Baker's Dozen: Interview with WASI

I know I've written on this blog, or at least the previous version which was hacked the f*** up back in the spring, about my love of the movie 8 Mile. In one of the last scenes B. Rabbit (Eminem) is in the club getting ready to battle his nemesis Papa Doc. This guy has all the dirt on B. Rabbit and he isn't afraid to use it. So instead of running from his life and trying to hide who he is, B. Rabbit decides to own it. He admitted everything. This left Papa Doc speechless and handed victory over to B. Rabbit. WASI is sort of the female fronted, pop punk version of B. Rabbit. The two founders, Cosmo and Jessie, are lesbians. Jessie has spent a large portion of her life being bullied for her masculinity. When WASI first hit the LA circuit, they were outcasts who couldn't find a niche that they fit with. The band spent years hustling their songs outside of concerts with a pair of headphones. These are all things they own. They don't try to hide who they are or where they've come from. In fact, these are the things that have helped WASI get to where they are today. And where's that? A band with a recently released debut EP that is getting love from, amongst other places, Billboard. Recently I had the chance to ask Cosmo and Jessie some questions as part of our Baker’s Dozen Interview Series. We talked desserts, the LGBTQ scene in LA, Fun. and Pussy Riot. We also spoke about bullying and, of course, their new EP Bleed Pop. So, without further adieu, let's hear from Cosmo & Jessie:

TB: I must start with an apology. I introduced WASI to my blog as I was knee deep in lactation desserts. Are you guys dessert fans? What is your go to sweet treat?

Cosmo - Desserts are my favorite meal. Jessie actually used to work at a frozen yogurt shop when we lived in Buena Park... so I got hooked with basically free yogurt for a lifetime every single day. For a whole summer, I would head over to her shop and she would give me a pint of strawberry yogurt and almonds which I would eat till I passed out. Nowadays we settle for a healthier dose of Yogurtland. Sometimes we splurge on macarons. 

Jessie- If I could eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner I'd be set. And absolutely no need for an apology, It would be a dream come true to swim in a bathtub of ice cream! We can definitely relate to an obsession with desserts.

TB: WASI has an interesting history. You originally started as a duo with the intention of covering some INXS songs under the moniker the Midol Poppers. Somewhere in that process you decided it was easier to just write your own songs. Then you spent a number of years trying to sort of find your place as you didn't seem to fit into any one scene. What are some of the lessons that you learned that have stayed with you from these early struggles? I know it is a different world now, but what suggestions might you offer a musician that is going through similar frustrations?

Cosmo - A big thing we’ve learned is to be who we are on and off stage. I think it took a minute for us to figure that out because we were coming from a place where we were going against the grain from day 1 without any guidance. Everything we’ve done to this point has been trial and error, then getting back on your feet and doing it differently until it is right. You have to be authentic as there’s a respect that comes with authenticity amongst other artists and friends. It can be scary because you’re putting yourself in a position to be vulnerable to rejection - but it also creates room to grow in real relationships and friendships. A suggestion I’d have for someone going through similar frustrations is when it gets really hard, call up a friend or someone that can relate and spend time with them. From collaborating on some new songs to just grabbing a cup of coffee together. Connecting with someone who understands is key. 

Jessie - We were one of those bands that would approach you at shows at the Hollywood Bowl or at Gay Pride and offer a listen of our music. Putting ourselves out there like that was really scary but exhilarating at the same time. People have literally thrown the headphones off and said we were crap while others became friends that we still have today. For me, growing up was really tough because I was bullied a lot so I was incredibly shy and didn't know how to talk to people. Talking to thousands of people gave me the strength and skills I needed to grow tough skin and really grow out of the shell I was hiding in. A suggestion I’d offer to any musician is to do the same. Throw your art out there and be ready for the ups and downs, take it, and keep going. 

TB: You are now a four piece, making some fabulous music. The lactation dessert friendly track I mentioned earlier was your single "And the World", which was one of my top 20 favorite songs from last year. You recently released "And the World", along with four other songs, on an EP entitled Bleed Pop. How would you summarize the EP?

Cosmo - Bleed Pop is a really personal EP for me as it tells our stories of family, childhood, and a frustration towards a lack of opportunities for the marginalized to excel. My favorite thing about it is that the EP is through an optimistic lens of owning yourself and doing what you love - even if it is being the only person dancing your heart out in a room full of stiffness. We also try to cater our songs to the live show. While in the studio coming up with cool ideas, I sometimes find myself dancing out the parts in a corner haha. 

Thank you so much for posting that about the track, by the way! We were so hyped to see that! 

Jessie- First of all, I'm incredibly flattered you dig "And The World" so much! I definitely agree with what Cosmo said. Bleed Pop is a culmination of years we have grown together through all of the good and the difficult times (things get tough sometimes, but we feel like we always get through it somehow). I don’t know what it was but it was always difficult for us to find a space to really feel confident in. Now when we play shows we get the opportunity to really share a space with others who have the same "Don't Give A Fuck" attitude that we have and we get to all have a party together. At the end of the day it's about having fun. 

TB: How does the cover art for Bleed Pop fit with the five tracks that are featured on it?

Cosmo - Our friend Donny with KIHL Studios did an AMAZING job with the artwork for Bleed Pop. The art showcases the energy of the stories in our songs such as an asymmetry of power, gender inequality and the overall imbalanced structure that we are socially molded to grow up in. 

Jessie - I am a pretty physically androgynous and that is something I was afraid to own for years until WASI. We wanted to own that in the vibe of the package in the way it’s owned in our songs. We wanted it to be loud. 

TB: Billboard compared your high energy pop sound to Matt & Kim. I've had the privilege to see them live a number of times and they put on a helluva show. If you aren't sweating at the end, you are doing something wrong. What are your live shows like?

Cosmo - Matt and Kim are a huge influence to us musically and personally. We want our shows to be a space where people can just completely unleash themselves. Growing up influenced by a lot of punk music, I, personally, subconsciously release that kind of energy at our shows. 

Jessie - We really are about the live show. We try to be as crowd interactive as possible because some of the best shows we've been to have been like that. If someone FEELS something after leaving a WASI show, then mission accomplished. We once saw the band FUN. perform at a small local Orange County venue called Chain Reaction (we were selling cds outside the show of course) and FUN. completely blew us away. The way that Nate completely had the crowd of about 200-250 kids in the palm of his hand made you feel like you were part of the band for that moment. We carry that idea with us today. 

Cosmo - That was one of the top 3 best shows I’ve ever seen. We weren’t just watching FUN. We were part of whatever community they were creating for that hour. 

