good morning! last week i had the amazing opportunity to get on the horn with tony award winning actress idina menzel (join her on myspace) i was at her showcase here in hollywood a few weeks ago in support of her new album i stand - which is simply
gorgeous and out in stores today! (purchase it at amazon or itunes!) we covered tons of topics including her amazing critically acclaimed stint as 'elphaba' in wicked along with her tony nominated broadway debut playing 'maureen' in rent - as well as her new album and what's next on the horizon for ms. menzel...she was so very gracious & sweet!
i must admit to being quite nervous at first but once we got to talking - i was completely relaxed and idina was very thoughtful with her answers - i think it's one of the best interviews i've done here on popbytes - i'm very proud of it! as a special treat - i've got five copies of her new album i stand to toss out - i'll leave the contest open for a whole week - just email me at istand@popbytes.com with the reason why you deserve a copy of idina's new album - i'll randomly pick five people who answer that question! many thanks to popbytes' pals carmen & martha for making this all happen - you guys totally rock my world! popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
MK: Hi Idina - thanks so much for taking time to speak with me! Starting off - I have a couple of friends that are huge fans of Wicked and I have a couple of questions from them. One question was how did the London production differ from the New York one? Was there a big difference that you happened to notice?
Idina: There was a big difference in me. I had more confidence having been through the experience and being well received so I could go to London and really rediscover the role with a freedom that it was going to be okay. Something about that just made all the difference and enabled me to enjoy myself more.
MK: I actually just saw the show a few weeks here in Los Angeles - finally - and I loved it! I haven't seen much theater since I moved here from New York almost seven years ago, I miss Broadway so much - that's the one thing I miss most about living in New York.
Idina: Yeah, me too - I've been in Los Angeles a lot lately.
MK: I'm actually from Long Island, too.
Idina: Oh where?
MK: Stony Brook.
Idina: Oh, wow - that's funny! I'm going out there to do an in-store signing at Borders - I think its Borders - in Syosset near my high school.
MK: Oh really? My Dad was a police sergeant in the 2nd precinct in Syosset plus I had family there too - small world! Anyways moving on I wanted to ask you have you heard anything about a film version of Wicked coming down the pike, has there any been talk of that?
Idina: None to me. I think that they're doing really well with Wicked, the theatrical endeavor; I think they probably want to wait a little bit longer before doing a film. I would love to be a part of it, but I don't know if by that time I'll be old enough to be Elphaba's grandmother!
MK: And then finally about Broadway, what do you think about Rent closing? What are your thoughts on that after the show has played for 12 years?
Idina: I'm very sad - just great sadness and real loss because it represents so many things for me. I met my husband (actor Taye Diggs) in rehearsals for Rent 12 years ago - that experience changed my life.
MK:Rent was your Broadway debut, right?
Idina: That was my Broadway debut. The experience was very traumatic with Jonathan Larson passing away right before we went up and in a very odd way, it was sort of a gift that he gave us that I keep with me throughout my career now - I don't take anything for granted, and I really try to embrace the moment and stay grounded. I'll never forget how important it was for us, as a cast, to get up on stage every night and to sing his words and put forth his message when he wasn't there.
I think when we were young like that; it was something that was so invaluable to have. I would trade it in a minute to have him be able to be here to see how he has changed so much - the world and the minds of young people and all that. If anything good had to come of it all, it was that experience of learning responsibility and embracing the moment.
MK: I was just watching the movie over the weekend, too, and I kept thinking, "God, it's so sad that he passed on and doesn't know what became of his incredible work."
Idina: Yes.
MK: Moving on, you've got your brand new album I Stand coming out next week. (Jan 29th)
Idina: I do, yes.
MK: So what was it like working with legendary producer Glen Ballard on your album?
Idina: It was a dream for me. He's been someone I always wanted to work with. Throughout the years I've had ups and downs where my career wasn't happening, and I used to really dream of getting someone even just comparable to Glen Ballard. I never even thought I could get Glen Ballard to get in the studio with me yet I just knew that he would understand me. He would embrace all the diffeRent facets of my personality, experiences and styles and help to find one cohesive way to express my music.
