Playlist: Cover Songs Are Great Part II
Recently I went to a Bob Dylan concert, which was exciting, but I thought I wasn’t going to get much out of it because I’ve never followed Dylan’s work particularly closely. Once I got there, though, it became clear that I actually know a lot of his songs — because I had heard so many of them covered by the badass woman singer-songwriters that were played in my Lilith-Fair-fan household growing up. (Same goes for Leonard Cohen, it would appear.) All hail the cover song, and the artist who does such a mindblowing version of another person’s work that, let’s be honest, it’s now just as much theirs as the original artist’s. Especially when they’re ladies. (I would apologize for the multiple Prince songs, but I will never apologize for Prince, so.)
We already did a covers playlist in 2011, but that was back then, and this is now, with a few all-new songs that didn’t even exist then! Whee!
photo credit Johanna Páramos Santalucía
Playlist: Cover Songs Are Great Part II
Amazing Grace – Ani DiFranco (original by John Newton)
Silver Springs – Lykke Li (original by Fleetwood Mac)
Tangled Up In Blue – Indigo Girls (original by Bob Dylan)
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Cat Power (original by the Rolling Stones)
Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright – Joan Baez (original by Bob Dylan) (and they dated!!!!)
Graceland – Hot Chip (original by Paul Simon)
Hallelujah – k.d. lang (original by Leonard Cohen)
Toxic – Yael Naim (original by Britney Spears)
Chelsea Hotel – Regina Spektor (original by Leonard Cohen)
Naked If I Want To – Cat Power (original by Moby Grape)
The Beautiful Ones – Fol Chen (original by Prince)
Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor (original by Prince)
Fortunate Son – Sleater-Kinney (original by Creedence Clearwater Revival)
God Only Knows – Ben Kweller (original by the Beach Boys)
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Mal Blum (originally by Taylor Swift)
Obviously this is by no means a comprehensive list of awesome covers. What are your favorites?
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone from the team will make it for you, if you’re lucky.
Almost Famous: Jana Fisher
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share 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
Jana Fisher
New York City, NY
Jana Fisher writes sweet lyrical pop that’ll likely resonate with people who are finding their feet. The child of a minister, Jana’s music career began at churches and corn festivals in rural Ohio. Following a family-forced move to Florida and the release of her debut album, A History of Sleepwalking, she followed her heart to New York City and completed her “evolution from naive choir girl to self-aware and articulate artist”. She describes herself as “a good girl everywhere but at the piano”, which is kinda hot.
Late last year Jana released an EP titled Ideals & Deals, which showcases some memorable pop hooks and an angelic voice. It’s her first record since coming out as a queer artist, and you can download it for free. Up next she’ll be releasing the music video for her second single, “If I Ever Break Your Heart“.
How would you describe your music?
Lyrical piano pop. My latest release, Ideals & Deals has a spunky, folky feel to it. I wanted everything to feel live and a little dirty.
What instrument/s do you play?
I’ve been playing piano since I was six. I’ve dabbled in other things— electronics, bass, guitar— but piano is my home.
Which song would you most like everyone to hear?
My song “30k,” which is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tale about the New York dream and being broke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad-buYkFQiU
What inspires you to write?
Writing helps me process emotions that are complicated or a little too raw to talk about. For the longest time I was completely unable to write songs that weren’t angry or melancholy. I’m trying to work on that. I’m actually a reasonably happy person!
What was the last song you wrote about?
I wrote a song called “Another Layer of Sorry” about the boyfriend I had when I came out… Poor guy, he was really nice and I put him through a lot. Every time I look back on that I have to laugh at how oblivious I was.
What do you get up to when you’re not making music?
I’ve gotten really into cooking since I went vegan about a year ago. I love how putting limitations on the ingredients you can work with forces you to be more creative. I’ve gotten into making all sorts of ethnic food I never would’ve touched before. It’s extra fun when my omnivore girlfriend begrudgingly admits to liking my rabbit food.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Fiona Apple’s Extraordinary Machine. I don’t even think that’s her best album but it’s the one I relate to the most. It carved out a little spot in my heart.
Have you ever had to work a terrible job to pursue your music career?
