Interview: Anya Marina at Cafe 939
Last Friday my girlfriend and I ventured to Cafe 939, Berklee School of Music’s new cafe / venue. The venue is intimate and perfect for sit down, singer songwriter gigs. No alcohol is provided so make sure to grab a brew at a near by bar. For me, that’s Bukowski’s. Had to grab an Anderson Valley Pale Ale and some sweet potato fries before taking in our first Anya experience. An experience it was although short lived.
If you’ve never listened to Anya before, I would describe her as a having a sulky and jazzy voice with a touch of Macy Gray. She’s also an exceptional entertainer. Usually when artists start rambling on stage I want them to shut up and move on to the music. But in the case of Anya, you want her to banter on. At this show she talked about taking Ambien for the first time while on a long flight and coming out of the experience with 20 pages of stellar song lyrics, or what appeared at the time to be worthy of applying to new songs. However, when she came to, the 20 pages looked more like hieroglyphics then words.
I was lucky enough to grab some time with Anya before the show to learn more about her style, what inspires her and what she’s making of her recent success.
Interview
Kip: You were a DJ for some time. How long have you been writing your own music?
Anya: Ten years ago was the first time I ever wrote a song and started touring about 5 years ago and getting out of San Diego and when I really started taking it seriously. It’s also when I put out my first real album, which I put out on my own (super DIY) and maybe 5,000 people have listened to it so far.
[We both tried to bring out our math skills to figure out how many people a year that comes out to.]
Kip: How long have you been with your current label?
Anya: I just signed up with them last summer
Kip: Are they an independent or part of a larger label?
Anya: Well my budget is very indie rock but they’re a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. For example, I’ve been touring since January and I have to tour solo. I can’t bring a band so you’ll see me tonight with my band which is my trusty iPod full of beats.
Kip: What about your current tour mates?
Anya: I’m on tour with Greg Laswell and Jay Nash for the next two weeks. And I’ve been with them for like ten days.
Kip: Have you guys jammed around at all?
Anya: Yeah, we’re trying to but I don’t know what our problem is. Nobody even has a good excuse. Nobody even smokes pot in this group but I think it’s just the time constraints. Like tonight we’re suppose to work out a song during sound check but it’s not going to work out cause I’m spending some quality time with you and I’d rather be doing that.
[she's a charmer but in reality, they must have rehearsed because they jammed out at the show and it was pretty tight]
Kip: As a DJ, you must have some influences.
Anya: I should know music more and I should make a new list cause this question comes up every interview.
Kip: Forget big influences then what are you listening to right now?
Anya: That’s a good one but that’s also embarrassing because I just sit in the car in silence but let me think. The last thing I did listen to…is this Peter Cetera…
[Anya starts singing the lyrics - and yes, it is Peter Cetera. Song is "Get Away (Hard to Say I'm Sorry)"]
… “And After all that’s been said and done”. That was on XM today and belted that one out loudly. A guilty pleasure. Also Grease, the musical. That song by Frankie Vallie. I love that one. But what CD’s do I have with me, none.
But I did make a new mix recently so let me get that out. Oh, ok, Lissy Trullie who I just toured with The Virgins whose new album I’m loving. Love The Kinks. Mickey Avalon, Missy Elliot, Bright Eyes, Desmond Dekker, T.I. who I might cover tonight (she does, see video below). The Kills I love and The Peaches. Deerhunter, Joan as Police Women.
Kip: Is there a level you are aspiring to or are you happy where things are?
Anya: I want to sustain this career as long as possible. I’m extremely cautious and I can’t ever relax because I’ve worked on the other side of things and you see so many flashes in the pan so I am just thrilled to bits that I have any kind of momentum happening now. Honestly, when I had a little review in Filter I freaked out cause I use to read Filter every day for show prep on the radio. It’s really exciting to have people writing about stuff because you know it can be gone or it will be gone shortly so I know if I can just sustain a career in terms of having a following and having crowds grow and people keep coming out to shows year after year, that’s all I really care about. And hopefully I’ll be good with saving my money.
Kip: What has been one of your favorite experiences so far during this current run?
Anya: The Jimmy Kimmel show is up there but it was so strange. I think I just thought I was way more prepared then I actually was that I didn’t anticipate I would have a fucking panic attack on national TV.
Kip: But did the performance come out well?
Anya: According to my friends and family it was great but in my head it was the worse thing ever.
[Watch the performance on YouTube]
Kip: Did you get to meet Jimmy?
Anya: Briefly. He seemed trim.
Kip: Like clean cut?
