Culture Brats

Seven Questions In Heaven With Dune Rats

2017-02-15T10:28:00.001-05:00

Today, we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with the Dune Rats' Brett Jansch:

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
STONER POP

Who are your musical influences and idols?
BC MET FRED DURST ONCE, HE FIST BUMPED HIM IT WAS EPPPIC.
DANNY ASKED THE DALAI LAMA A QUESTION
I PUMPED GAS NEXT TO FRED AND TOODY COLE OF DEAD MOON AT A TRUCKSTOP NEAR VEGAS ON VALENTINES DAY ONCE, FUCKIN WEIRD AS. NICE PEOPLE.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
I GOT AN ICE CREAM MAKER FOR CHRISTMAS ONE YEAR AND HATED IT, ACTED LIKE A LITTLE JERK AND MY MUM TOOK IT BACK AND THEN INSTEAD I ORDERED ALL THIS WWF GEAR FROM A MAIL CATALOG.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
WE PLAYED AT A KARAOKE BAR AT A STADIUM IN CHINA AND THIS CHICK GOT ON THE MIC WHILE WE WERE PLAYING AND JUST STARTED SCREAMING INTO IT

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
A PALATICAL PORCELAIN BOWL, NO LINE. JUST EPIC SCROLLING IN THERE.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
PICKING MY NOSE, I GOT THIS NEW SICK LAYBACK GET RIGHT UP THERE STANCE.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
THE ENTIRE THING IS A DRUM COVER OF LIKE A STONE BY AUDIOSLAVE AND THEN JACK JOHNSTONE COMES OUT TO THE STAGE TO DMX WRITING HIM OFF AND EVERYONE VOMITS INTO THEIR SHIRTS. THEN THEY BUY EACH OTHERS' T-SHIRTS AND GO HOME.

More Dune Rats: Official | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

Seven Questions In Heaven With BANDITS

2016-01-11T11:31:00.003-05:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with BANDITS' LuLu Demitro!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
We play rock 'n' roll. We like to get heavy and use Baritone and distorted synth sounds. We like to get a dirty groove going on the drums so that you can dance to it. Just some heavy rock 'n' roll.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
We’ve all got tons of Idols and influences, but some that we share and that influence our music are Queens Of The Stone Age, Black Sabbath, The Kills, Mountain, Motorhead, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I think its safe to say Lemmy Kilmister is an idol to all of us. Songwriters like Paul McCartney and John Lennon and Hall & Oates influenced us pretty heavily when we were younger.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
The first album on vinyl I bought for myself was Dreamboat Annie by Heart. I still have it!

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
We played a show once in Chicago, at this Simpsons themed bar. We got there and it was in a real shady part of town. When we started loading in, the owner said it may be a light crowd because someone had just been shot recently around the corner. Then we loaded in all our gear to their disgusting kitchen, and while we were sitting back there in their kitchen there were dogs running around. Finally at 1 AM we crammed on to a tiny stage after some random teens played for their parents, and couldn't hear anything we were playing. It was a bizarre night. We played for a couple friends in town and three dogs.

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
First thing we look for when we get to town is a good place to eat. We're all about doing research and asking locals for the best cheap food joints.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
My favorite guilty pleasure lately has been listening to the Commodores on vinyl every night

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
I'd want Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Queens Of The Stone Age, Tame Impala, Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, and the Alabama Shakes. And we'd all jam on The Kinks song "Lola."

More BANDITS: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Seven Questions In Heaven With Captiva

2015-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Captiva:

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
You can call it beach rock, some may call it heavy metal. Depends on your taste.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Our music is inspired by so many different bands/artists. Lately, we've been listening to a lot of Snowmine, Fleet Foxes, Mac DeMarco, Jack & Eliza, and My Morning Jacket.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Hmm... Probably KISS's self-titled album on vinyl. It's hard to say because we're all growed up, but it was definitely a KISS record. That is certain.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
We played a pre-SXSW gig in Houston last March at a place called Super Happy Fun Land. The name should tell the story. It was fucked up.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
You're not a narc, are you? We're gonna take the safe route and say Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits from Whataburger. Try one of those with their Jalapeno Ranch Sauce, and say hello diabetes, because they're addictive.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
"Stacy's Mom." Why? Cuz we're what's going on.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
You have no idea how many times we ask each other this question. It would be a dream come true to perform "Hey Jude" with The Beatles, Oasis, The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, and The Band.

