For editor Mary's coverage of SXSW 2013, go here.
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FYI our fearless editor Mary is currently on holiday (sort of, she says, since she'll be working on blog-y things for most of it) in Britain and the site won't be as updated as frequently until she returns stateside after the 23rd of May. Don't worry though, we'll be busy this month going to festivals (Liverpool Sound City, the Great Escape) and loads of great content is on its way!
By
Mary Chang on Tuesday, 14th May 2013 at 12:00 pm
J.P. Pitts, chief songwriter of Floridian band Surfer Blood, kindly answered our TGTF Quickfire Questions ahead of the release of their new album ‘Pythons’, out in June.
What song is your earliest musical memory?
‘Barbara Ann’ by the Beach Boys. My best friend growing up had their greatest hits on cassette and we would listen to it the car with his mother on the way to and from school. [This is amazing. I had this cassette too! Wore it out as well - Ed.]
What was your favourite song as a child?
Probably ‘Semi-Charmed Life’ by Third Eye Blind. The ‘alternative’ radio station in the town where I grew up must’ve played that song day and night for half a decade. It was the first ever cassette single I bought, I think it was for sale at a gas station. I had no idea until years later that the song was actually about drugs.
What song makes you laugh?
A song called ‘Son of My Father’ by a band called Chicory Tip. I just love how goofy all of the synthesizer sounds are. The song was recorded in the early seventies when the synthesizer was a very new thing. Consequently the song is really spacey and meandering with all kinds of arbitrary chord/ key changes.
What song makes you cry?
‘Random Rules’ by the Silver Jews is a very sad song and its hard for me not to tear up every time I hear it. The slow pace and the heartbreaking lyrics are the perfect recipe for a good cry.
What song reminds you of the first time you fell in love? (It’s up to you if you want this to be sweet, naughty, etc.)
Pretty much any song off of My Bloody Valentine’s ‘Loveless’ will bring me back to my first feelings of being in love. My first girlfriend and I used to lay in bed and listen to it a lot, the lyrics and melodies are nostalgic and the production is lush and full. To this day I can’t help but feel there is something salacious about the way that album sounds.
What song makes you think of being upset / angry? (Example: maybe you heard it when you were angry with someone and it’s still with you, and/or something that calms you down when you’re upset, etc.)
“You Only Live Once” by the Strokes is a song I’ve always turned to when I’ve felt frustrated or disappointed. Something feels triumphant about the arc and melody of the song and Julian Cassablancas’ casual delivery gives you the sense that everything is going to be all right. Its a very life-affirming song and its never failed to cheer me up.
Which song (any song written in the last century) do you wish you’d written yourself?
I’m not really sure how to answer that question. I guess I never really ask myself that.
Who is your favourite writer? (This can be a songwriter or ANY kind of writer.)
I’d say that Steven Malknus and Kurt Vonnegut are two writers I always tend to gravitate to. They both have a long list of works to their name, I’ve been a fan of both since I was a teenager and I still haven’t digested everything. I’d say they are two of the writers I enjoy the most and I dread the day when I’ve heard and read everything out there from those two.
If you hadn’t become a singer/musician/songwriter/etc., what job do you think you’d be doing right now?
I’m not sure, there’s nothing else I’d rather do than what I’m doing now. I’ve always thought that I would enjoy teaching, I have a relatively patient disposition and I like introducing people to new things. I don’t know if I’d enjoy it the way I enjoy writing and recording music but I’m sure I’d find it gratifying.
If God said you were allowed to bring only one album with you to Heaven, which would it be and why? (Sorry, but double albums do not count.)
That’s an impossible decision; but I’d probably go with ‘Pet Sounds’.
Thanks to J.P. for answering our questions and Tasha for sorting this for us.
By
Mary Chang on Tuesday, 30th April 2013 at 4:15 pm
Tim Digby-Bell, the frontmand of London group Duologue, kindly answered our TGTF Quickfire Questions ahead of what will be an exciting week for them. The band appear at the Arts Academy on Friday night (err, early Saturday morning) at this year’s Liverpool Sound City at 1:30 AM.
What song is your earliest musical memory?
‘Scarborough Fair’, I used to sing it to my brother when he cried. Still do, actually.
What was your favourite song as a child?
‘Happy Birthday’.
What song makes you laugh?
Tom Waits, ‘Frank’s Wild Years’: Frank settled down in the valley and he hung his wild years on a nail that he drove through his wife’s forehead”.