And that's exactly what happened. You know, he just gave me all this freedom to come in and present all my ideas and he encouraged me to write music with him, and I feel like with all these diffeRent elements - there's a real unity in the music. Yet I don't feel like I compromised any part of myself.
MK: Right, I've heard the album. It's really superb - it's gorgeous. I'm really excited for you.
Idina: Thank you so much.
MK: So I was going to ask you, now the - obviously the music industry is so very tough, I'm sure you probably heard a couple of weeks ago legend Annie Lennox was dropped by her label, Sony BMG.
Idina: You know, I didn't hear that. Right after mine is when Glen produced hers.
MK: I know, and it's so incredible - it was one of my top albums from last year. Apparently they weren't returning her phone calls, plus her contract was up, and they chose not to renew it...
Idina: Are you kidding me? I did not know that.
MK: I know, and you'd think that somebody who has done so much work -
Idina: That album is brilliant. I heard that album, and I was like, "I can't believe he worked with me." I mean, she's my idol. She is the reason why I gave myself permission to make this album because I feel like she's the kind of singer that has this huge voice, this enormous range, all this soulfulness, yet she still has a theatricality and a drama to her music, which makes me feel okay to sort of come with my own experiences.
There's a way to finesse being really expressive and emotional in your music, and not necessarily making a theatre album, but having the integrity and credibility of a pop album. So she's, by far for me, my biggest inspiration.
MK: Oh, wow! Yeah, so it's just - it's unfortunate, as you probably know - even Dolly Parton, now has her own label, and she's releasing her own album soon free from the constraints of a big label.
Idina: I think that actually enables people to have more control over their careers - especially if they already have careers - and audiences built in. Someone like me that's trying to break into a new genre needs more help from a label. Thankfully they're very supportive of me. But yeah, it's almost - it's probably nice for some of them - like Radiohead, to have sold their latest album the way they wanted to sell it. It's definitely a freeing thing for a lot of artists.
MK: Definitely. Are you excited about the upcoming Chess concert in London? Are you still doing that?
Idina: Yes! I get excited about it so much. I'm thrilled to be up there with Josh Grobin. I love him and respect him so much; I am so excited that I have an excuse to go back to London because when I did Wicked there I fell in love with it - the people and the city. I had a life-changing experience there - I just really adored the entire five months I was there.
But I just have this album coming out, I haven't been able to sit and really learn and get inside the music yet. So I'm going to give myself a couple weeks to enjoy this release time, and then I'm going to get busy!
MK: Talking about curRent events, do you have any advice for Britney Spears or maybe even more so Amy Winehouse? You know, for me - I don't know if you've heard her album, Back to Black, but it's just such an incredible album, then to see her just the other day caught on camera smoking crack - do you have any advice for this type of 'mess'?
Idina: Well, I mean, I don't feel like it's my position to place judgment on anyone or to advise anyone. I mean, I struggle to do the right thing all the time in my own life, and I just hope that those people can (I didn't mean I struggled like that - I never did drugs.)
Life is difficult and I am happy to have a real group of friends and family that are supportive of me, and I just hope that those people will - even if they're being pushed away - will force themselves back into those girls' lives and sit them down and give them a chance to just breathe. You know, that's the only thing that bothers me is that - where are those people?
You know, even if they say, "I don't want any help," there comes a time where you're a best friend or a sister or a brother and you say, "Too bad. I'm coming in here and we're going to work this out." It just seems like these people don't have that kind of help.
MK: Yeah. I agree, and most of the people around them are either in for money or fame - yeah, it's sad.
Idina: I don't get it.
MK: Two more quick questions. What do you think it is - because I'm gay, and I love you, and I know a lot of other gay people love you as well. Do you think it's just you being fabulous or do you think it's from being in Rent and then even being in Wicked - I mean, Elphaba's such a character that the gay community can kind of identify with, you know, sort of being an outcast - what do you make of all that?
Idina: Help me answer that - I need to figure it out because I'm being asked this question a lot. What would be your answer if I asked, "What's the type of woman or performer that the gay community gravitates to? What makes that kind of performer?" What would you say is the connection between Madonna, Cher and Judy Garland - I know I'm stereotyping, but what would you say since I keep getting asked this question, and I don't know.