More Captiva: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Seven Questions In Heaven With The Aquadolls

2015-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with The Aquadolls' singer Melissa Brooks!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Some songs are loud, brash, and wild, and others are more on the mellow side. It's music that you would want to put on when you're happy, angry, or feeling super badass.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
I adore Gwen Stefani and have always looked up to her since I became obsessed with No Doubt when I was a kid. My first concert was Gwen at the Anaheim Pond and her energy and voice totally changed my life. I also love Courtney Love, Madonna, Aaliyah, and Lolawolf.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Oops!... I Did It Again by Britney Spears.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
We've played some interesting gigs over the course of three years! One of the strangest but most amazing was our residency at The Goodland Hotel in Santa Barbara this last summer. We got to play poolside while fans danced around, and each time when the set was over, everyone would jump in the pool together! It was a mix of mostly fans and confused but entertained hotel guests. It was pretty awesome.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
The 1975! But no shame. They are so good.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Aquaberry. It would be blue and have blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and cookie dough bits mixed in. Man, this interview is making me hungry! (haha)

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Grimes, The Runaways, The Doors, Elvis Presley, and Lana Del Rey will all play their own sets, and then the grand finale will be during Elvis Presley's set when everyone gets together on stage and sing an epic version of "Jailhouse Rock," complete with confetti cannons filled with cash, a light show, and fireworks.

More Aquadolls: Facebook | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Twitter

Seven Questions In Heaven With RKDN

2015-12-08T09:45:00.001-05:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven With RKDN's Matt Orr!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Alt pop right in the middle of Imagine Dragons and Walk The Moon.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Imagine Dragons are a really big influence on us sonically and personally. We come from the same roots and we remember seeing them at a local club called Velour that they'd play every few months (also where we got our start). They were the nicest, most energetic, genuine people on the planet. Seeing them grow from pulling 150 people at Velour to winning Grammys has influenced us in more ways than we can put into this interview. Sonically speaking we really like all your indie pop bands like the Killers and Coldplay. I'm on a really big Tame Impala kick right now.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Coldplay's Parachutes.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
We played this show up on Ogden, UT (about an hour north of SLC) where we finished our set, everyone left and everything went great, then the club owner (who was a bit hammered) came up to us and said "I loved that so much, I'll pay you an extra $200 to play your set again." So we did, to just him and like 3 other people. That was super weird. Pretty fun at the same time.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Amateur go kart racing. Clark (keys) and I take it way too seriously. We're pretty good though! We love how competitive it gets. We've seen some fist fights at the local track.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Pralines & Dick because we love Wayne's World. Shout out to anyone who gets that quote. Just kidding. Something with a stupid sexual pun like Karamel Sutra. Puns make dessert taste better because they put a smile on your face.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
This is a tough one. These five in this order:
1.) Coldplay
2.) Michael Jackson
3.) Adele
4.) Led Zeppelin
5.) The Beatles
And then we'd all jam "All You Need Is Love" to close it out.

More RKDN: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud

Seven Questions In Heaven With Shapes On Tape

2015-09-30T16:01:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Shapes On Tape's Jason Matuskiewicz and Adam Kruckenberg!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Jason: We play dance-rock pocket symphonies.

Adam: I'll buy that.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Jason: Not U2. Bowie. The Beatles. The Clash. New Order. Bruce Springsteen. Arcade Fire. The Cure. The Replacements. Talking Heads. In about that order.

Adam: Totally, also Art of Noise, Roxy Music, Hall and Oates, Neu!, Public Image LTD., Elastica, The Rentals, and Max Martin.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Jason: OK Computer, Radiohead. Turned out to be pretty good.

Adam: MCMXC a.D., Enigma. On tape.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Jason: The one where we started to not suck.

Adam: I used to be in this Glam/Drag band and one time we played an outdoor show on campus at the University of Kansas and Fred Phelps decided to protest us. We rocked that show so hard that I caught one of the ladies holding a "God Hates Fags" sign dancing along.

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
Jason: Friends. Or a bar. Or friends at a bar.

Adam: Or a friend's bar.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Jason: Pleasure shouldn't make you feel guilty. But of course it does. I've been consuming an abnormal amount of Oreo cookies lately. My milk dunking technique is reaching near-expert levels.

Adam: McDonald's breakfast burritos.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Jason: Righteous Dispatches from the Land of No Bummers, because it's easy to remember and that's important in marketing.

Adam: Kruckenberry.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Jason: "Just Like Heaven," because it is probably the greatest song ever.

Adam: What about the musicians dude? New Order, Klaus Nomi, Tears for Fears, Paul Simon and Bjork doing a collaboration, and Queen.

More Shapes On Tape: Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram

Seven Questions In Heaven With Look Out Love

2015-09-22T11:33:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Look Out Love's Jordan Benker.

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Hi! I'm Jordan Benker and I make music under the name Look Out Love. I like to define my music as "hella rad indie pop." I'd say my music has a little something for everyone to take away from it, even if the feeling is just being happy or wanting to dance. My music has its own sound but if I were to recommend my music to others, it would be towards listeners of The 1975, Vampire Weekend, and Two Door Cinema Club.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
My biggest musical influences are The Beatles, hands down. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't even be writing music if it weren't for John Lennon's influence. It's also safe to say that you can hear many "Beatle-y" elements in my music. Nirvana has also made a pretty deep impact on me. As far as modern artists go, I'm sort of all over the map with influences, but of course the indie bands such as The 1975 and twenty one pilots inspire me the most.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Well I remember when I was 3 or 4 years old, my dad gave me 2 CDs: Van Halen's Best of Vol. 1 and Aerosmith's Big Ones. I fell in love with both instantly and it was just a musical domino effect after that. I can't seem to remember what the first CD I bought myself was... part of me wants to say it was either Van Halen's first album or Led Zeppelin 4.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
The strangest gig I've ever played was back in high school, I was in a wannabe '80s rock band and we somehow booked this show at a comedy club. Let's just say it was just plain awkward... We were so out of place, but we still played a good show. Then we left and never returned haha.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
I don't really consider myself to have guilty pleasures. Especially with music, if there's something I enjoy listening to that's a bit out of my realm, so be it, nothing to be embarrassed about. For example, I really like Drake, totally out of the box, but his "Nothing Was The Same" record is one of my favorites. I'm also really into heavy music. Nothing gets me pumped like some Slipknot or Memphis May Fire.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
If I had an ice cream flavor named after me, it would have to be vanilla ice cream with crushed up M&M's in it. The name would have to be "The Oh Boy."

