Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to show us photos of their pets. Get to know intimate details about your new favorite artist or band before they hit the Big Time and become too famous for us to interview for real.
Header by Rory Midhani
Playboy School
Los Angeles, CA
Playboy School is an electronic rock duo comprised of Liani Moore, a classically trained multi-instrumentalist, and Mackenzie Knoester, drummer / utility man. Their music is self-described, aptly, as “heartfelt in content and ass-moving in form.” You’re really gonna dig it.
Playboy School’s Almost Famous tribute is Liani.
How would you describe your music?
Electronic dance rock with a nerdy music major orchestration vibe. Designed to make you question your sexuality. In a good way!
What instrument/s do you play?
I consider myself a violinist. I’ve been playing since I was eight, and studied in college, but was a pianist first. I picked up bass when I was 13, because my grandmother was a professional bass player and taught me the 12 bar blues. But my narcissistic teenage self couldn’t stand having anything less than the spotlight, so I learned to play guitar and sing. It worked!
Which song would you most like Autostraddle readers to hear?
Eek! We have to pick one?! “Chasing Rainbows” then.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/48974261″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
What were the first and last records you bought?
The first record I bought was Nirvana‘s MTV Unplugged album. The last full record I bought was Radiohead‘s Kid A.
What is your ‘guilty pleasure’ music?
Indigo Girls, in the car, on the way to the beach. I’m gay–so sue me!
What was the last song you wrote about?
The last song I wrote was about being with someone who makes you better.
How do you feel about dubstep?
Hmmmm…. on drugs, or off?
What is the best and worst thing about touring?
The best thing about touring is playing night after night. Something about the rote of playing music everyday, even when you’re exhausted or your voice is gone, feels really good. The worst thing is the secret shame you feel for wearing the same outfit on stage two nights in a row. You can only put so many ensembles together when you’re living out of a duffle bag.
Describe the environment that you write your songs in.
I’ll usually write after I get home from the bar. I’ve had to learn how to make myself write when all I want to do is eat a medium fry and pass out, because that’s when my juices (so to speak) flow.
What was the worst job you’ve ever held so that you could pursue your music career?
Peach picker.
Playboy School will be touring all over the west coast in early 2013. A handful of tracks are available for your listening pleasure and/or download via Bandcamp. Everything else you’d like to know you can find here:
www.playboyschool.net
www.facebook.com/PBSmusic
www.soundcloud.com/playboyschool
www.youtube.com/PlayboySchoolMusic
If you are, or know of, a queer artist or band that should be featured in Almost Famous, drop me the details via crystal [at] autostraddle [dot] com. Please write ‘Almost Famous’ in the subject line!
I double-taked at the line “my grandmother was a bass player” … That would be a great one for the Never Have I Ever game. Meanwhile, my grandmother can’t even swim, balks at kiddie pools. Mean macrame skills tho.
I will definitely check these guys out!
Man they are hot. I am definitely not questioning my sexuality!
“Peach picker” sounds like a euphemism for something dirty.
well, it is a shit job. so there’s enough dirt with it.
but i see what you mean, had the same thought for a moment.
I LIKE IT!