I mean, I will say this before I let you answer, that I think what I love so much about my friends who are gay and the gay community is that I believe that they are the most authentic, honest, courageous, outspoken, compassionate people that I know. I just try to mirror that in my own life and my own work. Maybe there's some kind of connection there, I'm inspired by that.
MK: I definitely think it's being like sort of a diva - and I don't want to use the term "diva" in a bad way.
Idina: I can't say that about myself. I can't say, "Oh, I'm a diva."
MK: No, but I think - you know, for me, I would think of you flying up there in your green Elphaba makeup and 'Defying Gravity' - that's a total diva moment!
Idina: Big voices and -
MK: Definitely. I think between Rent, because that show has gay themes and characters and then coupled with Wicked...
Idina: Right, I think that the two shows I have done definitely are about people that don't necessarily fit into a mold, and are embracing their own individuality. I would hope that that's why maybe they're supporters of me.
MK: Yes, plus we have good taste, I like to think so at least! Finally, my last question -
Idina: You said you have good taste?
MK: We do - gays happen to have impeccable taste!
Idina: Thank you very much.
MK: I had to also ask how is your dog, Sammy Davis Jr.?
Idina: He's fabulous. He's on a plane right now probably driving Taye crazy because he's not a good flyer, and he goes under the seat, but that's because he's ten pounds and we try to give him a little doggie sedative, and he fights through it. Then he whimpers and he embarrasses us on the plane, which I guess is a good experience for when we have a child and they just start crying and everyone looks at us to get the baby to be quiet.
But he's on his way with Sammy - having been away with some friends, and I haven't seen either of them in ten days so I'm very excited to see them both! We also have two cats - Coltrane and Ella, the jazz cats.
MK: Awww - how cute - I love animals. So for my final question, after Broadway, film and music projects, what would be your next dream project - is there something you're dying to do?
Idina: Well, I want to go on tour with my band and experience that type of thing. Then I'm dying to get back to the stage and figure out a great original role that I can get into and help develop from the early stages. It's always been an honor for me to work on something from the start. The years before it comes out and to be able to sit with the composer at the piano and really develop something - have them curtail it to my voice and my personality. It's something I want to do as soon as I can figure out the right project for me.
MK: And say if you were to do a dream theatre project, what would be your classic role? Which character would you want to play - you're obviously too young to play Mama Rose from Gypsy - but is there any legendary role that -
Idina: Oh, it would be Fanny in Funny Girl, but I don't think I'll ever play it because I have too much respect for Barbara Streisand and I just don't think anyone can get up on stage and say, "Hello, Gorgeous!" and - just, you know...
MK: Yeah, that would be hard.
Idina: Yes, it would be really hard, but it is something I identify with being a girl from - well, Bronx, Long Island - similar, you know, experience, I just love that show so much - but I think I'm going to let that idea go.
MK: Idina, thank you so much for taking the time out to talk with me. I'm going to put up this interview probably the day that your album comes out to get a little extra spotlight on you.
Idina: I appreciate that. It's a big deal for me, and I really appreciate the support.
MK: You're so welcome. Thank you, again, and you have a great afternoon.
tonight at the westwood green carpet premiere of mad money i spotted power lawyer gloria allred walking down in a cute red jacket - i immediately told her she was fierce (which is the truth) and asked ms. allred if i could perhaps ask her a question about britney spears...don't forget she still represents britney's ex-bodyguard tony barretto who spilled the beans on some of ms. spears' wacky behavior and will be deposed in the upcoming custody battle (which no doubt will be dramatic!) below is video i shot of what gloria had to say - not only did she answer my question - she also had a lot to say! (not only did she speak with me but right next door she chatted with page six and hollyscoop) popbytes over & out for tonight...xxoo!
good evening! i've mentioned a few times on popbytes before that i'm such a huge fan of twin peaks - it was one of the best shows in TV history (with a larger than life cult following - heck this show aired in like 1990 - that's like almost 18 years ago and i still can't talk enough about it) sadly the show had largely been unavailable on DVD until now - the entire series (29 episodes and the original two-hour pilot) is now out on one amazing DVD boxset packed with plenty of extras!