I had this horrible job as a guest list girl for a nightlife promoter. Every Friday and Saturday I had to put on heels and dresses I’d never wear otherwise and stand outside a club for four hours, even in the dead of winter. The worst part was these people would drive in from New Jersey or Connecticut all excited for a hot night on the town and I had to charge them an exorbitant amount to get into a club I knew was dead inside. It totally killed nightlife for me.
What was the last book you read?
I’m making my way through A Song of Ice and Fire now. After watching the first season of Game of Thrones I got anxious for the next season and started reading the books. I don’t know what I’m going to do when I finish A Dance with Dragons. Just tell me who Jon Snow’s mom is already!
Who is your idol?
I want the career Aimee Mann has had! Even after so many albums, she’s still making wonderful, carefully constructed music and seems like she’s managed to keep her sanity.
Do you have any pets?
Sadly no! I grew up always having cats, and I’d love to have one now, but I haven’t quite talked my girlfriend into keeping one in our tiny NYC apartment… yet.
If you’d like to hear more from Jana then head to her website and download Ideals & Deals. Also check out these places:
www.janafisher.com
www.facebook.com/
www.twitter.com/janafisher
iTunes
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!
Playlist: ’90s Slumber Party
“You never know what will happen at a sleepover!”
The slumber parties of my youth were the best of times and the worst of times. I was the kid who cried a lot when my friends played pranks on me. I also stressed the fuck out about being the last to fall asleep. I kissed my first girl at a slumber party, secretly, in a closet. My friends and I watched the Devon Sawa scene on my Casper VHS until it stopped working. We also watched Poltergeist (I didn’t sleep for days!) and Clueless. We looked through issues of Teen Beat and Bop and planned our weddings to JTT. We traded Goosebumps books and played M.A.S.H. and that board game where boys call you on dates or something. That game was a huge hit among my friends and became the quintessential sleepover game for us. I thought it was dumb. I just wanted girls to call me at the end, but I didn’t know what that meant or how to tell my friends.
Why are there girls on the cover if girls aren’t calling you? Even at nine years old, I knew this was bullshit.
But really, I can’t remember anything about slumber parties better than the music we listened to, usually on a scratched CD. Sometimes we’d call the radio and request a song and wait for an hour until it played. We’d dance around the coffee table, jump on beds, sing into our fists. We were fucking rock stars.
Playlist: ’90s Slumber Party
Dream Phone!
Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice
Barbie Girl – Aqua
Freedom! ’90 – George Michael
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
Waterfalls – TLC
Water Runs Dry – Boyz II Men
Say You’ll Be There – Spice Girls
What A Girl Wants – Christina Aquilera
I Swear – All-4-One
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) – Backstreet Boys
Lovefool – The Cardigans
Where’s The Love – Hanson
Don’t Speak – No Doubt
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston
Because Of You – 98°
All That She Wants – Ace of Base
Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
C’est La Vie – B*Witched
It’s Tearing Up My Heart – *NSYNC
He Loves U Not – Dream
Kiss Me – Sixpence None The Richer
Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
Say My Name – Destiny’s Child
Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It – Will Smith
That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain
Straight Up – Paula Abdul
The Boy Is Mine – Brandy and Monica
Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
What songs were you rocking out to at slumber parties?
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone from the team will make it for you, if you’re lucky.
NEW MUSIC: Janelle Monáe is Q.U.E.E.N.
Hello, here’s a little thing that you’ve been waiting two years for. Earlier today Janelle Monáe dropped a hot new track and it’s gonna make you funk right out.
“Q.U.E.E.N.” is a collaboration with Erykah Badu and the first single from her forthcoming record, The Electric Lady. Monáe told Billboard that it’s inspired by mysterious private conversations between her and Badu and boy, wouldn’t you love to be a fly on that wall. No hints have been given as to what kind of record Electric Lady will be, but “Q.U.E.E.N.”‘s abrupt ending gives the impression that this is just one little part of a much larger story. Not that I’d expect otherwise.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/89023473″ params=”secret_token=s-YWHYM” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Do you agree that it’s brilliant and has been worth the wait? Do you think it’s coincidence that my phone autocorrects ‘monae’ to ‘monarch’? Leave your feelings in the comments below.