What song makes you cry?
Bon Iver, ‘Holocene’ (video here).
What song reminds you of the first time you fell in love? (It’s up to you if you want this to be sweet, naughty, etc.)
My first kiss ever was to ‘Kiss’ by Prince.
What song makes you think of being upset / angry? (Example: maybe you heard it when you were angry with someone and it’s still with you, and/or something that calms you down when you’re upset, etc.)
Pretty much every song by the Black Eyed Peas makes me feel this way.
Which song (any song written in the last century) do you wish you’d written yourself?
Steve Reich, ‘Music for 18 Musicians’. Might as well dream big.
Who is your favourite writer? (This can be a songwriter or ANY kind of writer.)
I think my favourite writer would have to be Samuel Beckett. Musically, probably Nick Drake.
If you hadn’t become a singer/musician/songwriter/etc., what job do you think you’d be doing right now?
Struggling playwright.
If God said you were allowed to bring only one album with you to Heaven, which would it be and why? (Sorry, but double albums do not count.)
I don’t believe in God or Heaven so this is tricky but if I had to live with one album for the rest of my life, I think it would be by Frank Sinatra, as he makes me feel happy.
Thank you for your help answering these QQs. And thanks also to Ellie for making this possible!
English rapper Mikill Pane has a new EP out now on Mercury called called ‘Dirty Rider’ (buy it here), so we thought we’d ask him the Quickfire Questions. Some of his answers will surprise you, and some of them will definitely make you laugh. Read on…
What song is your earliest musical memory?
The alphabet, sung.
What was your favourite song as a child?
‘Can’t Touch This’ – MC Hammer.
What song makes you laugh?
‘Praying’ by Plan B. It’s a deep song, but I always imagine him singing ‘Voldermort!’ at the beginning…
What song makes you cry?
I don’t think I’ve ever cried because of a song. I’ve never heard one shit enough.
What song reminds you of the first time you fell in love? (It’s up to you if you want this to be sweet, naughty, etc.)
‘Baby Got Back’ by Sir Mix-a-Lot. [Sorry. I just had to embed it here. - Ed.]
What song makes you think of being upset / angry? (Example: maybe you heard it when you were angry with someone and it’s still with you, and/or something that calms you down when you’re upset, etc.)
‘This Charming Man’ by The Smiths. I love that song, but David Cameron said he does too.
Which song (any song written in the last century) do you wish you’d written yourself?
It hasn’t been written yet.
Who is your favourite writer? (This can be a songwriter or ANY kind of writer.)
Alex Turner.
If you hadn’t become a singer/musician/songwriter/etc., what job do you think you’d be doing right now?
It doesn’t bear thinking about.
If God said you were allowed to bring only one album with you to Heaven, which would it be and why? (Sorry, double albums don’t count.)
‘Hell Hath No Fury’ by Clipse.
By
Mary Chang on Friday, 21st December 2012 at 1:00 pm
Yesterday we posted To Kill a King‘s leader Ralph Pelleymounter’s answers to some questions Braden posed to him. (If you recall, To Kill a King landed at #8 on our 10 for 2013 readers’ poll of bands to do well in 2013.) Today, we have for you his responses to the TGTF Quickfire Questions. Jeff Buckley makes yet another appearance, and never would have pegged him as Freddie Mercury fan but here goes…
What song is your earliest musical memory?
Something from The Snowman [film], ‘Walking in the Air’, probably.
What was your favourite song as a child?
Anything from Queen.
What song makes you laugh?
Queen – ‘Bicycle’
What song makes you cry?
College – ‘Real Hero’ (featuring Electric Youth).
What song reminds you of the first time you fell in love? (It’s up to you if you want this to be sweet, naughty, etc.)
Jeff Buckley – ‘Hallelujah’.
What song makes you think of being upset / angry? (Example: maybe you heard it when you were angry with someone and it’s still with you, and/or something that calms you down when you’re upset, etc.)
Damien Rice – ’9 Crimes’
Which song (any song written in the last century) do you wish you’d written yourself?
Beatles – ‘Paperback Writer’.
Who is your favourite writer? (This can be a songwriter or ANY kind of writer.)
Joseph Heller
If you hadn’t become a singer/musician/songwriter/etc., what job do you think you’d be doing right now?
Counting all the many pounds I’ve collected in my big piggybank.
