Nation Of Language, Anna Calvi and Say She She answering my questions!

 

I wanted to do this post a month ago, but I got sick, so I’m only publishing it now. But I wanted to collect the answers from THREE Q&As in which I managed to take part, in one place. All of them, as it happens, with some my favorite indie artists. All three on different websites

- Nation Of Language Reddit AMA

- Anna Calvi Substack AMA

- Say She She’s Bandcamp listening party – due to logistical problems, it was actually only Sabrina Cunnigham answering, the other girls couldn’t join. Since they’re not saved, this is actually the only place online, where you can read my questions and Sabrina’s answers.

All of this is a prelude of sort, because I’ve been working on „something” for past few weeks. It’s a first exclusive Mavoy Music interview in years and definitely my biggest. I don’t wanna tell you who it is, but it’s someone I haven’t even dreamed I’ll be able to talk to, until social media recently connected us together. It’s someone whose music is VERY important for me, someone well-known to our regular readers and recognized with my awards in the past. I put my heart in that conversation. I hope I’ll be able to publish it soon, but I don’t wanna hurry the artist. I’ll be very honored to share it with you, regardless!

So here are the questions and the answers

NATION OF LANGUAGE (AIDAN NOELL)

QUESTIONS

Hey guys, Mavoy here from Mavoy Music blog :) As you can see, I keep on promoting the new record, it's really incredible. I'm just about to watch One Battle After Another (super pumped), but I just need to ask at least a few questions :)

How the political situation in the United States is currently impacting you as musicians? From rising cost of living because of tariff nonsense, to the country basically becoming authoritarian in last few months, how anxious you guys are? I'm not even American, but I follow this stuff on daily - if not hourly - basis, and it's terrifying.

- best film of the year so far?

- any musical recommendations, obscure bands, whether new or old? More names, the better. I really dig this Beat Rhythm Fashion cover you did and I gotta check them out.

- and of course the same question I always have for you - any chance we will see you in Poland next year, at last? I can absolutely see you selling out a mid-size venue in Warsaw (something like Palladium or Niebo)

Thanks for all you are doing and so happy that you guys are active on Bluesky :)

AIDAN’S ANSWERS

Hello Mavoy! We just saw One Battle After Another on our night off last night in Iowa - it was so so very good, you will not be disappointed! Re: your questions..

-Tariffs definitely impact musicians negatively, making records is more expensive, buying gear is more expensive, touring is more expensive. Beyond that, though, the existential and physical threats that are piling up in this country are taking a massive toll. I have trans friends who feel unsafe touring in certain areas right now, immigrant friends who feel unsafe entering or leaving the country or even their homes, and now being anti-fascist is considered terrorism? It's a disaster in this country and I couldn't possibly touch on everything that upsets and frustrates us, but I am SO GRATEFUL for the community that music and touring has given us. At the end of the day, when we all gather to play a show and dance together, we can have some small peace and catharsis and that makes it easier to soldier on.

-Best film of the year so far fro me was probably the aforementioned PTA ! I didn't have high expectations from the trailer but I now feel like they trojan horsed a meaningful film in the guise of an action romp. My letterboxd is here if anyone wants to see what else I've watched lately

-Albums on repeat for me right now: Penny Sparkle by Blonde Redhead, Allbarone by Baxter Dury, More Wealth Than Money by Normil Hawaiians. Loving the new songs from Cate le Bon and Westerman too!

-I hope we get back to Poland next year! We loved it there and can't wait to get back.

ANNA CALVI

- Do you have any dreams that you haven't realized yet? Any areas of creativity that you haven't tried?

- I would LOVE to write music for a ballet

- What are you reading?

- My favourite book at the moment is All Fours by Miranda July.

- What are you listening to?

- I’m listening to lots of David Lynch songs at the moment because I’m about to do a show tonight celebrating his music!

- What are your fondest memories of meeting your heroes, favorites, inspirations?

- Brian Eno is exactly how I hoped he would be- he’s so intelligent and creative in how he speaks. He radiates something incredibly special which is very alluring to be around.

- How do you think the Internet needs to evolve to be a better place for musicians? And what do you think about social media's role in this?

- Social media is a tricky thing for an artist like me, because it’s so transactional and without depth. That’s why I like substack because it feels more in tune with my way of connecting with people. It feels deeper and more thoughtful.

SAY SHE SHE (SABRINA CUNNINGHAM)

- What are your dream collaborators? (…) When I first heard Cut & Rewind, I assumed it’s David Byrne on the backing vocals – but then you didn’t say a word about it, so I thought it can’t be true. (it was my original question, but someone asked a very similar one)

- We’d love a collaboration with David Byrne! Him and Nile are the top of the list.

- Do you write your stuff together? I know the story how you met, so I assume that you do! At least most of the time.

- We typically write the songs together with our band, so all seven of us in the room together – we tour with the same guys, Dan, Sergio, Dale and Sam. Being in the studio together is so fun.*

- What is the book that you can recommend, something more obscure, maybe?

- This is nerdy, but I just finished Burning Down The House by Jonathan Gould. Maybe not obscure, but I always find the band drama interesting :)

- How afraid you are about the future of America? I look from afar in Poland, but I look in fear. The headlines are terrifying – if you know who to follow in independent media of course. And I’m nervous that this shit may come here.

- It’s really scary right now. We are doing our best to keep our heads up. Between what is happening to immigrants to violation of women’s rights it’s very hard to stomach but we are trying to speak out in the ways that we can.

- Good question to end – how do you see yourselves in 10 years?

- I see us working on our tenth album and playing sold out areas :) #goals

- I like that you release your albums so often! And they are all superb!

- We just want to continue writing and performing!

* fun fact – I wasn’t really aware before this Q&A, but while I usually think of Say She She as a trio, they are actually backed by 80s cult funk bank Orgone.