to celebrate the series' release i had an amazing opportunity to interview michael j andersen who played 'the man from another place' - who totally creeped everyone out with his backward talking and strange red curtained environment! he was so friendly & sweet - and answered all my questions with great insight - plus we had a number of laughs! he also made me think about the show in ways i never had before - i swear there could easily be a college course dissecting the show - along w/ all of david lynch's other work (you must see inland empire if you haven't already - it's crazy brilliant!)
i've been watching the series again over the past few weeks and it still holds up today - it's the most bizarre but oddly adorable show to ever grace television - it has been fascinating to see the drama of who killed laura palmer all over again - plus when i think back it was the first TV show to really open my eyes to 'cool' things and pop culture in general! anyways make sure to watch the trailer for the DVD embedded below - plus you must read my interview - i painstakingly transcribed it and i really do think it came out well - many thanks to ms. melanie for making this all happen! popbytes over & out for tonight...xxoo!
popbytes interviews michael j. andersen aka 'the man from another place'
what's it like working with david lynch?
it's not like working with other directors - he doesn't tell you what he's trying to do. with 'twin peaks' and with a lot of david's work you can't discern the final work from reading the script at all. there are some similarities between the script and the final work - but you can't get the final work by just reading the script.
do people still recognize you from 'twin peaks'?
they sure do - i've even been autographed in beijing. a lot of times people - actually have the same reaction to the show - they're seeing me but they're not really sure they're seeing me...
what's been appeal of 'twin peaks'?
i think 'twin peaks' was a different kind of artwork than we had ever seen before. it came from a deeper place - at lot of times the normal stuff we see is a plotline where you travel from a to b and in the course of that journey you develop the characters. if you look at 'twin' peaks there's no real plotline - there's no plot - if you were asked what happened - you couldn't answer that question.
for example when the french tried to pay him to solve the mystery in 'fire walk with me' "we want to know who killed laura palmer and that's it." but you know what - who killed laura palmer wasn't the plotline. it was the set - it was the environment - so to solve the mystery would be to be like detach the environment and cart it away - it would be demolishing the set - but you know what they kept adding on millions of dollars until he was willing to do it! (laughs)
in the end what they got - he answered the question so they could be satisfied but the real value of 'fire walk with me' was the picture of laura palmer's madness. really the answer to who killed laura palmer wasn't her father - it was laura palmer. she was gone like a turkey in the corn - there was no recovering from that. that was the point - which what was really shown.
do you still see cast members today?
there are 'twin peak' conventions and sometimes i can go to these little road shows and stuff like that and i'll run into people i worked with or cast members i didn't work with - it has been fun - it kind of stays with you the whole time - it never really goes away - which is a good thing. in a sense it's an amazing thing - how many art works that are that old can still be considered cutting edge?
i think it's possible that in a couple of hundred years - they're going to understand david lynch better than we do today - and we were alive at the same time (chuckles) i think that it's also true of van gogh - they're still looking at him and they grasp what he was about much better than they did when he was alive - he died as a homeless person thought to be a lunatic!
i'm still trying to figure out 'inland empire'?
well i think it's a warning. i was at david lynch's house and i saw this mouse in the refrigerator that was all taken apart and put in little plastic bags with labels on them as to what was in the bag and then there was a set of directions to tell you how to put the mouse back together...
the point to that was once you got the mouse taken apart in little bags - you can't put him back together - that was the point. i think that 'inland empire' is in the same vein. it's also really the actress (laura dern) she comes all apart and there's no way to get her back together. the two art pieces are on the same subject.
are you excited about the entire series coming out on dvd?
i guess so - to me it's all packaging. 'twin peaks' is the real thing - so the packaging is the packaging. you know there are fans that can tell me more about my life than i can remember myself. there's this one fan that can literally recite 'twin peaks' from beginning to end - every word - pretty convenient - don't you think? i suppose having all the episodes on a dvd is pretty convenient too!
every time i see it - i see it differently. it looks differently as i see it through the years - i read it differently. it's not just noticing stuff - stuff that i noticed completely had one reading and now i watch it and holy mackerel - and now i read it completely different after a couple of years.