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
For my dream festival line-up, I'd play with The Beatles (of course) circa 1969, 1987 Guns N' Roses, 1991 Nirvana, The Eagles circa 1976, and Van Halen circa 1984. The last jam song would definitely be "The End" by The Beatles.

More Look Out Love: Official | Facebook | Twitter

Seven Questions In Heaven With Hope Vista

2015-09-17T09:23:00.001-04:00

On September 25th, you'll be able to purchase "Dominance," the first single off Hope Vista's upcoming EP. In the meantime, give a listen to "Wild Girl" while you check out our Seven Questions In Heaven with Hope Vista!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
It's a very rock-oriented alternative sound with some power pop and little grunge influences. I've said that if you take '70s Joan Jett, modern day Cody Carson, 2004 Avril Lavigne, '90s Courtney Love, and a splash of Patty Walters, that's the sound!

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Joan Jett is a massive idol of mine, same with Avril Lavigne. The '70s female rock n' roll artists, like Pat Benatar and Heart, they've influenced me a lot when it comes to having a gritty and honest sound. The Rolling Stones are a big one, and so are the Backstreet Boys. Mainly because of their longevity, they just don't stop and I love that determination. Modern day influences are Linkin Park, Set It Off, I've been big on PVRIS lately. Those three bands all have a strong and unique twist to their sounds; I can really admire a band who strives to create something signature that sets them apart.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
I remember the first CD I ever got was Britney Spears's ...Baby One More Time, but that was my parents' money. I'm not sure what my first one with my own money was! When I was young I used to go to this bomb record store off the Princeton University campus and give myself a $20 limit, but CD's and vinyls were between $1-$4, so I could walk out with 20 new records every time.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Strangest was probably this time I opened for Aaron Carter in 2013 in Jersey. He sang all of his old songs and he's much older now, so to hear him singing about breaking his parents' lamp was so awesome, I loved it. There were also around 800 people at that show and I had a manager out to watch my set, and I forgot to plug my guitar in, which was just ridiculous on my end. I could see my dad sweating out his nerves in the back. That night was just a string of strange events. But to this day it's my favorite show I've ever played!

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Current is Parks and Recreation! I was just in Atlanta and watched an obscene amount of episodes every night. It was Parks and Rec, wine, and ice cream. It's such a ridiculously funny show, you feel so good when you watch it because you're constantly laughing. I wish I would've watched it when it was still on TV, but now I can binge watch it on Netflix :)

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
THE HURRICANE. My nickname is Hurricane Hope and my fanbase is called the "Hurricanes," so it'd be tying everything together! I'd have them put cookie dough, Oreos, and potato chips in it. Gah. Just a mess of snacks in one ice cream.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
The Runaways, Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne, The Stones, and of course the Backstreet Boys! 5 of my all-time favorite and most influential artists. Final song would honestly be my favorite song EVER. "Shape Of My Heart" by the Backstreet Boys. I have a really strong rock background, but that song just gets me every time. The key change, Nick's bridge. One of my lifelong dreams since 2001 has been to sing that song with them. And then I'd cry afterwards.

More Hope Vista: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Seven Questions In Heaven With Mabel

2015-09-10T17:07:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Mabel!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
'50s and '60s inspired dirty pop rock.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Bruce Springsteen, The Strokes, Foxboro Hot Tubs, AC/DC, Roy Orbison, The Turtles.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Mike: Smash Mouth, Astro Lounge
Romeo: Nirvana, In Utero
Alvin: Linkin Park, Hybrid Theory
Jeff: Metallica, Hero Of The Day

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Back in the day we had a bass player who was underage so we had to run a cable off the stage, through the door out the front so he could play with us from the street!

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
Food! Just something delicious and tasty. Preferably with bacon.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Mixed netball, End Of The Road by Boyz II Men.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, and Led Zeppelin (with John Bonham). "Evie" by Stevie Wright.