Anya: Like fit. Trimmer then I thought. He seemed healthy and attractive. It couldn’t have been nicer and that green room was a party. And it’s not like this, there’s a fucking party going on back there with tons of people with the guests and their fifty friends and there’s a full bar. You almost forget there’s a show happening.
Kip: Who were the guests?
Anya: Rosie Perez and that guy from Pinneapple Express. A really funny guy but can’t remember his name right now.
Kip: Did you get to meet them at all?
Anya: No, I was in a weird panic. I was just doing yoga breathing back stage by myself staring at the wall.
Kip: If you could describe your on stage presence what would you say?
Anya: I would say, duct tape on nipples.
Kip: That’s a good one.
Anya: I don’t know, I guess you could say variety show. I would say non-shoegazer. I’m just trying to connect and have a good time and hopefully bring some peeps along with me. But sometimes, hearkening back to the nipple duct tape comment, I have a really difficult time with my filter. So I’m trying to work on my filtering. But I can’t help it. When I was touring with Lissy Trullie and The Virgins, Lissy said after the tour, “all of us are trying to figure out how you get away with what you get away with”. And I was like, “what do you mean”, and she was like, “you say so much dirty shit on stage and yet you look like this sweet little sort of angelic figure how do you do it and why do you do it”. And well, a.) I don’t think what I say is dirty or is it? And b.) if it is I can’t afford therapy right now cause I don’t have medical insurance so the shows are just a way of me getting out the many many many things in my head. My acupuncturist says I think too much.
Kip: Has the acupuncture been working for you?
Anya: Well I did it last year then I ran out of insurance and I realized I didn’t have it covered so once I saw I had to pay $500 bill I stopped going. But I think it worked. I more just liked going to talk to her cause she had a really thick Chinese accent and she would just take my pulse like this.
[grabs my wrist]
And say things like, “mmmm, no wonder”.
[Anya doing her best impression of a Chinese accent]
And I’m like, no wonder what?
Links of Interest:
- Buy “Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II”
- Buy “Miss Halfway” (her first album and be the 5,001 person to hear it)
- Download “Move You”
- Myspace: www.myspace.com/anyamarina
Here is Anya covering T.I. at this show:
You can hear a better recording of her T.I. cover over at PasteMagazine.com
Hot Chip @ Paradise – Boston, MA 4/14/08 Plus Interview w/ Joe Goddard
I’ve been blogging now for roughly 3 or so years and there is no question that this recent experience where I was able to interview one of the founding members of Hot Chip, Joe Goddard, on top of the show on Monday night was a pinnacle point in my blogging and music review career. Keep in mind folks, I don’t get paid for this. Many bloggers don’t get paid, we just really love doing what we do and getting to go to shows, getting free music and getting to interview our idols.
Below is both a transcript of the interview plus a little 3 and 1/2 minute montage that I pulled together by taking some of my favorite moments of the interview and putting them to pictures that I mostly found on Flickr. I’ve included a link to all those folks who are responsible for the amazing pictures taken at various Hot Chip concerts. And some of the pictures are just basic stock photos of the band.
Enjoy the montage and interview with Joe Goddard and if you’re just getting hip to Hot Chip, enjoy the ride.
Flickr Photographers:
http://flickr.com/photos/flashpics/
http://flickr.com/photos/magnusw/
http://flickr.com/photos/imassingham/
http://flickr.com/photos/gabiporter/
http://flickr.com/photos/oliverpeel/
http://flickr.com/photos/greenboy/
http://flickr.com/photos/andih/
Where to find more on flickr: http://flickr.com/search/?q=hot+chip
See pics from the Boston show over at Dreams of Boston
Read the full interview after the jump…
“Party Dream” Interview
We decided to conduct a short interview with the brothers from Youngstown, OH in light of their upcoming show at one of Cambridge’s best kept secrets, PA’s Lounge (show info: 1/12/07, $8 for 21+ and doors open at 8:30 pm).Band info:
-Myspace/partydream
-www.partydream.com
-www.audioeaglerecords.com
-Buy Bloodsongs
From talking about their childhood to releaving themselves on the toilet while playing Nintendo, this interview with Gil and Donny from the Party Dream has everything that I would expect out these characters. I hope you enjoy their repsones as much as I did.
Here’s what we know:
You are two brothers from Youngstown, OH. You are on Audio Eagle (which is the drummer from The Black Keys label). Your last album, Bloodsongs, came out on the Audio Eagle label and brought you guys some noise in the industry. But really it was the live show that seemed to be giving you a major buzz. The album for me really started to take form after I saw your show. Your shows don’t just involve music but an overall stage performance
that includes costumes and brotherly love antics.