TB: WASI is a pretty prominent group when it comes to the LGBTQ scene in the LA area. Can you tell us a bit about how you got started in the scene and where it has taken you up to this point?

Jessie- As I mentioned earlier, we have always been at the pride festivals promoting our band and have received huge support from the LGBTQ community. There have been a number of people that have reached out and told us our music made a difference for them and it kind of made us realize that our music isn't about us. Its about the struggle that many of us have to face and that we’re all in it together. Throughout my whole life I was incredibly homophobic (and confused about it) until I realized I was gay at 17. During the really difficult years of bullying I would listen to artists like India Arie and Blink 182-  music that saved my life. We play quite a few LGBTQ fundraisers and charity events and it's a way to give back to the community we’re a part of. 

Cosmo - The LGBT scene is our home. Growing up we didn’t have a safe space and community which I feel is a huge issue for LGBTQ youth. Coming out was really hard for me and I can still feel that fear and self-consciousness come up here and there. I started truly getting involved with the scene when I hosted a rally back in 2008 for No-On-Prop 8 campaign. We threw it in Buena Park right next to Knott’s Berry Farm and made a Youtube video for it. We didn’t anticipate anything huge coming out of it, but by the end of the day we had a few hundred people coming with signs. We ended up marching around the perimeter of the theme park and that whole area. It was crazy! There’s a unique empowerment in the LGBT scene that is so hard to find anywhere else. I think that energy carries with us in our music. There’s a celebration and contagious energy in this scene that really keeps us stoked on life. I remember going to my first Gay Pride in Long Beach not knowing what to expect. And then when you’re there, it’s like  “This IS ME and I can be proud about it”. 

TB: You guys also throw your own events. One event you put on is Women Fuck Shit Up Fest an annual feminist/queer event that seeks to empower those communities to share their art and voice. What sparked the idea for this event?

Cosmo - Haha Women Fuck Shit Up Fest was the BEST!  We threw it at this rad feminist art gallery called Heart of Art Gallery. My good friend Mayra Cortez who I met volunteering at the Rock Camp 4 Girls Orange County (which was also another empowering event) and I came up with the idea together.  We wanted to celebrate a space where female fronted musicians, artists, poets, etc. can showcase their art without judgement.  You hear so much “man, why do girl fronted bands all sound the same” or “why aren’t there any GOOD gay bands, and why are they all PUNK”?  Then what happens is it creates a pattern where just “being a girl” means you’re not good/tough/smart/whatever enough because you’re not a boy. We wanted to tear that down and celebrate being a female/queer artist. 

Jessie- I think Cosmo summed that one up quite well. Overall, it was an incredible experience that none of us will ever forget. What happens from events like that are lifelong solid relationships and new connections/communities stemming from it. 

TB: Maybe its because I just watched a documentary on them last night and its fresh in my mind but WASI seems to be reaching out to the same sort of marginalized communities as Russian performance art group/punk band Pussy Riot. Why do you think this idea of providing a "voice for the voiceless" is met with so much resistance all over the globe?

Cosmo - I think people in general are afraid of change. There is so much ignorance and hate because of fear. So many don’t want to blame it on the structure, racism, sexism, whatever - they let things be ok because for that moment their needs may be met. I think the attitude comes because of a lack of connection with others from different backgrounds and beliefs. 

TB: I want to touch a little bit more on Jessie's bullying because, as someone who works with kids, this is a topic that comes up a lot. Jessie has sort of flipped the script and now makes it a point to showcase what she was bullied for. She treats it as a gift. How did this empowerment, this taking back of her body, occur? How is the WASI brand better because of what Jessie went through?

Jessie- I have a hormonal disorder called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and it causes me to overproduce testosterone. I was bullied about my weight, being a lesbian and basically going through a male puberty. I grew up in a very conservative area and women would stare, make comments and even scream when they would see me in the women's restroom. Honestly, it took so many years for me to accept and love myself. Music has completely brought me out of my shell and has made me realize how important it is to really own who you are because you don't know who you can help down the road. It goes back to "Hey, I've been there too and it's ok we'll get through it." If I can help other people through my experience, I am incredibly happy and all the hardship is totally worth it. 

Cosmo - WASI is about being loud. We’re about owning what makes you different and unique and connecting with others on a level that keeps each other moving/dancing/feeling. 

TB: Musically speaking, what does WASI have planned for the rest of the summer?

Cosmo - I know we just released our EP, but we’re writing more music now than ever. On top of that, playing shows here and there while working on ways to make the show better everytime, releasing some videos (one of them a documentary on our show in Tijuana, Baja California), and WRITING. More writing. 

TB: WASI is based in Los Angeles. If you had to sell that area to an East Coaster, what would you say?

Cosmo - In LA you can easily find other artists to exchange ideas and gossip with, decide to try out acting at any moment in time, and do a juice cleanse.  

On a side note, I think it’s hard to find the “cool” spots of Los Angeles on your own. You really have to dive into the community and connect with the people because that collaboration is what brings this city to life.  

Jessie- Weather-wise, you can walk your dog in shorts and a tank top and be totally fine haha. Except my dog wears hiking boots when she goes on a hike, not tank tops! So basically your dog can wear boots without judgement. 

TB: I know that Cosmo is a bit of a food fan. Do you guys do any crazy stuff in the kitchen? Is there a special WASI approved recipe you'd care to share with our readers?

Cosmo - I am down to compete with anyone on being the absolute worst cook in the kitchen. Seriously.  Once I messed up a scrambled egg and another time I messed up boiling water for spaghetti. I don’t know how. 

Jessie- Yes! So true. She did mess up boiled water and it all evaporated! I actually love to cook and am trying to learn new things. One of my favorite things I've made were red, heart shaped pancakes for our friends on valentine's day. That consisted of Bisquick pancake mix, water, and red food coloring. So complex! We're definitely working on learning new stuff. 

Cosmo - But if we had to choose our own WASI recipe, it would be a mix of coffee-nut-cookies & cream-dark chocolate w/a waffle cone sort of ice cream thing with almonds and m&ms on top. We would also make it from scratch. 

TB: Anything else you'd like to say?

Jessie & Cosmo- Super grateful for the opportunity to talk with you guys, We love food! Come to LA and we'd love to show you our favorite spots to eat. Listen to Bleed Pop at www.isawwasi.com. Follows us on twitter @wasimusic.