it like a rauschberg blotter test - it sends you back on yourself as the way you look at things. i think that's part of what puts it in a category by itself - because so much of artwork is trying to direct you and to make sure you're interpreting it the way they want you to. i think the myriad of ranges of reactions and ways to read 'twin peaks' is part of the point. it's all in the eye of the beholder - and it's true not just of 'twin peaks' but of reality.
the definitive gold box edition of the series that became one of television's most acclaimed events finally arrives - with all 29 episodes plus both the original and european versions of the pilot - on october 30, 2007 from cbs home entertainment and paramount home entertainment. considered both technically and artistically revolutionary when it debuted, twin peaks garnered 18 emmy nominations over the course of its two-season run with its cast of memorable characters, stunning cinematography and intriguing plot. co-creators david lynch and mark frost and a large number of the cast and crew have returned to participate in this extraordinary new collection.
this 10-disc set includes "greetings from twin peaks" collectable postcards and a plethora of special features, including hours of newly-minted bonus content, featuring exclusive cast and crew interviews and rare footage never before released on dvd, produced by award-winning dvd producer charles de lauzirika ("alien quadrilogy," "spider-man 2: special edition," "blade runner: the final cut.")
thought to have been lost forever, a selection of deleted scenes has been unearthed for this collection and approved by david lynch, offering viewers additional clues and background on some of their favorite characters and locations in the series.
the collection showcases the phenomenon that was twin peaks with such archival nuggets as the "saturday night live" opening monologue and "twin peaks" sketch featuring kyle maclachlan, the "falling" music video featuring julee cruise, the richard beymer behind-the-scenes photo gallery, original network promo spots and many more rare gems!
newly remastered from the original negative and personally approved by david lynch, the episodes have never looked better. moreover, viewers will have the option of enjoying the episodes in either new 5.1 surround sound or the original 2.0 network television audio.
good morning! we finally made it to friday - my head is already in weekend mode! (plus i have a screening tonight that i'm very excited over - more details soon!) just yesterday right after snapping pics of barbara walters getting her star i chatted with judy faber who hosts the blogbuzz podcast which runs off of the showbuzz (part of cbs) we talked about the hiltons, britney spears, christina aguilera, nicole richie, and angelina jolie - i had a blast chatting with judy and the interview went live last night! overall i'm totally happy with how it turned out - i just need to watch myself with the phrase 'you know' - anyways you can have a listen by clicking below! many thanks go out to ms. faber for inviting me as her guest - hopefully we can do it again sometime! popbytes over & out for now...xxoo!
good morning! can i just say this is one of my favorite posts ever? i've been so excited to finally toss it up here on popbytes! the indigo girls are for sure one of my favorite bands - having seen them around twenty times live (most recently here in los angeles) i've got IG collectibles galore - i can't even think of one song i don't care for - i simply love them! i was thrilled to be able to get in touch with them recently and hit up amy ray & emily saliers with a few questions i prepared - stuff like this is the reason i run this site! so without further adieu let's get to the interview...oh and yes make sure to check out their website and myspace page to hear some of their latest songs!
PS i'll be back on later today - i'm heading out the door in a bit to do something cool which i'll totally fill you all in on later! i just didn't want to jinx myself by spilling the beans early...
1 - I know you both write songs separately - but how separate? Like is there ever a time where you guys have helped each other out in terms of lyrics? Do you show a song in progress to each other and try things out or do you complete the song and then show each other?
AMY RAY: We write totally separately. We don't even consult each other
during the process. Sometimes we will over hear each other working on
something during sound check or in our dressing room and we will give
encouragement, but neither one of us wants to jinx or stunt the other's
process. This creative space is one of the main contributors to our long
relationship. Once we get to the arrangement stage, we might give advice
- only when asked - about the shape of the song. For example, the chorus
structure, whether the bridge works and things like that.
EMILY SALIERS: We write pretty separately. Every now and then we might
ask each other about the structure of a song (i.e. whether or not the
other thinks a chorus should be added or a verse sung on top of another
one), but generally, we bring the songs to the arranging process
complete. Sometimes we'll go back and write a bridge or another part of
the song, but we do that on our own with our own songs.
