to Dublin for a few months. Then in November 1994, I arrived in Lithuania and experienced ‘culture shock’ for the first time! Oddly enough, I had felt more at home in Tanzania, with the warmth and friendliness of people there, than I did in my first few months in Vilnius. I remember the snow all piled up on the sides of the streets and the week when all the paths were iced over and everyone was sliding along to work. What most struck me was everyone seemed to hurry about with these grim expressionless faces. The only place for teenagers to socialise was at school discos and some little cafés. There was nothing commercial to speak of. The only commercial clothing shop there at the time was Benetton. I was pretty miserable then. The only salvation I had was MTV on my hotel television. It was completely different to how it is today.
Q: Lithuanians seem to be quite deep people who are very friendly, but it can take some time to get to know them. Did you have any initial difficulties making friends in Lithuania?
Erica: Yes, that’s exactly what I realised. They’re not naturally talkative like the Irish. They’re not much into small talk or ‘making conversation’. It’s just not in their nature. And their sense of humour is not like ours – that’s something that still hasn’t changed! But, that said, once you do get to know them you find them to be very genuine and very sincere. Once I entered a Lithuanian school that specialises in English (Salomeya Neries School in Vilnius), I started to make friends. I didn’t go to the American International School because they only had much younger classes. So I took English Language, English Literature and Lithuanian History for a year there and did the rest of my subjects at home. It was great because I developed true friendships with people who could show me how life in Lithuania really was. I still have some of the same friends 14 years later.
Q: In terms of learning Lithuanian, has this been a necessity or has it been possible to get by with English?
Erica: Initially my enthusiasm for learning Lithuanian fizzled because most of my Lithuanian friends said I shouldn’t bother as it was far too difficult and I’d never manage it. I had a sneaking suspicion they wanted to practice their English. If someone discouraged me like that now I would tell them where to go but then I was just 14 years old. However, since then I’ve learned the language quite well. I am taking Lithuanian lessons again now to develop my vocabulary, though. But for any foreigners planning to travel here, it’s very easy to get by speaking English.
Q: Growing up in Dublin, who were your musical influences, and as your musical career has developed, what musicians continue to influence you?
Erica: Honestly I’m really into old soul. Always have been. I grew up listening to a large range of artists whilst rifling through my parents and older sisters’ vinyl collections. Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, early Michael Jackson (the Thriller and Off The Wall albums), Madonna, Leonard Cohen, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who. I was a huge fan of Guns N’ Roses as a teen and Soundgarden and now Velvet Revolver. I love Lauryn Hill, Hot Chip, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Fujiya & Miyagi, New Young Pony Club, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz and tonnes more. It’s interesting that ’60s soul has come back in the last few years with singers like Amy Winehouse and Duffy. I think my solo album will be ‘electro soul’, old soul with electro sounds, good lyrics and vocals.
Q: In 2001 with Skamp, you represented Lithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest. What was this experience like, and what type of feedback did you get from Lithuanians and Irish people?
Erica: Ooh we got loads of feedback! But funnily enough, most of it was positive. Maybe they were all just being nice… but really, at the time we got the highest place ever had by Lithuania so everyone was really proud. We went into it with the attitude of ‘Well if it’s supposed to be kitsch, let’s have some fun with this.’ So we wrote You Got Style, which was basically a tongue-in-cheek song, made for Eurovision, and had outfits that were an ode to the good old days. It did open a lot of doors for us around Europe, though. Once upon a time Eurovision was a good contest and it was about good songs. Nowadays it’s just about what daft show you can put on in three minutes, but back then you really had good artists come out of the contest like Abba and Celine Dion. It’d be good to bring that vibe back again.
Q: I have seen you described as Irish-Lithuanian – is this how you’d describe yourself?
Erica: Hmm, I can’t say I feel Lithuanian at all. I feel Irish and always will. That said, Lithuania is my home now. My family is here, my son was born here, my husband is half-Lithuanian, half-Colombian. My parents live here when they’re not working
elsewhere. My sister and her family live here and my other sister is planning to live and work here as of next summer. And home is where the heart is.
Q: Ireland – Dublin in particular– has changed so much in the past 10 years, economically and demographically. How often do you come back, and what impressions do you come away with?
Erica: I usually visit once a year either for a holiday or to play. In the past decade you can see that there’s a lot more money about, but that certainly doesn’t buy people good taste. I feel sorry for young families as the housing market is so crazy they can’t afford to buy a home and have to waste money renting. I think Dublin has changed but I’m not sure if the rest of the country has developed as much. I don’t think Irish people
have changed much, though, for better or worse. I have noticed an increasing tension regarding emigrants and it makes me very sad. Almost every time I’ve come back to Dublin I’ve been talking to a white Irish taxi driver who has started off by asking me what I think about all the Africans and suchlike folks living here. It’s clear that they find the colour a problem more than where they’re from or what they do. They think it’s going to change the way Irish people look, I guess. My answer’s always the same. I say ‘Well, Irish people emigrated all over the world because they had to when the country was so poor and now it’s our turn to help out others when we’re the ones with the wealth and prosperity.’
Q: Skamp continue to enjoy great success. What is next for you and the band, and are there any upcoming shows in Ireland?
Erica: What’s next is our new album KažkÄ…, out in November. Lithuanians will get the title but there are songs in there for everyone. That’s what we’re all about. It’s possibly our best album to date. We’ve also got our new website at www.skamp.lt lt taking off on 15 October, where you’ll be able to see us at work in the studio and download our music. And we’re planning a European tour in Spring 2009 so you’ll most likely see us then, if not sooner!