Crystal’s Track Stop Is A Master Hunter
Header by Rory Midhani
Welcome to Crystal’s Track Stop, where every week I bring you a selection of the raddest tracks from my record collection and also from the internet. All killer no filler.
“Master Hunter” – Laura Marling
Laura Marling’s first single of the year was pretty swell, however in my opinion “Master Hunter” is her best release yet. But then I prefer music with some edge. This song sounds like defiance, it thrills. I love the crashing drums, the lyrical nod to Dylan, the way Marling riffs hard on her guitar. I love her intensity, how she wears pissed off so damn well. I just love it.
You want a woman who will call your name. It ain’t me, babe.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87977378″ params=”secret_token=s-hv0bb” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
“Over the Love” – Florence + The Machine
New Florence! “Over the Love” is the first release we’ve heard from the Jay-Z- produced The Great Gatsby soundtrack, which looks incredible. In many ways, this is everything you’d expect. It’s lovely sounding, it’s slow burning. It’s a soundtrack song. Somehow, Welch’s voice sounds more epic than ever before. You’ll wanna listen right up ’til 3:30, when the whole piece spectacularly explodes.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/88153117″ params=”secret_token=s-KmnjQ” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
“Girls Love Beyoncé” – Drake
Feelings by Autostraddle’s resident Drake specialist, Carmen Rios:
Bear with me here: there is a Drake that sounds like summer. If you peel through Drake’s recent tracks it’s sort of buried, but when he first started out most of his work sounded like rolling down the car windows, heat waves on black pavement, getting free for the first time. I heard “Girls Like Beyonce” and I said, out loud, “this sounds like old Drake.” It sounds like So Far Gone. It’s real talk about fine women, quips about a meteoric rise to fame; it’s kind, gentle, sensitive, and authentic. The music is slow and harmonious and the vocals are smooth and sort of intimate.
Also, it samples “Say My Name.” So.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/88078067″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
“Tiff” – Poliça (with Justin Vernon)
Every band and musician whose name I cannot correctly pronounce got together and recorded a song! “Tiff” is a collaboration between Poliça and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, the stand-out being Channy Leaneagh’s smokin’ vocals which I could listen to for days. If you dig this then I recommend Poliça’s debut album, Give You The Ghost; the sticker on my review copy asked me to imagine “Fiona Apple fronting TV On The Radio” and I wasn’t confident that music could live up to that kind of promise but it kinda did! It was one of the more interesting albums I heard in 2012. “Tiff” will be on Poliça’s sophomore album, out later this year.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87129206″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
“I Touch Myself” – The Divinyls
This past fortnight we’ve lost two truly great musicians. Vale Chrissy Amphlett.
“Change (In the House of Flies)” – Deftones
Want to tell me about a great track you’ve heard? Shoot me the link via @trackstop or crystal at autostraddle dot com (please write “track stop” in the subject line).
Almost Famous: Ponychase
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share 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
Ponychase
Nashville, TN
Photo: Michael W. Bunch
Ponychase‘s story began with Nashville-based musician Jordan Caress, who used the title as a pseudonym for a series of home demos. With a dream of creating “dark, dreamy synth-pop” with like-minded locals, Jordan joined forces with prolific singer-songwriter/guitarist Beth Cameron and also brought Brian Siskind (electronic drums) and her brother, Alex Caress (synths) on board. Ponychase became a fast favourite on the Nashville music scene and beyond, receiving lots of love for their memorable hooks and mesmerising sound. Notably, Nashville Scene crowned Ponychase the Best New Band of 2012.
Last year Ponychase released a self-titled EP featuring six sweet ethereal tracks, one of which you’ll hear below (but you can stream the whole thing here). Right now they’re working on a full-length album which’ll be out later this year. Answering our questions is Jordan!
How would you describe your music?
I just read somewhere that Tears for Fears are described as being part of the “New Romantic” movement, a darker strain of New Wave (which was generally happy go-lucky and fun). I think New Romantic is a pretty good way to describe our music, but I’m also pretty sure it’s not a modern genre. It also sounds a little pretentious.
What instrument/s do you play?
