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.