Check out "Fire", one of the new tracks on Bleed Pop I am completely enamored with:



The video "And the World":

 

Baker's Dozen: Interview with the Chainsmokers

They’ve played for Jay-Z, Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Usher. They’ve played for their moms (and probably yours as well). They’ve probably also played for your girlfriend (as long as she is as hot as you say she is). They are New York City’s The Chainsmokers. Made up of Alex Pall and Drew Taggert, this producer/DJ pair has put out a number of amazing remixes over the last half a year. The most amazing of these remixes, “Julian” (originally by Say Lou Lou), found its way into the lead position on our Poppin Taters Mix. Recently I had the chance to ask these guys some questions as part of our Baker’s Dozen Interview Series. We talked burgers, dating in NYC, Insane Clown Posse, chili and Le Haine. We also touched on what makes a good remix and how to milk a crowd for all their worth. It is about to get hot in here so…do what you need to do. Here are the Chainsmokers:

TB: Supposedly the two of you enjoy a good burger. What’s the best burger you’ve ever had?

The Chainsmokers (TC): Oh man, that’s easy, Minetta Tavern in NYC…their black label burger is unreal…but for a cheaper burger we gotta give it up to the In-N-Out.

TB: Experts say that resumes should be short and sweet. But with credentials like yours, I’d think your resume would have to run a bit longer. You’ve played for the likes of Jay-Z, Rihanna, Tiesto, Bruno Mars, Busta Rhymes, Usher, Lebron James, Ne-Yo and Drake (just to name a few). Anything you do differently when preparing for a room full of A-listers vs playing for the common man?

TC: Honestly, we hate knowing when someone is in the room that’s important. We just want to do our thing, we don’t want to be up there thinking X,Y or Z is here, we should change what we do for him…and we say that because we would likely change it…It's still cool of course, but we aren’t serenading them so honestly, all this celeb stuff is sorta silly, but people like to see it, we think…

TB: Your Facebook page mention that you realize each crowd and room requires a different style and energy of music. Is this something you prep beforehand? What kind of cues are you looking for in the crowd to help guide your set?

TC: Our sets have become more strategic, but only in the sense we sort of feel out the timing and stuff…there is definitely a planned aspect to our sets, but also very much an unprepared side…I mean there are definitely rooms that are more main stream, then rooms that are a little slower to get started, etc. etc…but there aren’t any clues we could share, just with experience you pick up on them…but generally a crowd full of hot girls and neon is a very good sign…

TB: Speaking of hot girls…from the pictures I’ve seen, you seem to play to a very sexy crowd at your shows. From your perspective, is your crowd hotter than the average musician’s crowd? What advice would you offer someone like Insane Clown Posse whose crowd isn’t quite as good looking?

TC: Haha, do our photos give off that vibe? That’s awesome…we do agree we are pretty damn fortunate to get to play for the people we do…but honestly, while its nice to have good lookin’ versus bad looking its way better to have energy versus dead, so we will take energy any day…but to ICP, we wouldn’t say anything, they scare the fuck out of us…if anyone hasn’t seen the documentary on them, it’s a must, 10/10 for insanity…

TB: I know that both of your mothers share the opinion that your music “sounds nice, but is a little loud.” But June is all about the fathers. What do your fathers think of your set?

TC: Well Drew’s dad thinks its awesome, you know vicariously living through your son is sorta standard. He couldn’t be more supportive of our music, funny enough Drew’s accountant is probably the most pumped about our music. Alex’s dad passed away, but he would be into it…

TB: Most of your recorded music to date has come in the form of remixes. When you set out to remix someone else’s song, what are you hoping to accomplish?

TC: Excellent question, Tender, and the answer is quite simple…excellence…joking. We try to accomplish a few things, we want to maintain the integrity of the song, but bring the song to a place emotionally it wasn’t before. Each remix we do we really try to find a unique sound and emotion. With “Julian” it was these contrasting melodies, with “Operate”, this sort of dark bounce, and so on. The beauty is, we love the songs we do, so we aren’t thinking, let’s make this better. In our eyes we are taking an excellent song and just going right when the original went left…Obviously this is a huge simplification of all of this, but if you don’t feel something under your skin, then its not it…Everytime we hit that right melody or right sound, it all falls like dominoes.

TB: I’d have to say your remix of “Julian” is probably my favorite to date. What was it about the original song that attracted you to it?

TC: Funny enough, we heard the Monsieur Adi remix before the original and were obsessed, then we listened to the original and were equally impressed and just knew that we could light this track up, but most importantly for the reason we could give Say Lou Lou a remix that hadn’t been done yet for them…We also love songs with lyrics that make no sense at parts, but a lot at others, its like this controlled chaos, and Say Lou Lou does that wonderfully…on top of that they have incredible punk softness to their voices, it's just amazing to work with…

TB: Other remixes include beefed up versions of Little Daylight, Daughter, Phoenix and ASTR songs. Do the songs you remix need to have any particular characteristics before you decide to work your magic on them?

TC: Yes, we need to like them a lot and not have been remixed already in the fashion we envision, and most importantly have some sort of authenticity to them. That’s why we love indie music, its very authentic in its emotion, and also not played out…its exciting to work with a band like us that isn’t necessarily huge yet (minus Phoenix and Two Door and Daughter) and put something out that is widely accepted, its like an underdog win…that being said we fuckin’ love pop as well, Katy Perry, Miley, Selena, all that…

TB: If an artist approaches you to ask for a Chainsmokers remix of one of their songs, how do you respond?

TC: What’s your budget…jk, we take a listen and it of course depends on how much we love the song, how busy we are at the time, and who they are…We wish it was just like oh cool, we got you, but you have to be strategic…We have our fans to think about, you can’t earn someone’s trust and then betray everything you built suddenly for something that is uncharacteristic of our goals.

TB: Will there be a time when the Chainsmokers perform their own original songs?

TC: You can bet your fucking ass there will be. In fact we are working on an original song that we are VERY excited about…

TB: What is the best thing about being from New York City? The worst?

TC: The best thing is the city is so cosmopolitan, amazing food, the energy, the constant grind, that is New York…the worst thing is the state/city taxes…

TB: Do The Chainsmokers get the chance to do much cooking? Any recipes worth sharing?

TC: Funny enough, we do…Eating out, as nice as it is, can take a serious toll…Not sure whose dated in NYC but you take a girl for a night out and you are looking at 150+ easy…of course you can be creative, once I took a girl out and our date consisted of going around the city and stink bombing places… Alex makes an award winning chili bowl…he cannot share the recipe though, its almost as highly guarded as our production sessions…

TB: Any final words of wisdom?