More Mabel: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud

Seven Questions In Heaven With Skittish

2015-08-18T12:42:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Skittish's singer/songwriter/bandleader Jeff Noller!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Folk-rock, with thorns. Arcade Fire indie sensibilities with a literary writing style and a flair for the dramatic.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Beatles, Radiohead, Bright Eyes, Trent Reznor, Paul Simon.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
I think it was a Nirvana bootleg CD from Germany. Live performances and unreleased stuff. It was in a dingy little independant record shop in a strip mall. There's no replacing the feeling, smell, and sounds in those kinds of places. The iTunes store doesn't have quite the same vibe.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
A street fair in San Diego. I remember looking out from behind the microphone at one point and seeing a giraffe walk by. I've played plenty of venues, but rarely do you see a giraffe while playing.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
The TV show Rick And Morty. Its great, but hours of watching a cartoon instead of doing something productive brings the guilt.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
SexyLexy. For when you want to go out and try to meet that special someone, but your social anxiety won't allow it. Its mostly made of whiskey and Lexapro, with a few Altoids sprinkled in for fresh breath.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Johnny Cash, The Doors, The Smiths, Radiohead, and The Beatles. After Jim Morrison passes out backstage in a drunken stupor and Morrissey storms off in a huff about some trumped-up travesty, the rest of us would gather on stage to sing "All You Need Is Love" with John Lennon in the middle.

More Skittish: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp

Seven Questions In Heaven With SHEL

2015-08-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

SHEL are sisters Sarah, Hannah, Eva, and Liza Holbrook. They were nice enough to spend Seven Questions In Heaven with us!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Eva: Our music is a journey, an exploration of moving sounds, so you hear classical and cinematic influences mixed with beatboxing, fiddle solos, raging drums, and thrashing mandolin. Since we all sing, four-part harmony is a big part of our sound as well.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
SHEL: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Harry Nilsson, Bach, Chopin, Florence and the Machine, The Eurythmics, The Who, Imogene Heap, The Police.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Eva: The Police, Greatest Hits.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Sarah: Our very first gig as young kids was a performance on vacuum cleaner pipes. Nothing's topped that for strange:) But the most nerve wracking is to play one of your songs while the bride walks down the aisle. You only get one shot. Talk about pressure!

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
Liza: A good spot for fresh fish tacos and a good drink.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Liza: "Don't Tell Em" by Jeremih. Also Oreos.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Hannah: This actually happened! An ice cream shop created a flavor to match our song "The Latest and Greatest Blueberry Rubber Band." It was blueberry flavored with blueberry licorice. I didn't even get to taste it because it sold out so fast! If we did it again, I'd pick some sort of vanilla/strawberry cheesecake/cotton candy flavor to match our song, "The Man Who Was The Circus."

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Hannah: Best question EVER! The Beatles, Sting, Ennio Morricone conducting the Boston Pops, Imogen Heap with her awesome vocalizing keytar, and John Mayer. And we'd jam out on Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks."

More SHEL: Official | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Seven Questions In Heaven With The Karma Killers

2015-08-06T15:53:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with The Karma Killers' Micky James!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
We consider our music as 'Night/Pop.' We blended a melting pot of our influences and infused them together to make what we feel comes across as 'Night/Pop' music.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Our musical influences are very broad as a band. As for me, I am very influenced by The Beatles, David Bowie, Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, The Strokes... the list is endless.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
The first album I ever bought was when I was around 6 or 7 and it was the self titled Third Eye Blind record. Still until this day one of the most influential albums of my generation. I listen to that record as much as I can.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
The strangest gig I ever played was back in 2012 with The Karma Killers. It took place at some bake shop in Gillette, NJ. It was bizarre. It's hard to explain.

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
Clothing stores. Always.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Vanilla. Cause it's fucking awesome.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Queen, INXS, Nirvana, The Doors, and The Rolling Stones. We would close the show out with Bohemian Rhapsody. It would be absolutely magical.

More Karma Killers: Official | Facebook | Twitter

Seven Questions In Heaven With Jasmine Thompson

2015-07-08T14:56:00.002-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Jasmine Thompson!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
You will find lots of stripped back acoustic covers of mine on YouTube. I am also featured on a few more upbeat dance songs. My single "Adore" and the upcoming EP is somewhere in between the two styles.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
I love Florence And The Machine. Her voice is so emotional and her songs are amazing. I also love watching Pink performing live.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
The Ting Tings' We Started Nothing.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
There was one gig in London where I was the only the one in the audience watching the band play before me and then they were the only ones in the audience watching me when I sang. I still had fun, but it was a bit awkward.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Sleeping in late and watching Netflix!

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
It would have to be something other than Jasmine because I don't think actual Jasmine flowers would taste nice. Maybe they would call it TantrumJas like my YouTube channel, but I don't know what that would taste like either!

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Florence And The Machine, James Bay, Rudimental, Ella Eyre, and Pink. We would sing "Dog Days" by Florence And The Machine.