Square -So you’re brothers, who’s big bro?
Gil – Donny.
Square -The band’s called Gil Manteras Party Dream. Why not Ultimate Donny’s Party
Dream?
Gil – That’s a ridiculous notion.
Donny – That’s just the way it is.
Square – How did you get originally hooked up with Audio Eagle and Patrick?
Gil – The music world in Ohio is pretty small. Jamie Stillman, who co-runs the label, is in my old roomy’s band, Teeth of the Hydra. I don’t know exactly how Pat came across us, but I’ve known his younger brother for years and like i said, it’s a small world. It seems like everyone’s paying attention to everyone else, even in different towns.
Donny – Patrick saw us at the Lime Spider and was impressed. Audio Eagle originally was only going to put out 7-inches but decided to put out our full length.
Square -This tour you’ll be joined by another Audio Eagle band, Beaten Awake. What’s their story? (correction: Beaten Awake is not on tour with Party Dream, they are just going out on tour at the same time)
Gil – That’s news to me, but great news! I’m usually out of the loop. Beaten Awake is a really cool band with a great bunch of guys in it. Great tunes. Great show. No bullshit. I think with the right stuff, they could go very far. They probably would appeal to fans of My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses, but then again, I’m not too knowledgeable of exactly what those bands are all about and what people like anyways.
Square -I noticed recently Audio Eagle uploaded the Fleetwood Mac cover you do, “Dreams”(and most recently it was taken down). Are you working on any other covers?
Gil – I don’t think there was a reason to take it down other than making room for other stuff. We did the same thing to add my weird Troll shit. I’m going to do a solo project that’s all covers like that… synthy with vocoder vocals. I’ll do very recognizable hits like “Let’s Dance” by Bowie and “Jailbreak” by Thin Lizzy and “Drive” by the Cars. I’ve been looking into getting a sound responsive laser as the light show while I’m performing, just to make it dramatic. The idea is, I’ll work cheaper than i do with the Party Dream, so I can do fun opening gigs here in the ‘burgh. I’ll probably make my own CDRs and sell them for a little extra cash on the side. Jackson from Grand Buffet did the same thing with his karaoke CDR.
Donny – Although you’ll see collaborative thoughts come to fruition if we ever get the money. We spent a lot of time on the road in 2006 and came up with some dope-ass shit that needs to be made for us.
Square – Donny, when you guys are up on stage it seems as if Gil tends to push your buttons and often a short fight will ensue. While it comes off as brotherly love, is there some hidden resentment for Gil? As kids, was Gil always the one to score the ladies? What was childhood like for Gil and Donny?
Donny – There’s no resentment, but we do tend to piss each other off in a real way on stage, especially if technical problems and alcohol are involved. That’s when things seem to get the worst.
Gil – Childhood wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. We got along very well and actually hung out with each other. Donny was a cool older brother that took me out to shows and bars when I was still in middle school. He had a ton of cool albums that I got into while other kids my age were still listening to radio crap. I used to borrow his T-shirts and shit. Our parents got on our nerves, so we did our own thing.
Square -Now, since your stage act can at times come off as a bit homoerotic, do you get some meatballs in the crowd that call you guys queer and try to ruin shows? Not that I’m assuming anything here, for all I know you both could be homosexuals but that’s not my point. Besides, I saw you both with the ladies after the last PA’s show so we’ll just leave that question at bay. Hopefully you guys understand my point here. If this has happened, I’m imagining that you expose these fools during the show and really make them feel uncomfortable. Any stories?
Gil – Donny’s got a good one about a show in Bowling Green, Ohio. The meatball shit has died way down over the years. The homoerotic thing has been proven to be very rock n’ roll time and time again, but it doesn’t feel gay to me when I’m doing it. I feel great. It’s naturally what came to be. I think we have some male superfans with some latent homosexuality though, and that’s honestly weirder than someone wanting to kick my ass, or fuck it for
that matter.
Square – You may not remember, Gil, but last time at the PA’s Lounge you stumbled off the stage and bumped in to my friend, Syrah, who was skeptical at first of you two and when this occurred, she freaked out. Of course, she is now a devoted fan. I think it was Donny who came back as the peacemaker and said, “Hey, we’re just here to make you guys dance.” Any way, I was getting some where with this question; do you often fall off stages? If so, do you have any horror stories? I would imagine so as you tend to bounce around a
bunch.
Donny – The worst fall I can remember was at Birdie’s in Indianapolis – high stage, concrete floor.