TC: Its from a movie called ‘Le Haine” its the first scene in the movie, a man is standing on top of a skyscraper and jumps off…as he passes each floor falling to his death…he says to himself ‘so far, so good’ and then he hits the floor and dies. Be yourself, do what makes you happy, enjoy now, we are all going to die one day…

The Chainsmokers newest remix, “Operate”:

Baker's Dozen: Interview with Microwave Jenny

Once, while sitting at the airport waiting for J-Fur to return from New Mexico, I watched a guy make a disgruntled face every time he took a sip from his Sprite bottle. I crafted an elaborate story about what was causing this man so much unhappiness, even going as far as sharing it with J-Fur when she arrived. But I didn't write it down and to this day I remember almost nothing about it. This is exactly what Tessa Nuku does not do. When she crafts a brilliant story while observing people at the bus stop she makes sure she captures it in writing. This allows her to turn to it later when she needs it for a catchy pop song like "What You Do" which was included on our Rubbed the Wrong Way Mix. Recently I had the chance to interview, via email, Tessa and her band mate Brendon Boney. The two of them are the creative forces behind Aussie band Microwave Jenny.

TB: Who is Microwave Jenny?

Microwave Jenny (MJ): We're a duet made up of Tessa Nuku on the vocals and Brendon Boney on vocals and guitar.

TB: According to your bio, the name Microwave Jenny comes from a classic Aussie film called The Castle. Having never seen this film, how exactly does Microwave Jenny fit into the plot and why did you think this made a good band name?

MJ: It doesn't really serve any purpose to the plot of the film. They use it to show how we all remember and refer to people. The Mum and the daughter, Tracy, are talking when one says "You know Jenny?" and the other replies "Jenny, Jenny? Or Jenny Microwave Jenny?". About 50% of people we come across get the reference and people who don't get it just think it's a weird name and they remember it next time.

TB: One of your goals is to "bring pop music played by real musicians with real instruments back to the Australian landscape." Why do you think real people/real instruments have been forgotten in pop music and why is it so important, to you, to bring them back?

MJ: There are plenty of great musicians in Australia playing their instruments very well. When we said this we weren't thinking that they don't exist, we just want to help the cause. There's a lot of programmed drum beats on the radio these days and it can kind of hurt your head after a while. Is it too much to ask for a drummer who can play the drums?! Part of what we love about music is the fact that you end up with bumps and bruises. They make the moments of brilliance much more believable and hard hitting.

TB: Both of you are from Aboriginal backgrounds. How does that influence your music? Have you met with any struggles being indigenous musicians as you try to "find your place in contemporary music"?

Brendon: I have a little more of an Aboriginal background than Tessa. She mostly identifies as Maori and has extended family in New Zealand. As far as influence goes its a little tough to explain. People expect to hear some kind of cultural influence in your music once they hear you're Aboriginal but the truth is that's not really how I was raised. I didn't learn to play the didgeridoo or speak in language. I was raised listening to James Taylor and Fleetwood Mac and Michael Jackson! I can't really explain much about my people's history because I'm still learning about it myself. All I can do is tell my stories about the world that I live in now and try to be a good representation of what it means to be a young Aboriginal in the world today.

Tessa: As Brendon mentioned I have a lot of family currently living in New Zealand on my dad's side as he was born there. The Aboriginal heritage comes from my great great grandfather who was a black tracker sent over to New Zealand to find who ever it was he was told to find by the British but ended up running away with the Maoris eventually becoming my great great grandfather. But I also have a lot of family here in the land of OZ on my mum's side. So for me to identify with one culture wouldn't feel right. You could put me in a room with each culture separately and I will always feel at home and that is the way I have been brought up. It hasn't made it harder to "find my place" but much much easier because I just feel like I'm a part of everyone as a whole. I can see in my mind that being a very different story if I had not been raised that way and can see how people who only identify with one culture may find it hard to adapt to another. Not that it is a bad thing but I can see how it would be more difficult. The moral is: I write what I write because of how I was raised and the way I was raised to embrace everyone no matter the background. Which, for me, makes things far more enjoyable.

TB: One of the highlights of your year has to be both of you being shortlisted for the 2011 APRA PDA Awards. Brendon actually took top prize in the indigenous category (winning 25,000 dollars). Was there any bad blood between the two of your after the winners were announced? In all seriousness, did either of you expect to be shortlisted let alone win? What did it mean for your guys when you were?

Brendon: Yeah Tessa was pretty angry. There was a few plates and vases thrown that night. Just kidding!!! Tessa was actually crying when my name was read out. I think she was more happy than I was to win it! I had been shortlisted before but didn't win so to actually walk away with one this time was a super satisfying and humbling experience. I am truly grateful they thought I was worthy to win that.

Tessa: I'm the worlds biggest list writer. I write lists for cleaning, for shopping, for weekly chores, for fun things to do that week, for EVERYTHING! I LOVE LISTS! They complete me (hehehe). So you can imagine how excited I was to be put on someone's list ANNDD being on that list meant I had a chance of winning 25,000 dollars (haha). And then I looked more closely at the list of talent in my category and I was blown away, like perhaps they had put me through by mistake? Now I didn't win but I'm being truthful when I say being on that list was good enough for me. Plus, it means I can always try again. I was so happy for Brendon when he won and its true, I did cry because I didn't win....KIDDING! He truly deserved it, he puts a lot of hard work into writing songs, I know this. But it is always nice when other people notice as well. So I cried like a proud grandparent.

TB: "What You Do" is a song that I think a lot of people can relate to, the idea that you want someone or something so bad that it hurts. What's the story behind the song?

Tessa: Hehe. This story was actually just a bit of fun. Have you ever sat at a bus stop or shopping centre and just made up fake lives for persons passing by? That's how I kind of wrote this song. I made up this character about someone that I just saw and, it might sound horrible, but to me it looked like she was heart broken. I could see this whole movie about it in my mind so I quickly wrote it down. She was probably just heading to the grocery store because she ran out of milk for her afternoon hot chocolate and her concentrating face just made her look like she was sad (haha). Funny enough, Brendon had written this chorus a long time ago and never finished it. It fit perfectly.

TB: You have a few EPs to your name but now you are in the process of recording your first full length with producer Daniel Denholm. What's it been like working with him?

MJ: Daniel's awesome!!! He's an incredibly talented, well respected producer in the industry and I'm always learning new things from him every time we go in to record. He's a super straight shooter too and tells you exactly how it is, which makes you work really hard to be at your best.

TB: In June you guys spent four nights opening for Thirsty Merc. What was the audience's reaction to you? What did you guys take from those shows that will be beneficial in the future?

MJ: At first, on the surface it might not seem like us supporting Thirsty Merc would work but it ended up being a really nice experience for us. Those guys were generous and easy to get along with which made us feel really comfortable. And spending that time being around their music, you understand why we actually ended up connecting with a heap of their fans and selling CDs. They're a real groove based band and have a lot of melody driven songs which we love and try to make too.