More Jasmine Thompson: Official | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

Seven Questions In Heaven With Shannen Nicole

2015-06-22T11:47:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Shannen Nicole!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
My music is more than a compilation of sound, rather, an expression of emotion. Each instrument, lyric, and tone stands for the individuals voice I've written from. I hope my music can transcend the realm of time and serve as a refuge.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
I chose not to be influenced by the music I listen to, rather the experiences around me. But, a few musicians whose live concerts have elicited a sense of magic into the room are: Vance Joy, Ed Sheeran, Of Monsters and Men, Coldplay, and Banks.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
I bought a John Mayer vinyl of Continuum, one of my favorite albums.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Freshman year, I was at the Junior Olympics for ski racing in Montana. It was the banquet, so about 1000+ in a huge room eating dinner. There was a stage with a jazz band playing, as I was eating, a few of my friends went up and asked the Jazz band if I could perform. They were hesitant but said yes. So a few of us ran back to the hotel room, grabbed my guitar (I bring my guitar, Stella Blue, everywhere with me) and before I knew it I was on stage in front of my competitors, friends, and coaches. I sang "Captive." It was pretty new to me because it had just been created. It was wonderful. Oh how I love spontaneity.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Shopping, eating way too much Chantelle cake. I started watching the series Lost last night and the next day am already on episode 17.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
That's tough. Well first, the flavor would be peanut butter, chocolate, and Oreo. But the Oreos and peanut butter wouldn't be fully blended because it's best that way. I took credit for creating this flavor, that is till I was at an ice cream shop a few miles North and found it. But the name would be "Summer Daydream," yeah a little cheesy. But that's my experience with it. Those flavors are a taste of summer, they take me back to a day of ease when I sat on a dock engulfing them.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
John Mayer, Arctic Monkeys, J. Cole featuring. Notorious BIG, Lana Del Rey, and Grateful Dead. We'd perform "Yellow," Coldplay. This was the first song at a live show that caused me to grasp the infinite. It makes me smile. And I would love to reinvent it with these artists. That would be cool.

More Shannen Nicole: Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Seven Questions In Heaven With Dead Stars

2015-06-03T11:26:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven With Dead Stars' Jeff Moore:

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Fuzzed out pop songs with heavy drums, big muffs, and largemouth bass.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Dinosaur Jr., Nirvana, and Weezer. If you put the members of each of those bands into a human-sized blender and pureed all 10 of them, then poured the contents into a glass over ice, then drank it down, that's what Dead Stars would taste like.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Billy Joel, "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me." That song rules. I bought the 7" at this old lady's garage sale down the street from my parents' house as a little kid. The vocal double tracking is super cool. Go listen to it.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Once we had a gig where the booker only gave us an address on a piece of paper. We show up at this huge mansion and everyone is wearing these weird masks and performing creepy rituals. We start playing and at one point someone gives me some milk. I drink it and start hallucinating that I'm traveling through space time and I end up in a Victorian style bedroom where I proceed to watch myself grow old and die and then I'm reincarnated as the caretaker of an old hotel who's slowly going insane. Then I wake up and it's all a dream and I'm actually late to the real gig which wasn't that strange at all but was really fun.

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
A clean, quality, single person bathroom.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
They would call it "Dr. Peabody's Chocolate Caramel Marshmallow Secret Surprise (now with extra sprinkles!)." Because they would have to.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Headliners would be the supergroup Satans Fingernails whose members include:

Jimi Hendrix: Lead Guitar/Vox
Frank Zappa: Lead Guitar/Vox
Brian Jones: Rythm Guitar
John Entwistle: Bass Guitar
John Bonham: Drums

The last song of their set, Dead Stars would be invited onstage to sing three-part harmony in the style of Peter, Paul and Mary and we'd do a psychedelic stoner rock version of "Puff The Magic Dragon."

More Dead Stars: Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Bandcamp

Seven Questions In Heaven With Heyrocco

2015-05-28T09:18:00.000-04:00

Heyrocco will release their debut album, Teenage Movie Soundtrack, on June 2nd (stream here), but today they're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with us!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Our tunes sound like a perfect combination of dad rock meets mom rock. Sometimes sad and sweet for the ladies or loud and pissed for the bros. Sound guys usually like us, if that means anything. Which we think does. For they are spies.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
We like a lot of classic rock bands like Sabbath, Led Zep, David Bowie, as well as '90s cali shit like Sublime, Fecal Matter, and Gin Blossoms. We obviously like of a lot of records, mostly consisting of loud guitars.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Chris Cool: Green Day, American Idiot
Tanner Cooper: Jimi Hendrix, Smash Hits
Nathan Merli: Shrek soundtrack

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Maybe on the back porch of the windjammer wearing bike helmets or in this cold weird mexican cellar in St. Louis on acid. Definitely the latter, we played with our trash pop dawgs Sun Club from Baltimore and there was literally one girl there. She let us all stay on the floor of her apartment while her roommate blared metal for 12 straight hours. It was sick.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Eating two of the same things in these towns we visit. For example, today we're one weinerschnitzel deep in Hamburg but as soon as I finish these questions we're going to go have another. Then probably lay in a park.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Gotta give this one to my man "Ice Cool" because he wears the most ice and is by far the sweetest. Although hopefully the name doesn't imply the ice cream sucks and sat in the back of a freezer for a month.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix playing "Dazed And Confused" into "Manic Depression" into "Space Truckin'" somehow going BACK into "Dazed And Confused."