Gil – Yeah, land like a fish is what I always say. I had one of the worse incidents playing to about 10 people including bar staff in Indianapolis. I stepped back, and no more stage… I fell flat on my back off of a 5 ft stage, I shit you not. I must have been on some drunken monk shit, because I walked away without a scratch! Some of the most incredible stuff happens when the room is empty. We actually got the sound turned up for us that night because the owner loves Rush and we played our very “YYZ” inspired instrumental.
Square – There is a rumor that we’ve heard and I’d like to clear the air here and now. Did Gil and Donny go to a show in Ohio where the band that was suppose to play didn’t show up so you guys jumped on stage instead and jammed it out?
Gil – That’s kinda true. We had about 3 hours notice and then went onto to wing the first Party Dream show ever, on Christmas Eve I think.
Square – Now, you mentioned that you use to drink PBR’s as it was a better choice then Bud but now Donny is a fancy beer drinker and Gil, you are a jack on the rocks drinker. Is the Party Dream starting to see some escalating success in the CD sales? Or is this just a personal preference change?
Donny – I’ve preferred fancy beers for many years but took what I could get. We hardly ever settle for the cheap shit anymore. We deserve better.
Square – Damn straight you deserve better.
Gil – It’s just a part of growing up and trying new things.
Square – What’s a day in the life of Gil and Donny like on tour? For example, what’s a common toy on your tour bus?
Gil – In the Tour Bus de Honda Civic? We rock bouncy balls pretty hard. There’s usually always one in there for when we need to kill time. I just got a Nintendo DS, which is nice for taking shits and lonely nights.
Donny – Some things we’ve picked up on the road include a chirping caged bird, a chirping bird (without the cage), rubber dinosaurs, cowboy hats, a shitload of movies on VHS from quaint, old school video stores and countless other objects that escape my recollection.
Square – What is better about being on tour: the women or the drugs?
Gil – The drugs I want haven’t come into play as much yet. But when they do, I’m not even going to be able to get my dick hard!
Donny – Playing shows when we’re too sick to walk.
Square – Who are your biggest influences? You have “no way, Jose” on your myspace. Does this mean you have no influences?
Gil – We have many influences… probably too many to list. We’re not trying to keep it a secret or anything, it’s just that it needs constant updating. I’ve been listening to a lot of the obvious stuff lately like Italo disco, The Cure, Joy Division, Heaven 17, Sparks, Lio, Pet Shop Boys, Killing Joke, Telex, Vangelis, Liaisons Dangereuses, Alphaville, Ultravox, ESG, etc…
Square – What was the major impetus that has made your music sound like it does today?
Gil – I’d say destiny. It’s cool being in an electronic band and we are, well let’s be honest, pretty cool! Other than that, working with sequencers and drum machines brings about that certain sound… the user interface, limitations, possibilities, sounds, etc…
And finally…
Square – What does the future hold for Gil Mantera and Ultimate Donny? Studio work? Looks like you have two new tracks on your myspace page – “Troll Soundpiece 1 & 2″. They are quite experimental. Are Gil and Donny exploring their sound right now?
Gil – I did the Troll music a year ago and it hasn’t yet been brought to light with the animation it’s supposed to accompany. I figured it would be cool to get people’s opinions on something that’s not too Party Dream sounding. After this tour, we’re taking a break to work on a new record. As far as experimenting, I think I’m doing more four on the floor based beats. I’ve got better gear that sounds nicer too. I’d like to make it more album-like
than Bloodsongs. I’ve also been talking to a female opera singer, who is pumped to lay down some tracks. That, of course, is for the record only, but there may be some songs or segues that we won’t perform live.
Square – Now, can you leave the audience with a joke? And how do you feel about Ed Rooney (Jeffery Jones) from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off being a pederast?
Gil – I’ll leave with depressing enlightenment instead. I’m a cold-hearted snake. I don’t care. If it was Kurt Russell, who wouldn’t do that sort of thing, I’d be sending him all of my money for court fees and such, but this other guy hasn’t done shit for me. At least he’s got NAMBLA’s weird gay shoulders to cry on, but hey, freedom of speech is what i always say. Let ‘em have their websites and blogs if it means something to them. It definitely means something good to me that they still can in a country that’s going down the
shitter little by little.
Square – Have a great tour.
Gil – Thanks!
About Editor
Name: Luke "Kip" Owen
Location: Boston, MA
Contact: kippy[AT]hip2besquare[DOT]net
Twitter: twitter.com/kipdog
Youtube: youtube.com/kipdog
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