TB: Speaking of shows, I've read a lot recently about huge bands who have something go wrong and storm off the stage before even finishing a song or two. Then I read about you guys who once had a power outage occur right before you took the stage and you just went out into the middle of the crowd and played an acoustic set with only a few candles. You said it became one of your most memorable shows. What is your mindset like when you are preparing for a live performance? How was it that your were able to react so quickly to something that would be pretty damning to a lot of other bands?

MJ: We're pretty relaxed before our shows. The fact that anything can happen while you're on stage is part of the beauty of live music. The only difference with that specific case was that the crazy thing happened before we actually got on stage! A weird thing happens when you're about to get on stage where this adrenalin kicks in. There's very little you can't put up with.

TB: You guys performed on the Australian version of "The Apprentice." How did that happen?

MJ: It's pretty funny to look back at. What actually happened was they had a challenge where they were to take an unsigned artist and present them to "industry professionals" like a showcase. One of the producers of the show found us on this old thing called Myspace and rang us and asked if we'd like to do it and we said "Yeah, why not."

TB: Outside of music, what do you guys like to do? I hear rumors about mad choc top ice creams...

Brendon: We're huge film fans. We go to the cinema once or twice a week at least. There probably isn't a major studio film released in the last 3 years that we haven't seen! We've just started getting into Laser Tag which is awesome! Tessa is really creative and likes messing around with photography and those choc tops come from her days working at a cinema where she used to make them.

TB: Does Microwave Jenny get the chance to do much cooking? Any special recipes you care to share?

MJ: We love to cook! We love food!!! We have a chicken lasagne recipe that we picked up from Tessa's sister where you really get creative with the layers. It starts like most other lasagnes: You take some chicken mince and cook it then mix in some tomato based sauce. Take a good size oven dish and layer the sauce in between some lasagne sheets using some bechamel sauce. Here's the twist we like to do: take some lightly boiled slices of sweet potato and make a layer with those. Top with a heap of mozzarella and put it in the oven on 200 degrees Celsius (390 degrees Fahrenheit) for about an hour. Eat it until slightly sick.

For a printable version go here.

TB: Ending sentiments?

Brendon: "The things you remember in life are good people, good art and good food." I heard John Butler say that once. I like it.

Tessa: "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." I made that up.

Microwave Jenny has a new video for "Stuck on the Moon" a song form their Crazy Crazy Things EP (get it here):

The previous song, "What You Do":

Microwave Jenny-What You Do

Baker's Dozen: Interview with Stray Kites

("Do or Die" from Stray Kite's Facebook page)

Ashburn, Virginia is a city of about 88,000 people. The town used to be called Farmwell. It is located about 30 miles Northwest of Washington, D.C. Ashburn houses the practice facility for the NFL's Washington Redskins. Most importantly it is the home to "folk pop" duo Stray Kites whose track "Misanthrope" was part of our Get Him to the Greek (Food) Mix . Recently I had the chance to interview, via email, Stray Kites and discuss Ashburn, horrible books, food allergies, potlucks and much more.

TB: Who are the Stray Kites and what would they bring to a potluck?

Junior: Well we're a duo from Ashburn, Northern Virginia. Max plays percussion and I sing, play guitar, vibraphone, and so on. Together we like to make some honest "folk pop" music. Aaaaand we'd bring dessert dishes. I'd probably bring a pecan pie or muffins.

Max: Same, but if I could I'd bring candy.

TB: On the bandcamp page for your last album, One Day, Earth Time, the quote "Our music is full of milk and peanut butter and gluten and pollen and dander and bee stings and a lot of people are allergic to it" appears. What prompted that?

Max: After we finished One Day, Earth Time a friend asked us to describe the music and in my opinion it's a little hard to swallow and explain. This seemed like the best way to describe it.

TB: You guys are hard at work on your second LP, Mieux, which will be released on July 22nd via your bandcamp page. Is this album more of the same or does it differ from its predecessor?

Junior: It's pretty different from what we've done before. A lot more emotive and cohesive. I'm really unsure how biased my opinion is of what we do, but I feel like I'm getting better at writing poetry and music and I feel good about it.

Max: I think it's still got a sort of "homemade" quality about it, as it should; we recorded it all ourselves, but I also think there's a bit of a different vibe to it. It sounds a bit more mature in the instrumentation. We've got some friends helping us out by providing trumpet and vibraphone and I'm really excited for it too.

TB: Let's talk a little more about the instrumentation. You've posted two singles from Mieux on your bandcamp page. Both "Misanthrope" and "All is Well" seem to be addressing friends and their shortfalls. Musically the two songs approach this from different perspectives. "Misanthrope" is very cheery with handclaps and a dumbeck. "All is Well" sounds more frantic and angry thanks mainly to the vibraphone. How does Stray Kites go about creating the mood of a song by matching lyrics with music?

Junior: Almost all the songs on Mieux are esoteric in that way and refer to friendships and whatnot. I think it's because I wrote the songs while/after feeling strong emotions. I write the lyrics before the music: it feels like the lyrics end up being more meaningful and the music more necessary that way. And if it means anything, "All is Well" is the most abrasive song on the LP.

TB: I have to ask, who is Noelle?

Max: A heart attack.

Junior: My best friend forever and the greatest and most annoying person I've ever met.

TB: Knowing that you are into painting Junior, did you create the cover art for Mieux? Why does this cover work for the album?

Junior: I am and I did! I try to make for there to be a reason behind everything we do as a band and we had friends do the paintings for "Misanthrope" and "All is Well." Looking back on the songs on Mieux and specifically the way we had recorded them it only seemed appropriate that I finger paint the album's artwork.

TB: You are giving Mieux away basically for free (name your own price) but you are offering two free tracks to anyone that pays for the album. Why give your music away for free? What do you hope will happen as a result of offering a bonus to anyone who pays?

Max: We believe what we do has value. We believe our music has worth. It's just not up to us to determine exactly how much that is.

Junior: The whole point in giving our music away for free is that it takes away any monetary motivation to make it. Being intrinsically motivated to write music, or anything really, makes me feel "clean." It assures me that what we're doing is genuine and not contrived. With the bonus tracks we hope to give some incentive to people to help us out.

TB: According to your Facebook page, Stray Kites have an interest in sociology, psychology, theology and philosophy. How do these outside interests help or hinder the band?

Junior: I'm not sure I can answer how it helps or hinders us, but I do know it has an effect on the writing. I have a problem with over analyzing everything and I feel like thinking on and studying those things is putting it to good use.