More Heyrocco: Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter

Seven Questions In Heaven With Penelope Austin

2015-05-21T07:36:00.000-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Penelope Austin!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Lyrically it's honest. There is highs and lows throughout my album which I guess is a true reflection of my life. This is evident not only in words used but the way in which it has been produced. Delicate & extreme. This question in particular has always been a very difficult one to answer as there is a mix of genres that influence my album. But in a nutshell - it's sexy, suggestive, melancholy in moments and real.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
I have a massive soft spot for music from the '90s and for the legends even previous to this era. I suppose these beats and themes influence my music today with a modern twist. I dig power ballads although I know this sort of statement isn't deemed cool in this day and age! I love Stevie Nicks. Carol King. Janis Joplin. Amazing. Bruce Springsteen. Elvis Presley. Bob Seger. Elton John. Stop it. I also admire artists such as Lana and Florence but i'm teetering on dangerous territory here as they are not too dissimilar to me!

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
If i'm being honest here, the first song I ever bought with my own money was Brandy's single "Have You Ever" from The Sanity store in the Southern Highlands. However prior to this before I was introduced to pocket money, I pleaded with my mum to purchase for me two albums in a life or death manner. Boys II Men and UB40. Kind of surprising I didn't go into R&B.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Not so much a gig but the weirdest/hardest crowd I played in front of was 100 kids at a Primary School. They RIPPED. ME. TO. SHREDS. It really made me question myself haha.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Dark chocolate in bed. After I've brushed my teeth. Its a thrill.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Coconut Swirl. Hard to crack, but once inside the exterior its all kinds of sweet & sentimental. Swirl because I like to think I can hula hoop. I can also promise unlike the coconut, I do NOT have a beard.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Freddie Mercury. Elton John. Meatloaf. Stevie Nicks & Annie Lennox. No divas in this bunch although Elton is known to sometimes have a doozie. Fuck the stage would be fun. Closing song... It would have to be a medley. Or if Elton chucked a tanty I'd suggest "Across The Universe" by the Beatles for shits & giggles.

More Penelope Austin: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Seven Questions In Heaven With Gay Paris

2015-05-20T07:35:00.000-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Gay Paris singer Luke Monks!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Gay Paris sounds like a terrible mismatch of ideas, Satanic punk-rock, stoner-soul and huge metal riffs. The important thing to remember is that they are all heavy songs.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Personally, I want to be Aretha Franklin, but thanks to current ontological difficulties, this will not be possible. I love storytellers and wordsmiths – Nick Cave, John Darnielle, Colin Meloy, and Aesop Rock. Lachlan probably would worship at the Church of Fugazi whilst Dean performed hecatombs at the grave of Dimebag. Simmo grew up listening to pop-punk, so let’s just leave that alone.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Oh man. Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle. I bought it at a pawn shop and it was already scratched up pretty bad. Track 16 ("Gz and Hustlas") would always skip and that was my favourite song at the time.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Rock N Roll Markets at University of Sydney. We're not really a family friendly kind of act, but seeing little kids shaking out with their parents instead of pointing and crying when the bad man said those things that are best left unsaid – that gave me hope for the future.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
We don't really believe in guilt. If you are doing it because you want to do it, then doesn't Socrates say that this must be a good thing? I'm not going to argue with such a great mind as that.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Probably call it a SundaySurprise, because when you open the tub, you a presented with the blood of Christ instead of ice cream.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
This is tough due to our rampant narcissism, but I'll give it a shot (I'm only avoiding rappers because I can't stand rap-rock, otherwise it would basically be Wu-Tang and Ace Rock). Death (the proto-punk one, not the metal one) Clairy Brown & The Bangin' Rackettes, Pantera (only because Dean would sulk if given the chance of necromancy, we didn't use it to resurrect Dimebag), Queen, and The Jesus Lizard and for a final encore, we all sing Nick Cave's "Death Is Not The End."

More Gay Paris: Official | Facebook

Seven Questions In Heaven With Redlands

2015-05-19T07:47:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Redlands singer Ben Lohle:

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Well, we're an american indie pop rock band from Denver, CO and we touch on a handful of styles.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
For me personally, I'm very fond of singer-songwriters because it's such raw talent and not like what you see nowadays where these kids hide behind a computer and drag stuff around. Eventually, I see myself taking my music more in that direction because that's my true passion, but I'd say I'm heavily influenced by artists like Tom Petty and Ryan Adams.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Honestly, I think it was like a Backstreet Boys album. Millennium, I believe haha.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
So we had a show cancel on us when we were on tour in Florida a few years back and we wanted to play a show so we all got on the phone and started calling all the bars and venues in the area. Well, we ended up playing this one place, I forget the name, but it was a gay bar and little did we know, but it was known to be the "gayest" bar in Florida haha. Anyways, that was a weird show, but I think we all milked it for what it was worth. We all drank for free and partied pretty well that night and surprisingly they loved our show, or us haha we couldn't tell, but we didn't care.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Currently, I don't know. I feel like I've cut everything out of my life that I should feel guilty about partaking in, but I like Starbucks now and then.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Hmm they'd probably call it Creepy T-Rex because when we go out and get crazy I like to get up on the stage or a table and do my best T-Rex impression haha.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Tom Petty, The Maine, Augustana, Ryan Adams, Parachute. I think we’d all HAVE to cover "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys because that would be too great hahaha.