2 - You both have always championed such great social causes - I was curious what's the most important issues to you both at the current moment - and who you're really lending your voices right now? I would like to feature something that is both really important to you and bring some 'blog' attention to the matter! Lord knows there are so many things to be paying attention to right now!
AR: Our ongoing and most consistent work is with a group that we
helped start with some amazing Native activists called Honor the Earth.
HTE gives financial grants and exposure to existing front line Native
environmental groups that are doing work to sustain the ecosystems that
we all share plus to create cultural and community sustainability. We
are very focused on replacing the current destructive energy policy with
one that supports and develops renewable energy. We help tribes that
want to develop wind and solar power and we fight like hell to get rid
of nuclear energy and its waste. We have a web site where you can see
all our victories and grants: www.honorearth.org. We have fought against
every conceivable corporate and government policy that destroys the
environment and we have helped communities that are doing the hard work
in the trenches. We have done whole Honor the Earth benefit tours and
enjoyed the support of many other musicians, such as Bonnie Raitt, Pearl
Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ani DiFranco, Jackson Browne, David Crosby
and others.
ES: We work with a group we helped start called Honor the Earth
that raises money and awareness for Indigenous environmental groups and
communities in North America. Right now, we're working on energy justice
issues, supporting wind and solar projects on Native lands to get green
power on the grid and shift our nation's current energy paradigm. Their
website is honorearth.org and there are links to various things
we're working on which can be found on our website - www.indigogirls.com
3 - Do you both have a stash of old material that you borrow from? Like are there songs or pieces of songs on your new album from things previously written years ago? Do you revisit songs or lyrics you didn't use before?
AR: Yes. I love to borrow from unused songs. I never throw
anything away. I have written a lot of bad songs with one good line in
them and I know it will find its place at some point. I record
everything I am doing and go back and listen to tapes for little gems
that I might want to use and then I mark them.
ES: I rarely revisit songs. They seem to have a certain shelf
life and then they're history if they never get recorded or used for
anything. I work on a batch of songs over a period of time, say 1 -2
years, and if one of those songs doesn't get worked on for awhile, I'll
pick it up again and try to finish it. It's just a matter of when I feel
particularly inspired to work on a certain song in progress.
4 - Like in one of my favorite songs 'Watershed' - how do you both feel about choosing your path as musician and really sticking to it? It's hard to explain but for example you haven't tried to be actresses. Some people these days can't seem to pick a path and stick to it - I admire you both so much for just being musicians - and amazing ones. It's like doctors are doctors and the indigo girls are musicians - no if ands or buts about it - I hope I'm making some sense here! It's just like it feels people are always searching for this or that and I think or at least it appears you are both so content with your roles in the universe? Gosh I'm getting all deep here!
AR: I am content with this role but always feel frustrated with
how many other things I want to do. Solo projects, activism, community
service, family time, teaching, preserving the land, etc. I think of the
IG's as one aspect of my life but it really doesn't define me as far as
I am concerned. I just feel really driven with this as a vehicle a lot
of the time. I feel lucky that it's worked out so well and just never
take it for granted, but I also know that life is bigger than this and
limitless in so many ways.
ES: I think it's a blessing to find a path, a vocation you really
love and be able to stick to it. It's not so much a matter of principle
for me. I just feel fortunate to have found guitar, been able to write
songs, and then to have found Amy. The way our path unfolded is
remarkable to me. But there was never a question in my mind, after I
graduated from college, that this was the only thing I've ever wanted to
do. I think it's okay for musicians and actors to branch out into other
fields. Just seems like a way to expand one's creativity. And then there
are people who search their whole lives for satisfying paths of one kind
or another and don't ever really find them. My heart goes out to people
who struggle like that.
5 - Since my website is a lot about what is hot & upcoming - who are you both listening to these days? Do you happen to listen to Lily Allen or Amy Winehouse? They are both two of my hot listens right now plus how about those sassy Scissor Sisters? I was also curious if you both listen to Tori Amos - She is tops along with both of you! I always say on one side sits Tori and the other side is occupied by my Amy & Emily! Or besides music - Are there any films you recently saw and enjoyed? I'm sure it's quite busy being on the road though!