TB: I've read some dull books in my day, usually because of school. But as far as I'm concerned, no book was as bad as Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. In a previous interview you suggest that Ashburn's music scene is "dryer than Joesph Bruchac's novel Code Talkers. Now I'm intrigued. What makes Code Talkers so bad and what is Ashburn missing that other cities have?

Junior: Hahaha. Code Talkers was a book assigned to me in school and truly is the worst book I've ever read. Ever! It was one of those verbose books where nothing happens. If the book was a girl she'd be a pretty brunette with a big nose who'd eventually dye her hair blonde. She would be a good conversationalist when it came to small talk and she'd stand up for her own passionate opinions. Unfortunately, they'd all be uneducated opinions.

Max: I live in NOVA, New Babylon/a sun worshiping throng in ubiquitous fog/sojourners get sucked in "It's not worth regretting." You rarely get exactly what you've been expecting...That'll make sense on the 22nd.

TB: Music scene aside, is there anything worth checking out in Ashburn?

Max: Nope.

Junior: New episodes of Adventure Time. Monday nights @ eight on Cartoon Network.

TB: Since it is still fresh in my mind, how does a folk pop duo residing in such a dull place spend their fourth of July?

Max: We wore Captain America shirts and drove to the Pentagon in D.C. and watched some fireworks over there.

Junior: Before that we spent a good 5 hours recording in the basement...which is ideal.

TB: Does Stray Kites get the chance to do much cooking? Any special recipes you care to share?

Max: I'm famous for my leftovers. Never abuse the microwave's +30 second button.

Junior: I don't eat much, but Lil B can assure you that we're Master Chefs.

TB: Ending sentiments?

Junior: Je me sens mieux.

Max: All is well.

Here "All is Well" from Mieux:

And here is "Misanthrope":

Stray Kites-Misanthrope

Baker's Dozen: Interview with Reversing Falls

I'll be the first to admit, I've put knives in some strange places (sorry grandma) but this prior experience didn't prepare me for the shock I would receive when I came to the Reversing Falls Tumblr Page. Why had I never thought of that? Reversing Falls are a Canadian trio made up of Tyler Crawford (lead vocals, guitar), Jesse Ash (bass/drum machine programming/backing vocals) and Charlie Neufeld (lead rhythm guitar/backing vocals). Their track "Little Goodbye" kicked off our One Ring Mix. Recently I had the chance to interview, via email, all three of them where we discussed things like the aforementioned knife, Saint John River and convoluted inside jokes. We also talked a little cooking and music. This is the latest installment of our Baker's Dozen Interview Series.

TB: If you were at a stuffy dinner party and had to stand up and introduce Reversing Falls, what would you say?

Jesse Ash (JA): ...and to accompany your charcoal seared wild Atlantic salmon for our main course may I please bring your attention to the pile of white hot riffs and anthemic melodies served atop a swirl of churned bass and stewed tight fresh drum machine beats. Careful-its hot!

TB: Whoa...that sounds pretty intense. The band name, Reversing Falls, does it have anything to do with the rapids on the Saint John River? Why does this make a good band name?

JA: The name certainly is a reference to the reversing rapids in Saint John, NB, Canada. When Reversing Falls formed we were initially a trio made of guys from around the Saint John area, living in Montreal. There was a collective interest at the time in putting a regional stamp on the name and that, along with the fact that the words Reversing Falls sounds pretty okay together whether you know the area or not, pretty much sealed the deal.

TB: You are in the process of recording your debut full length. How is the recording process going? Is the full length in the same vein as the Recorder EP you released last year or are you trying new things?

JA: We're thinking of it as an expansion on the EP..the next logical step from the LGB/DB single we released in February. So not a departure. We're taking a lot of time in pre-production to really flesh it out as a whole album. Adding a set of outside (golden) ears belonging to our bro Mark Lawson, who's taking on actually producing the record has really helped that out a lot. So expect some new tones and timbres with a slightly new approach, and hopefully a more focused and developed sound overall.

TB: Let's talk about Mark Lawson. You are reuniting with the Grammy Award Winner (Arcade Fire, the Unicorns). What do his (golden) ears bring to the table?

Tyler Crawford (TC): I think the main thing he brings is a lot of experience making records. He makes little suggestions that have substantial results. Most importantly, what he literally brought to the table during the last session was a delicious BBQ meal with sweet potato fries and his signature tapioca. Boom.

TB: There's a photo on your tumblr page which features a knife sticking in a guitar and has the caption "recording." Are knives a big part of the recording process? Any sort of symbolism we should take from this photo?

JA: Its important to note that this occurred in an old Masonic Lodge, very close to the square and compass on the floor. If there is any symbolism to be taken from the "sacrificial tele incident" its probably to do with re-inventing the way we work...but the reason it came about is in fact a hair brained scheme to cook up some sick new tones. I think it worked.

TB: A few days ago you posted a video for "Curse this Place" which will be on the new album. The video seemed to have been filmed at a playground. Did you have to fight off a swarm of kids to get that spot? Who are the kids featured in the video? If you, as a kid, were watching the you of today perform what would be going through that kids mind?

TC: Haha. Those two kids were the only ones. We were filming that at a playground in Hamilton and they watched as we did the video for "Party Martyr." We didn't know them before...they were just there with their mom. I really like that in the video one of them seems to be having a great time and the other girl appears to be catching some bad vibes. If I was a kid watching me in that video, I'd think I shoulda shaved the day of the filming.

TB: On May 19th you'll be playing at Casa Del Popolo with Un and Nightwood. If you were a promoter, how would you promote that show?

TC: We If I was a promoter, I'd actually just pass the work off on my friend Noah at Passovah Productions. He is the one promoting our show. I'm pretty bad at that stuff, if I'm the only one promoting your show you are in trouble.

TB: I've heard rumors of a show at an Armory with naked friends and smashing pumpkins. Is this the weirdest place you've played? Any other live performance memories that stick out in your mind?

Charlie Neufeld (CN): Playing all the way out in Halifax with one of our favorite bands, Cousins on their home turf was awesome. Other great memories include all different sorts of people in different sorts of mental states approaching us after shows with compliments (or criticisms).

TB: You guys currently call Montreal home. What makes Montreal special?

CN: It's the kind of place where people who fell the need to leave wherever they are can go to and meet people with similar interests and hit it off (i.e. Reversing Falls).

TB: Any local Montreal musicians we should know about?

CN: Under appreciated MTL bands in no particular order: Daddy's Hands, The Witchies, Matt Perri, Mavo, Nightwood, Play Guitar, The Lockettes, Hand Cream, Cotton Mouth and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting.