More Redlands: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube

Seven Questions In Heaven With Bryan McPherson

2015-05-18T12:01:00.002-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Bryan McPherson, who will be releasing his third album, Wedgewood, on June 10th through O.F.D. Records.

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Folk music. Music of the people.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
I grew up on Bob Dylan, Guns N Roses, Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Michael Jackson, '90s punk bands like Rancid, NOFX, Avail and lately I have been listening to Bill Faye, Leonard Chen, Townes Van Zandt, Bright Eyes, Tom Petty, Against Me!, Billy Bragg, and Bruce Springsteen.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
I bought GNR's Appetite For Destruction LP.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
I have played so many strange gigs. I just played in a cave in Germany. It was pretty rad.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Haribo candy.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Del Fuego. Because it would be hot.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Prince, Bob Dylan, Sex Pistols, Nirvana and Janis Joplin singing "Purple Rain."

More Bryan McPherson: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Pre-order Wedgewood

Seven Questions In Heaven With Kingswood

2015-05-07T10:37:00.002-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Kingswood singer Fergus Linacre:

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
We are a rock band but with quite a diverse sound. Sometimes harder QOTSA vibes, then more bluesy like Zeppelin, at times soulful, sweet or sad. Well that's what someone said once anyway. In truth like any artist you just need to listen to the music.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Personally, I grew up listening to whatever my brothers listened to. Queen, Aerosmith, Extreme, all big singers so I guess that's who I learnt to sing from. We got to meet Steven Tyler when we opened for Aerosmith in Australia which was a bit of a thrill. Today's influence comes from anywhere of any genre as long as it's good. I've been loving Sia's latest record.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Green Day's Dookie. I used to go to the music department of our school and learn how to play all the riffs on guitar.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
In 2012, we did a tour of the army bases in Afghanistan, TK, Kabul, Kandahar and Dubai. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. I don't know if "weirdest" is the right word but the shows were defiantly the most different from festivals or club shows we have ever done.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Saltwater Taffy's. Such a good texture.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Ferga'lick'us, cos it makes the girls go loco.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Neil Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Plant. And we would play "Somewhere Over The rainbow."

More Kingswood: Official | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud

Seven Questions In Heaven With The Ruminaters

2015-05-06T12:15:00.000-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with The Ruminaters' drummer Teddy!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
We recently were told in a review that we sound like "London Calling era Clash fused with The Strokes." That works for us.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
John, Paul, George and Ringo. Julian Casablancas, David Gilmour. As far as influences go, we have been listening to a bunch of really cool stuff lately like Gap Dream, Mac Demarco, Mr Elevator & The Brain Hotel.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Honestly couldn’t tell you with any certainty but probably Jack Johnson's Brushfire Fairytales. Or Jamiroquai?

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Once we played a show in an old fashioned hotel in Potts Point Sydney that was based on Hotel Chelsea in New York. We played in the lobby on top of a massive rotating record player and we all got our own engraved hip flask. We spent the night roaming the hotel which was lined wall to wall in weird and wonderful things.

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
Surf, pool table, and Buck Hunter.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Musically? I’m now listening to Jamiroquai because you reminded me.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Who do you choose?
Beatles, Strokes, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, and The Kinks.

More Ruminaters: Tumblr | Facebook | Bandcamp | Soundcloud

Seven Questions In Heaven With God Damn

2015-04-28T14:56:00.000-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Ash from God Damn!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
NME once described us as a mix between The Pixies, Melvins and Bleach- era Nirvana. I'm quite happy with that.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
There's a whole lot of influences, I need to try and not just talk about drummers, though. Musically I guess anyone from John Lennon, to Kurt Cobain, to Billy Joel, they all wrote amazing music in their own unique style. They all influenced my music taste today. Drums-wise, I would say John Bonham, Dave Grohl and Travis Barker, I could list a page full of people, but I'm not going to bore you.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Unashamedly, The Marshall Mathers LP. I loved it, I still have it around somewhere. I remember having to send my granddad Bob in to buy it for me as I was under age, obviously I didn't tell him about the "explicit content." Can you imagine how funny it would be to see an old man buying an Eminem album?

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
We have played our fair share of house parties in our time, and we love them. We haven't played one for a while but the last one we did ended with people crowd surfing in the living room.

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
Probably a rest room after a long journey, only joking. I have an obsession with finding sports stadiums, especially soccer.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Black Country Tub Thumper. The area we are from in the UK is known as the Black Country due to its industrial past, and tub thumper is another name for a drummer.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
I'm going to choose 5 bands who I would want on the bill. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queens Of The Stone Age, Nirvana and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Final jam, that's a hard one, I would say "Moby Dick," just so I could see the Bonzo drum solo.