AR: Love Tori Amos. I listen to a lot of demos and underground
stuff and stroll through Myspace a lot finding good music. I like the
new band - Arizona, I do like the Scissor Sisters too. I love the label
Kill Rock Stars, especially the new release by Bitch. Oh yeah, and The
Coup - Pick A Bigger Weapon.
Films - there's a lot out there right now that I want to see, but haven't had time.
ES: I love The Weepies. Charlotte Gainsbourg is a new find, and I
never get tired of Mary J. Blige. I haven't heard of the artists you
mentioned. I've always loved Tori's music. I think 'Little Earthquakes'
is one of the best records ever. I haven't been able to see a lot of
films recently, and I don't think there have been that many great ones.
I enjoyed 'Little Miss Sunshine' and would like to see 'The Last King of
Scotland.'
6 - Finally I wanted to say - I absolutely love the new album and I was curious on anything you might want to say about your label jump from Epic to Hollywood - I don't care for all the reasons 'why' but more in terms of does it feel invigorating - or is the label simply a business outlet for your music? And are there any early plans for your next album?
AR: It does feel invigorating, but you have to keep the music up front.
No label can work miracles these days, so you just have to tour and
write and be yourself and muscle through things. I am excited about
record and feel like we have done a good one.
I don't really dwell in it though. I like to keep on truckin' and be in
the moment, which is usually the next song for me.
We are lucky to have gotten another deal, so I am super happy about
that, but I always know we're gonna be alright regardless. The new deal
is like icing on the cake to me. We have had so many great times and
opportunities already, I don't want to be greedy about it. I want to
make music no matter what and that's where I put my energy.
ES: I feel grateful to have a new label that seems very
enthusiastic about having us on board. It's definitely invigorating to
have a new team and to have worked with Mitchell Froom on the record.
After all these years, it just feels nice to know that we can still be
out there touring and making records. It's the best job in the world.
Hey everyone! So this past Friday I got to do a phone interview with Scissor Sisters main man hottie Jake Shears but the night before I was able to catch the first show of their North American tour in support of the band's second album Ta-Dah that just released in the US on Sept 26th. The show was amazing (although some complained the acoustics sucked in the venue - the band felt the same way - the Shrine Expo downtown probably won't ever see the band play there again) but luckily I was quite close to the front and it sounded fine by me. It was the first time I got to see them live and I was in no way disappointed - Jake in person was everything I thought he would be - on fire! They performed an awesome set, which was a nice mixture of songs off their self-titled debut album as well as their new one. Everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun - including the band who all looked so comfortable with each other - Main lady Ana Matronic & Jake were both adorable - providing clever quips and tidbits between each energetic performance.
The energy got kicked up an extra notch when they played their super popular cover of Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb', which had me moving my ass right along with the rest of the crowd. For their final song they performed their hit 'Filthy Gorgeous' which was a perfect cap off to the evening. (plus the fact Jake had stripped down to almost nothing) By the time it was over - I was beyond beat but gosh I had so much fun - it's so refreshing to see a band (which writes their own songs) that obviously loves what they do and have their own unique vibe & energy that's unlike anything else going on in music today. Although they are hugely popular over in the UK (the album and single are #1) the 'Sisters' still have yet to properly break into mainstream music in the US...which was one of the topics we covered when I spoke with Jake the next day!
Rather than trying to write the quotes into some smart ass article (remember I'm far from being a proper journalist - i'm a blogger yo) I thought it best to toss out some subjects and let you know what Jake had to say - He did provide me with some great quotes on a variety of topics...He was beyond sweet & so sincere on the phone and made me totally feel relaxed - by the end it felt just like a conversation between friends - all my nerves had been washed away. Many special thanks to Mr. Shears for taking time out of his very busy rockstar schedule to talk to popbytes - it really made my day and I knew it would be a fun post for all of you. So let's get to it...
ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF THEIR NEW NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
It was the first night of our tour and oh my god I hated that venue - I was so upset - I'm not sure what it sounded like out there but I suspect not great (no more Shrine Expo for them - other bands be warned!)
ON THEIR NEW SUPERB ALBUM TA-DAH
We worked our tails off on it!
