An English Couple Performs Live Music, but Comedians?

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I accidentally found a couple who performs in Second Life on the day they were making their debut in Second Life. I was asked by Cryene Madonna to help line up some performers for her weekly open mic which is held in Sterling Vineyards every Sunday. I like to get people to perform that haven’t been to that venue before so I was searching out new talent. I contacted Pam Havercamp and asked her if she knew of any new musicians who might like to have a chance to perform. Pam Imed me back and said she didn’t know anything about him, but there was a guy in their store right that moment buying a tip case and would I like her to ask him. I said sure, and it turned into a they… an English couple who are as entertaining with their conversations with each other on stage as he is at the piano or she at the mic, and they are entertaining at each of those tasks.

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Aidan is an IT administrator in the real world, works with computers/servers, web design, programs, and generally keeps the company he works for computer running smoothly., and Melanie is a writer and full time Mum… “the most important job in the world! Raising the next generation.

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They have been together for seven years and made it through some difficult times by learning to support each other in their own special ways, and allowing each other to express their creativity in different ways. They claim their real life patter with each other is no different than the conversation they have on stage. All I can say is the flies on their wall die of laughter each day.

Melanie Jade Saxton (uses maiden name professionally) and Aidan Gustard are the couple of which I speak. They are known as JadesRain and Tarquin Janus in Second Life, and they met working a youth charity project which deals with drug and alcohol abuse. They formed a strong bond from the beginning as they found that they shared many of the same interests. In 2003 and 2006 two more common interests to share were born into their lives.

Melanie has always had an interest in music and writing lyrics in particular. According to her parents, she could write lyrics all day and usually on anything she could find (doors, walls and furniture usually). Due to unfortunate circumstances she was not able to start her musical career until she moved away from home. In 2000 she recorded some music at a friends house and her musical career began. About that time she met Aidan and

forced me to play the piano for her. I must admit I was never really interested in the
style of music she wanted me to play back then, which frustrated Melanie no end. She was too intense when it came to the preciseness of her songs, but looking back now I guess that’s a good thing to be. She has always known exactly what she wanted, the sound in her head had to be somehow transformed into the music she’d write. Only being able to play the piano a little, she could find a basic tune then get me to fill it out. But usually she would tell me in great detail where the music should be going, due to this we
could never work together without a massive fight, but that has all changed now. Don’t get me wrong of course we still argue but not with the same frustration as before. Melanie spends all her spare time writing lyrics and poems and is currently writing a novel. She is extremely possessive over our music and will not compromise its originality for anyone.

Aidan started to learn the piano at the age of eight, taking lessons until the call of mountain bikes passionately took over his life. He wasn’t involved much in music until he met a few people who were passionate about music in high school, and he joined a band and has been very musically active ever since.

My first proper band started when I was at college and lasted for about 6
months. I played the keyboards. We did 3 gigs and then the drummer fell
out with the singer so we split. Fortunately I was asked if I wanted to
join another band shortly after (Called GroundZero) and was with them for 2
years. We played purely covers and it was fun while it lasted. But work
commitments for one of the members forced us to call it a day. In 1998 I
joined a club band which toured up and down the UK (Called Bon Geordie).
Bet you can’t guess what we played. I was with them for 2 years and this
started my singing career off. Backing was one of my duties in the band.
Things were good until the lead singer left to start a solo career of his
own. In 2000 I joined forces with my brother (who plays drums and guitar).
We knew a fella who played a guitar and then one dunken night we found a
base player (funny that! Finding a base player in a pub). We called
Ourselves ‘Random’ and played both original and covers. In 2003 ‘Random’ came to a close due to differing opinions between myself and the base player (we still remain friends though) and after a 6 month break from everything musical, I formed up with my brother and my sister on the bass. We formed Hullbreach and were a purely original band. They are still going although I’ve had to pull out due to family and work commitments.

My career with my wife started in 2000 when I first met her. Even though I
was doing other things, I was always actively (not always completely
voluntarily) musically with Melanie. She has always been a strong lyricist
and good at carrying a tune. A good proportion of our tunes were composed
by her singing the melody and me finding which key it was in then finding
the notes to go with it. Sometimes it was quite frustrating but we always
ended up with a song that was worth it.

I asked Aidan if he could describe their musical Style?

We can’t. When we compare our music with anyone else’s, the style is always
so completely different that we struggle to describe what kind of music we
are. Call us Rare or unique.

I asked each what are the influences on your music and they responded:

Aidan: In the early years I was influenced a lot by bands such as Bon Jovi,
Faith No More, guns n roses and learned a lot of their tunes. In later life
my tastes changed to more rock/metal and now that I’ve got kids, though I
still like a bit of Metallica or AC/DC, I find that there’s times I just
want to put on some muse, radio head or snow patrol.

Melanie: I am influenced by people, why they do what they do, what is this
life all about, what happens when you die, I am an observer, I mainly get my
ideas from my own life experiences. I have an extremely vivid imagination,
which at times drives me absolutely insane. All theses crazy questions I
have. I just write what I feel, in fact I’ve never come across anyone as
tortured mentally as myself. I like weird creative stuff. Song writers who
are lyrical genius’s like Kate bush.

Aidan saw a couple articles in a newspaper, the first about Anshe Chung making a million pounds selling property and the second about Slim Warrior and how she is making a career out of music within Second Life. “That kind of clinched the deal for us. We saw it as a way for us to get our music heard by people.” states Aidan, but Melanie is quick to state, “I was forced by Aidan!”

Now a few weeks after I first met Melanie and Aidan they are playing gigs in Second Life and attend many live music events, spend money in shops attempting to upgrade their appearances, and hoping people are enjoying their music. “Second Life Gives us a chance to express our musical creations and spend time together doing what we love. We both feel that this is bringing us closer to each other … and that is not a bad thing!”

Tarquin and JadesRain easily have one of the most relaxed onstage conversations, that will keep you rolling in your chairs, of anyone I have seen in Second Life. Tarquin is extremely talented on the piano and JadesRain has a classical sound in her voice. Their performances are mostly their own original music which has been honed by JadesRain, with the help of a few worn out riding crops, and an intense earnest desire to produce something a little different than an ordinary performer. I think she has succeeded well.