the blog @ dagmarsieglinde.com

Sunday, February 4, 2007, 05:37 PM ( 3619 views )
Influences – musical or otherwise?

Kreskin! his e.s.p. powers! And we got the game with the mystery pendulum. I'm really into Sylvester (the mummy of a forty-five year old man found, half naked and half buried, by two cowboys in the wild west Arizona desert 1895) - I got the poster at Ye Olde Curiosity shop last time we played in Seattle. Also Miracle Mike, the chicken that lived a year without a head, he preened around the other birds and ate from an eye dropper. Marlin Perkins did such a great job with the whole Mutual of Omaha thing too. I read that some people like lemurs because they think they are mutant monkeys.

How do you describe your music?
Hopefully something like who I imagine Brian Eno to be on the back of another green world with cowboy boots - sitting under the moon next to someone he finds beautiful and funny, listening to a mix tape of Martin Denny, Neutral Milk Hotel, the Clash, and the song 'harborcoat' is on it just before Jesus and Mary Chain, Nick Cave and then Peggy Lee walks by and then there's this party and people are happy and lauging and comfortable enough to share bizarre ideas, and unicorns.

How did the band come together?
It was purely scientific. 4 parts water, 3 parts smoke and 2 parts mirrors. We are from all over the country (St. Louis, Kansas City, Missouri, California) and now we are all in Portland. We were just lucky to find each other as we careen through space headed for the beginning.

Is there something as a ‘shoegazer’ scene?
A shoegazer almost never gets seen, they are always looking down. Rim shot...and crash cymbol. I like Elvis. My favorite shoegazer band is the High Violets. There is a return to music with ethereal qualities - there are bands that use a lot of classic pedals and sounds but I think everyone adds their own dynamic or twist.

How/when did you start music?
Soon after being raised by lemurs - music started us. I think we were all gigantic music fans all our lives and decided to start becoming a part of the music rather listening exclusively. Once music started us, we were born, small, winged, and transparent.

How are things progressing on the new album?
Marvelously. It's definitely the album I feel being involved with is closest to my life's work thus far. So proud of it and we are only about 63% finished.

Spirit in the Sky – Why do a cover of this song (not saying you shouldn’t have)? It was something that happened in the practice space between songs, as things often do, the distortion sounds had not come to us and then curiosity killed the cat and Matt got ahold of Norman Greenbaum and began conversing about how to get that fuzzed out tone and the next thing you knew it was on our album.

Which ones of you were in the Bella Low?
That was a magical time. When you look back at the footage in the movie DIG! The Bella Low was opening those shows and just getting to be a part of that whole scene as it exploded, we were experimenting with sitar and film and... it's funny, last night at Courtney’s someone called me "bella low jsun!". Clint and Luke (other Bella Low) have an amazing band (The High Violets) now and someone has put up the bella low myspace.

What contemporary music do you like?
The Black Angels, The Get Hustle, Hypatia Lake, Wolf Parade, and just got the Kings of Leon Day Old Beglian Blues, Things on the radio I really like are Gorillaz and Interpol and The Strokes. Lately I know there's been a lot of Dolly Parton going around and I love to listen to Percy Faith plays music from South Pacific.

One of your influences listed on your myspace account is John Waters. What is it about him you like?
The way he allows things to be as twisted and cubist as he sees them. The camp is always good for a ha ha ah-ha.

How do you describe the Oregon music scene?
It's so interesting all the bands that are in Portland now. I think it says something about the live-ability for artists. There are so many amazing local bands that are taking off , e.g. The Village Green, Talkdemonic and there are so many great national/international acts too e.g. Modest Mouse, the shins, Sleater-Kinney, Spoon, Pink Martini, and my favorite, The Dandy Warhols. It's a healthy mix right now.

What has touring been like? Where have you gone & where next? Touring has been full of high jinks and tomfoolery. We've gone through 37 states over the last 2 years from sea to shining sea. We love New York and Los Angeles. It’s also brought merriment to get off the beaten path sometimes too.

How was it opening for Richard Butler?
He was a true gentleman. When he sings Love My Way and Heaven it sent those first gala feelings down my spinal column. It was a dream. It always is.

If an animal embodied your band - not as mascot though - what would it be and why?
It would be child's play to say the duck-billed platypus. I would say the animal we would manifest ourselves as is the Aye-aye of Madagascar, threatened by the people it shares the island with because of its odd appearance. To the Malagasy people, the Aye-aye is magical, and is believed to bring death to the village it appears in. The reason I believe we are most like the Aye Aye is because the Aye-aye owes its "notoriety" much to its odd appearance, especially its long middle digit. This toe and claw is most important to the Aye-aye, as this is how it fishes tasty, fat grubs from rotting logs and branches. Much the same way The Upsidedown forages with a fine toothed comb for tasty musical morsels. And because it's Matt's favorite animal.



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