TB: Outside of music, taking over playgrounds and stabbing guitars with knives, what does Reversing Falls like to do?

CN: Read books without using bookmarks, watch movies on mute, watch the streets, hang out half-awake, crack convoluted inside jokes.

TB: Does Reversing Falls get the chance to do much cooking? Any special recipes you care to share?

JA: As a group, not so much. Still waiting on that band BBQ to show up. But I'm personally a big fan of Breakfast Gnocchi these days. Just think of it as a replacement for hash browns in a typical North American style breakfast. You can pretty much do whatever you want but my fave is probably:

-get some fresh whole wheat gnocchi cooked and rinsed at the ready and add some nice olive oil so it doesn't get sticky icky

-chop up some green onions, diced smoked pancetta and mushrooms and fry em for a couple of minutes

-once the fried stuff is nicely browned add it to the gnocchi with some cut up kale, fresh chopped fennel, diced tomatoes, chopped fresh basil and a crushed/diced clove of fresh non-Chinese garlic

-add olive oil, fresh ground salt 'n' peppa, and maybe a bit of citrus or red wine vinegar to taste.

Serve with a couple of eggs, nice sausage or other delicious breakfast-ey meat, toast and cheese. Also good just as a regular old salad with any old meal.

TB: Final thoughts?

TC: Would kill for a hamburger right about now.

The two newest Reversing Falls singles:

Video for "Curse This Place"

REVERSING FALLS - Curse This Place from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Video for "Party Martyr"

REVERSING FALLS - Party Martyr from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Other places to find Reversing Falls: Myspace, Facebook, Twitter

Baker's Dozen: Interview with Loon Choir

(image from Loon Choir's website)

Baseball manager Leo Durocher once said "Take a look at them. They're all nice guys (people), but they'll finish last. Nice guys (people). Finish Last." I don't think Durocher had Loon Choir in mind when he uttered these words back in the 1930's. After all, the "nice" people that make up Loon Choir (Derek Atkinson, Nicole Yates, Jamie LeClair, Khary Byron, Dan Larmour and Brad Sheffield) are finishing anywhere but last. Their track "New Forewarnings" was firmly etched in the fifth spot on our Pancake Perfection Mix. Recently I had the chance to interview, via email, Loon Choir in our latest installment of our Baker's Dozen Interview Series.

TB: What is the story behind Loon Choir?

Loon Choir: We formed in early 2009 and clicked right away; we recorded a home-made EP and were playing shows by spring. We set our sights on not sounding like any one other band or even genre. Each member of the band brought their own list of influences (from dance and hip hop to folk, grunge and art rock) and the LC sound tends to reflect this. We made a "proper" record with producer James Bunton in early 2010 and have been playing regularly since. We thrive on the passion and energy which is put into the music and given back by audiences at shows.

TB: 2010 marks the two year anniversary of the band. What has amazed/impressed/surprised you most about what you've been able to accomplish or do in those two years?

LC: I think what has amazed/impressed/surprised us the most is how many great bands there are out there fighting the good fight. It has been really amazing to share the stage with some bands we had already been fans of and also to learn first hand about great bands we didn't know.

TB: May saw the release of your first full length ("proper") record Expansion Forces. Almost six months later, do you still feel the same way about it as you did when you released it?

LC: We are still very proud of EF and feel it was a great collective effort to record it with the production support of James Bunton of Ohbijou. However, we are very excited about our new songs and are looking forward to recording and releasing them in 2011. We learned a lot from EF in terms of production and promotion while there are things that we will do again on the new album, there are some things we will certainly try to do a little differently.

TB: Some of your songs, lyrically, revolve around nature. Why is this?

LC: As a band, we all feel strong connections to the natural world and reflecting that in song is important to us. Also, from a poetic perspective, we tend to use natural images to convey and symbolize other emotions and interaction that we are writing about.

TB: Loon Choir was nominated in the Xpress Best of Ottawa 2010 Reader's Poll in the categories of Best Band, Best Album and Best New Band. Obviously you don't start a band to receive accolades and awards, but what would it mean to you if you had been able to win one (or all) of the categories?

LC: We were quite honored to be nominated in the Xpress Best of Ottawa 2010 Reader's Poll. While we didn't win, we feel it is a reflection of our local community recognizing the hard work we put into the music and for that we are very grateful. No, we don't make music for awards and accolades but they are significant in getting our music to new audience so we definitely appreciate the recognition when it does come our way.

TB: You've played shows at a number of cafes. What do you like about the cafe scene?

LC: Cafe's are great to us because small spaces (packed with people or not) make for intimate settings to demonstrate our art. We occasionally will play acoustic based shows with out drums and obviously the cafe scene marries well with that. Most importantly, we find that at cafes there is often a strong sense of community, an appreciation for the arts and a willingness to give something new a chance.

TB: How have fans and casual observers responded at your live shows?

LC: We have been really fortunate to have great responses from audiences at shows and this definitely goes a long way in keeping our positive energies high. We are not making much (if any) money at most shows, so having people showing genuine respect and appreciation for what we do is often the most significant reward from a show.

TB: You mention on your website, loonchoir.com, that you performed with a number of bands including Ohbijou, the lovely feathers, Pree, Rubik, Minto and the Ghost is Dancing. What have you picked up from watching these bands perform?

LC: More than anything, we've learned that letting loose and trying to play in the moment goes along way in making shows more authentic feeling; which usually equates to a more entertaining show for the audience.

TB: Speaking of your website, the design is very unique. It features a variety of bright colors and sketches of the band members. Then, each link is decorated with band reviews and lyrics written on lined paper. Where did the idea for this set up come from?

LC: The idea for our website mostly came from our web-guru and bass player, Jamie LeClair.

TB: It seems that promoting other bands, venues and booking agencies is pretty important to you as you have a section on your website entitled "our friends" with a thoughtful write-up on each. Why share the love? Shouldn't the site be for shameless self promotion?

LC: We're nice people.

TB: What are Loon Choir's plans for the rest of 2010 into 2011?

LC: We are doing some touring before the year is over throughout South Eastern and Western Ontario. In the new year, we intend to record and release a new full length album, which is pretty much all written and ready to go! We plan on playing even more shows in 2011 and we're hoping to establish a strong presence on the summer festival circuit.

TB: Does Loon Choir get the chance to do much cooking? Any special recipes you care to share?

LC: The girlfriend of our synth player is a bit of a cook/baker and has provided the band with a few delicious cakes and sweet treats for the road. The hit single being her white chocolate cranberry granola bars...I believe the recipe is a secret :)

TB: Famous Last Words?