More God Damn: Official | Facebook | Twitter

Seven Questions In Heaven With Alexa Melo

2015-04-23T08:54:00.001-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Alexa Melo!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
That's always tough. I can describe my music as rock or indie but everybody seems to get a different idea as to what that means these days. I guess I can safely say rock/indie with a lot of experimenting. I listen to so many genres it's hard to decipher what influences what.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Thom Yorke and Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Bjork, Jack White, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Ani Difranco, Modest Mouse, Jeff Buckley, Prince, Queen, Neil Young and the list goes on and on.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Elephunk by The Black Eyed Peas. I know! It's not really fitting considering all the influences I stated above, BUT that album is a pop-tastic masterpiece that satisfied my 9 year-old music taste.

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
JUST LAST WEEKEND! It was terrible. I had a gig in Joshua Tree at a music festival where I was promised an audience of 150 people. Even though the show was four hours away and in the middle of nowhere, I figured it'd be a good opportunity to play our first music festival and get in front of a new audience outside of LA. Long story short, just about everything went wrong. There were maybe only 20 people at the stage, my guitar stopped working mid set, I lost my voice, some of my band mates were tripping out, and the sound was terrible! After the show my drummer bashed his bald head into a Joshua tree and had a chunk of wood stuck in his head for days. The rental car got stuck in the desert sand and had to get towed out and in the process of doing that, the bumper got dented! After all that shit, we ended up having a really great time which may be the strangest part of all.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Musically? Man, I don't know. I'm currently listening to 3 Bjork albums a day which I'm almost embarrassed by how psychotic that is! Besides music? I plead the 5th.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
If they named anything after me, it'd be named Alexa Melo. I'm stumped on any catchy, clever ice cream puns.

Final question: You're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Radiohead, Bjork, Bowie, Pink Floyd, and the Beatles and we would all sing "Bohemian Rhapsody" because Queen was unavailable to join us.

More Alexa Melo: Official | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Seven Questions In Heaven With Chick Quest

2015-04-22T10:37:00.003-04:00

Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with ~~Magenta~~ Chick Quest!

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Quirky danceable post-punk with chord progressions and a trumpet from '60s spaghetti western films.

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Magdalena: Jeff Buckley, Pulp, Suede, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Echo & The Bunnymen, Best Coast, Mac DeMarco, Madonna, Kanye West and Shostakovich.

Ryan: Talking Heads, The Doors, Flaming Lips, Massive Attack, Radiohead, Violent Femmes, The Clash, Man Man, and a myriad of Athens GA bands like Elf Power, Now It’s Overhead, Count Kellam, Maserati, B-52's, REM, Pylon, etc etc etc.

Iris: Any band that can be associated with magenta.

What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Magdalena: Beatles Greatest Hits.

Ryan: Technotronic's Pump Up The Jam cassette circa 1990 from Tape World in the mall. At the age of 9, my very own mother nearly vetoed my purchase based on the "risque" woman on the cover.

Iris: Queen's Greatest Hits II (the blue one, not the magenta one, sadly) on CD some time in the middle of the 90ies. I still have it - you can tell that it was one of the first CDs I ever bought because it has a magenta sticker with my name and address and a picture of a cat on it. ;)

What was the strangest gig you've ever played?
Magdalena: A scout's festival. We were there way too early because we were told a wrong soundcheck time so we joined the highland games and even won second price.

Ryan: The so-called Turducken House in Greenville, North Carolina. Perhaps the dirtiest place I have ever stepped foot into, and certainly the dirtiest place I have ever slept. They had house shows for bands all the time (there weren't many other places to play there), so there were like 6 bands playing all night. The gas station around the corner had an ATM that would give only 20 dollar bills back, even if you requested only 10 dollars in the options, so naturally a line of kids from the house started to form and continually withdraw 10 dollars at a time until this machine was robbed of what had to be thousands of dollars. The machine was right next to the door, so it was clearly visible to the clerk, but he never seemed to catch on to the suspicious overdose of kids who suddenly had to withdraw lots of cash at 2 in the morning.

Iris: The Magenta Theatre, Hopatcong, New Jersey.

What's the first thing you look for when you hit a new town?
Magdalena: Local museums.

Ryan: What the chances of finding a proper Mexican restaurant in Europe are. So far, pretty slim :(

Iris: My grandmother's ashes.

What is your current favorite guilty pleasure?
Magdalena: Magenta.

Ryan: Covering Iris's drum set in mayonnaise.

Iris: Austria finally got access to Netflix a few months ago and I've been watching a lot of documentaries on all kinds of weird topics on there.

If they named an ice cream flavor after you, what would be the name and why?
Magdalena: Snowdrop: pistachios with rose water and white chocolate. Mhhhh. It’s just a dream come true.

Ryan: Magenta: The Ice Cream Flavor.

Iris: Lord of Meringues because ice cream mixed with meringues is one of the best things ever and I like a good play on words.

Final question: You're the opening act at the Magenta Music Festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
T. Rex, Eddie Cochran, The Minutemen, Richie Powell, and Falco and they all play "Airbag" by Radiohead.

More Chick Quest: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | YouTube