THE SECOND SINGLE & VIDEO
The second single is 'Land of a Thousand Words' - We just saw a rough cut of the video and it's fucking beautiful! I'm not going to give anything away about it but it's definitely our best looking video yet - this one is really gorgeous and it's very sincere - it's beautiful - it just gives me goose bumps watching it - I think you'll really like it...
THE THIRD SINGLE & VIDEO
We're getting ready to shoot for the third single...I can't confirm but off the record we think it's going to be...(oh i love a little inside info - they're deciding between two awesome tracks...)
ON ALBUMS LEAKING AND ONLINE MUSIC SWAPPING
I think leaks are fine as long as you can if you contain the leak to a few days before release - if it leaks two months before your album comes out you're fucked...but if it hadn't been for our demos being online when we were first starting out we wouldn't be making music today - that's how we got around five years ago was just people sharing our music - so for that sorta thing I think it's amazing...
ON THEIR NEW VIDEO ON YOUTUBE
(The video for 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing') was getting taken down right away and then I threw a fit about that and made sure it could be put up and not taken down...we make a video and a video is a promotional tool so it's just like as many people - whoever wants to see us should be able to see us...video shouldn't be a commodity (unless your doing a video collection DVD or something like that) videos they're commercials for your music so it's just like if people want to see them - they should have access to them (watch the video here)
ON LACK OF US RADIO PLAY
Radio is a huge piece missing for us - we don't get played very much on the radio (in the US) you have to be creative and go around it - even doing something like 'Dancing with the Stars' - it could lend itself to possibly getting on the radio here - the songs work all over the world on the radio - it's such a weird market here it really amazes me, like the FYE thing...
ON FYE NOT CARRYING THEIR ALBUM
It's plain as day CDs shouldn't be that expensive! It's a disgusting company I'll say that - it's just a really gross company and obviously they care nothing about music...
(This is in response to FYE (and other retail outlets all owned by Trans World Entertainment) not carrying their new album after some comments Jake made about CDs being too expensive at a retail convention in Florida - you can read more about the whole situation over on VH1)
ON APPEARING ON DANCING WITH THE STARS
We're not above anything like that - some kid in middle America deserves to see us just as much as anybody in some hipster club downtown in some city somewhere - so to have the opportunity to do that is amazing - it's for the kids - you want to like freak out some six years old! (with an adorable devilish laugh...)
WHO IN THE BAND IS UP ON POP CULTURE?
I consider myself a pop culture junkie but I've shut TV out of my life...I'm completely out of it in certain regards but I'm obsessed with music - I'm obsessed with books and so with those sorts of things I'm on them - like movies - there are certain aspects of pop culture that I totally eat up - as far as other people in the band Del (Marquis) and Ana (Matronic) are way more up on trashy celebs and stuff like that...
DOES JAKE READ STUFF ABOUT THEM ONLINE?
I try not to...
WHAT THE BAND HAS IN COMMON WITH TORI AMOS
I love her - In some weird way I think we have something in common with her - and what I think that it is - is really loyal fans - I think we've developed a really loyal fan base and she does as well and that's one thing I think we've got in common with her (of course being a diehard Tori fan I had to ask what his take was on her)
ON WORKING WITH KYLIE MINOGUE
Oh my god - I can't confirm the title, but yes we've started writing some stuff together for her next record (her new single is reportedly called 'White Diamond' but Mr. Shears couldn't confirm...)
WHEN I TOLD HIM I WANT TO RUN OFF WITH HIM...
Well you never know...we could fall in love! (Oh he is such a flirt - I love it!)
So there you have it...I do hope it was a fun read - I worked my ass off on it - transcribing from a tape can be a total bitch! If you still haven't gotten a chance to listen to the Scissor Sisters - some songs are streaming over on their myspace page and if your one of those people who love to call your local radio station please tell 'em to play their new single I Don't Feel Like Dancing! Finally please boycott asinine places such as FYE, Sam Goody, Strawberries, Wherehouse, Specs or Coconuts who are refusing to carry the new album - don't let anyone control the music you can or can't listen too - it's ludicrous! Popbytes over & out - xxoo!
PS A big Happy Birthday goes out to Jake - he turns 29 tomorrow on October 3rd!