LC: Is a great book by the brilliant Timothy Findley.

Note: Until we can pry that secret recipe away, here is a possibly similar one.

Here is another Loon Choir track:
Loon Choir-Bricks

And the previous one:
Loon Choir-New Forewarnings

Buy Expansion Forces here.

Baker's Dozen: Interview with Slottet

(image from Slottet's Myspace Page)

Scene: Halloween Party, 2007. At least some of the members of Slottet are in attendance. A horse mask makes an appearance, quickly becomes the hit of the party and changes the band's life forever. Move forward three years. "Agnostics Nightmare" has just crossed my computer screen and I dig it enough to include it on my September Caper Crusader Mix. Listen after listen the song builds until eventually, like the horse mask, my future is forever altered. Recently I had the chance to interview, via email, Slottet and ask them, amongst other things, why the horse mask and what is the story behind "Agnostics Nightmare." It is another installment of our Baker's Dozen Interview Series.

TB: How did the members of Slottet come to make music together?

Slottet: We met at the university about 3 years ago, first consisting as a cover- band and later starting to make our own music

TB: The Stockholm Palace is called Kungliga Slottet. Is that where the band name came from?

Slottet: Actually it is not where the band name came from. We had several ideas for a band name but thought that we needed something catchy and easy to remember, therefore, thinking that one word was good. When trying to decide a name, one of the members of the group just said random words out of DVD-covers. One of them being Howl's Moving Castle. When saying the word castle, which is Slottet in Swedish, we all just froze and understood that that was it.

TB: In describing yourself on Facebook and Myspace you use a number of adjectives including pathetic, idiotic and ignorant. How do these descriptors work for Slottet?

Slottet: It is more about working outside the box. When making our music the rule is that nothing is to not be tested - no matter how bad the idea sounds. The words represent that creative moment where feelings and music co-exist and combined, becomes our music. It does not have to be well made in its smaller sounds - for example a synthesizer sound - but combined it has to feel right. This cannot really be described properly in words, but having some words trying to express this process at least give you - the listener - a hint of what to expect of our music.

TB: Slottet photos usually include a frog and horse mask. Why the masks? Where did they come from?

Slottet: The frog first appeared in a music video for a song, which was made for the group Gros, which is called "We Move." The video can be found on YouTube (it is also posted below). The horse mask was brought to a Halloween party about three years ago and was such a hit that we just could not resist bringing these two characters together as a symbol of our band. We suppose that the masks represent somewhat of a feeling that the music should speak for itself - plus it makes a really good arrangement when making videos and performing live. They have such charisma, even when just being on picture. Live they can become alive and be part of the show just as any other band member.

TB: "Agnostics Nightmare" and "Oh No" have some hints of the Postal Service in them. Would you consider them an influence? What other bands, if any, help shape your music?

Slottet: They have more than just hints, but yes, Postal Service has and will most likely have a great impact on our sound. Part of that is that Marcus sounds a bit like Ben Gibbard when singing, but most of all because their way of creating music is inspiring in itself. It is about trying to make music simple and focusing on an easy and compelling melody.

When it comes to influences in general we, which means Marcus, tend to pick up some influences of the music he is listening to at that moment - when making the melody. It could be, for example, Radiohead, M83 or just anything playing on the radio that day. It is a bit of a random process. But always with the focus that it should be easy to remember the melody.

TB: Tell us about "Agnostics Nightmare."

Slottet: It is in many ways a simple story about love, but seeing as that would be a cliche to say, it is perhaps a picture of a relationship in the early stage. Trying to learn about the other person, afraid to make mistakes thinking that he or she will see too much of how you really are as a person. It also has a cinematic touch in how it is told. Boy meets girl - nothing could stand in the way of their love and the world seemed to be a playground made just for them to explore together. Also a story about the feeling that if a relationship does not feel a hundred percent right, there is always a feeling that this one day could end - that everything ends. About trying to hold on to a feeling that no longer exists - only the memories of it. The picture displayed is summer, warmth and in the end a feeling of guilt and a cold heart.

TB: American radio does a horrible job embracing new music. Last month (August) "Agnostics Nightmare" was part of the Knopparadio Playlist. What is this radio show like? Does radio as a whole in Sweden support the small, unsigned artist?

Slottet: The show mentioned is not Swedish but German, but it does have a lot of Swedish artists being played. It is a really good show with a lot of unsigned and new pop being played. The band did not know about it before being contacted, but tend to listen to it often after that.

When it comes to Swedish radio the answer is trickier. Seeing as there are not many public radio stations playing new music that has not been recognized before, the opportunity for being played is not that wide. On the other hand the shows that do play new music and also unsigned music deliver a great deal of good music. One could also argue that the impact of being played on national radio does not really make you big anyway. We were played on a program for unsigned acts, but it did not lead to any offers what so ever. Not that we were not proud - because it was fun hearing our music on national radio - but it does not lead to anything. The point to be made is perhaps radio no long has the impact for a musician's career that it once had. It is today, more about smart marketing methods and as always, play a lot live.

TB: In that case, what do you think about blogs? I came across your stuff on the Swedesplease Music blog...

Slottet: Now-a-days they are, in a way, what radio once was, especially considering the impact they can have on one's career. Many bands now-a-days build a career mainly because of the blog-community. So from a music point of view they are really good, but of course you might discuss the amount of blogs that really do not make a difference to anything and just exist on the sole purpose of being, for example, famous or trying to make money out of being shocking. On the other hand you do not really need to look at these blogs if you do not want to and they can of course be somewhat amusing.

TB: You have a five song EP, Servants, on your Last FM page that is available for free download. When and where were these tracks recorded? Do you have any other releases in the works?

Slottet: These tracks were recorded and mixed in a home-based studio by one of the band members. We are currently working on a full-length album that will be finished early in the beginning of next year. Some tracks are already finished and will be played live but not be available for download until the whole album is ready. The album will consist of the songs found on the EP as well as new ones.

TB: What's next for Slottet?

Slottet: Finishing the album and hopefully playing more live.

TB: Does Slottet get the chance to do much cooking? Any special recipes you care to share?

Slottet: Well, first of all, we think that cooking and music belong together - really the joy to cook and listen to good music. When it comes to recipes we do not actually have an specific one that we can share - sadly. But we do make a killer vegetarian lasagna.

Here is the aforementioned Gros "We Move" video:



Here is Slottet's "Intro-Video" that they use live:

Introducing; Slottet from Martin Sjölander on Vimeo.

Also catch them on Facebook, Myspace and Last FM.