If God said you were allowed to bring only one album with you to Heaven, which would it be and why? (Sorry, but double albums do not count.)
Anthony and the Johnsons – ‘I am Bird’.
Thank you Ralph for your help answering these QQs. And thanks also to Nick for making this possible!
By
Mary Chang on Thursday, 20th December 2012 at 1:00 pm
On Monday we posted a q&a with Oscar Manthorpe of Theme Park, the band you voted to the #4 spot on the 10 for 2013 TGTF readers’ poll. Oscar also was so kind to answer the TGTF Quickfire Questions as well. What song does he raise a cup of tea to when he needs to calm his nerves? Keep reading…
What song is your earliest musical memory?
‘Stumblin’ In’ by Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman. My family used to dance to it around the table every Sunday morning.
What was your favourite song as a child?
I remember always loving ‘In My Arms’ by Nick Cave. Still do, in fact.
What song makes you laugh?
Frankie Valli, ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’. A guy did the single most bizarre rendition of it in the bar of an Indonesian hotel, and since then we’ve developed a little dance to remember the moment.
What song makes you cry?
Probably ‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley. Manly tears for Buckley.
What song reminds you of the first time you fell in love? (It’s up to you if you want this to be sweet, naughty, etc.)
Something like ‘Wake Up’ by Arcade Fire. Euphoric in a kind of adolescent way, but also fairly exhausting and a little bit ridiculous.
What song makes you think of being upset / angry? (Example: maybe you heard it when you were angry with someone and it’s still with you, and/or something that calms you down when you’re upset, etc.)
‘The Lark Ascending’ by Vaughan Williams. That and a cup of tea is very calming.
Which song (any song written in the last century) do you wish you’d written yourself?
‘Across 110th Street’, Bobby Womack. It just doesn’t make sense – I don’t understand how you could write something that good.
Who is your favourite writer? (This can be a songwriter or ANY kind of writer.)
Maybe Capote for books and Thom Yorke for music.
If you hadn’t become a singer/musician/songwriter/etc., what job do you think you’d be doing right now?
Probably trying to scrape together some kind of career in film.
If God said you were allowed to bring only one album with you to Heaven, which would it be and why? (Sorry, but double albums do not count.)
Neil Young, ‘After the Goldrush’. His voice might end up driving me insane, but wherever that record is feels like home.
Thank you Oscar for your help answering these questions. And thanks also to Adam for making this possible.
By
Mary Chang on Wednesday, 19th December 2012 at 1:00 pm
Lawrence ‘Trev’ Cole, Daniel Harvey and Rob ‘Paul Roberts’ White of Dog is Dead – who came in at #3 on this year’s 10 for 2013 poll – kindly answered our Quickfire Questions and gave us some surprising answers. Maybe there are more behind those alpacas than we originally thought…
What song is your earliest musical memory?
Trev: Listening to my Mum’s ‘Shades of Soul’ CD in the car when I was 5. Aretha Franklin, Otis Reading, Sam and Dave, etc.
What was your favourite song as a child?
Trev: I was big into ‘Break Stuff’ by Limp Bizkit for a short time.
What song makes you laugh?
Paul: Anything by Flight of The Conchords.
What song makes you cry?
Trev: Ennio Morricone – ‘C’era una Volta’.
What song reminds you of the first time you fell in love? (It’s up to you if you want this to be sweet, naughty, etc.)
Trev: Jimi Hendrix – ‘Little Wing’.
What song makes you think of being upset / angry? (Example: maybe you heard it when you were angry with someone and it’s still with you, and/or something that calms you down when you’re upset, etc.)
All: Gangnam Style.
Which song (any song written in the last century) do you wish you’d written yourself?
Harvey: Simon and Garfunkel – ‘Sound of Silence’.
Who is your favourite writer? (This can be a songwriter or ANY kind of writer.)
Trev: Martin McDonagh.
If you hadn’t become a singer/musician/songwriter/etc., what job do you think you’d be doing right now?
Trev: Spanish translator for Playboy Magazine. [Trev speaks Spanish, as he grew up in Chile.]
If God said you were allowed to bring only one album with you to Heaven, which would it be and why? (Sorry, but double albums do not count.)
Paul: It would have to be ‘Neon Bible’ by Arcade Fire, or ‘Becoming a Jackal’ by Villagers.
Many thanks to Trev, Harvey and Paul for helping us out and Harriet for sorting this q&a for us.
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