I’ve played guitar since I was 10 (so 21 years, geez). I started playing bass in my family band with my brothers when I was 15, and went on to be a professional bass player/sideperson for many years. Playing with Ponychase is sort of my return to writing and performing my own songs.
Which song would you most like Autostraddle readers to hear?
“Cup of Hearts”
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/69329683″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
What were the first and last records you bought?
My first cassette buying excursion, in 1993, included the purchase of Everybody Else is Doing it So Why Can’t We by The Cranberries and Mazzy Star’s So Tonight That I May See.
I kind of hit the vinyl jackpot at the used record store the other day and found The Beauty and the Beat by The Go Go’s and Belinda Carlisle’s first two solo records, plus Missing Persons‘ Spring Session M and Lindsey Buckingham’s Law and Order. My love for Belinda Carlisle directly relates to the next question.
What’s your ‘guilty pleasure’ music?
I no longer classify anything as a guilty pleasure. It’s common knowledge that my radio dial always seems to find the soft rock channel. The thing is, I’ve always liked music that most people would consider cheesy, now I just have no shame about it. Roxette 4 ever. (Also, Belinda Carlisle).
Have you ever had to work a terrible job to pursue your music career?
Too many to name individually, although one of my former employers is about to be featured on Kitchen Nightmares. I won’t name any names, but I’m guessing that Chef Ramsay isn’t visiting that many Nashville Creole restaurants this season.
What was the last book you read?
Big Girls Don’t Cry: The Election that Changed Everything for American Women by Rebecca Traister (for the second time). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
What is the best concert you’ve been to?
I had a near-religious experience during Robyn’s set at Bonnaroo 2011. Festivals are usually not my thing, but I had an artist pass and it seemed a shame not to see the Queen in action. Her music is, of course, the best pop music is recent memory, but the greatest component of that experience was the crowd energy. It was as if every queer person at Bonnaroo had descended upon that tent (on Sunday afternoon in broad daylight!) to do some sweaty, life-affirming dancing.
How did you come up with your band name?
My best friend, a queer resident of Austin, TX, noticed that many of the clients at her job (a Yoga studio, incidentally) lived on a street called Pony Chase. She immediately texted me that I should use the name for my next project. Thanks, Melissa!
What is the best and worst thing about touring?
Best: Seeing the world!!!! Worst: Restless Leg Syndrome.
Do you have any pets?
Yes. Her name is Scout and she is 5. She and I have been through a lot together.
Scout
You can stream the Ponychase EP via Spotify, Bandcamp and Soundcloud, and purchase it from iTunes and Amazon. Everything else you’d like to know about Ponychase can be found on the band’s Facebook page.
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!
Album Review: Allison Weiss “Say What You Mean”
Allison Weiss is releasing her new album Say What You Mean from No Sleep Records tomorrow! If you’ve been following Weiss on the internets, you’ve probably heard quite a few featured tracks from this record already, most notably “Making It Up” which we’ve already agreed is amazing.
When I first listened to this album, I was convinced that “Making It Up” was the star track. I get “Making It Up” stuck in my head all of the time and I don’t even mind. This is such an honest song that perfectly captures that betrayed feeling after someone breaks your heart. But really, all of the songs here evoke that feeling. Have you just had your heart broken? Say What You Mean is going to become your soundtrack. Are you madly in love? Well, I’m pretty sure you’re still going to be reliving the pain of past heartbreaks listening to this album. The album is distinctly personal, like a journal of raw feelings. With every song, I just kept thinking, “Wow, someone really hurt Allison Weiss.” Weiss’ spot on songwriting ensures you’ll connect with every feeling, good or bad.
There’s nothing self-indulgent about this album, even with all of the break up songs. The trick to this is in Weiss’ ability to have the fucking saddest possible lyrics with the catchiest melodies. Say What You Mean has so many sad, upbeat songs, which are the best kind of sad songs.
I think “Say What You Mean” might be my favorite song on the entire album, and I love it as a title track. It builds naturally with a crazy catchy chorus that will stay in your head forever. The line “Too young to give a fuck and too old not to care” really struck me as ingenius, in that clever Weiss way.
Listening to songs like “How To Be Alone” and “Nothing Left” may have the most depressing lyrics, but these are the songs you want to blast while dancing around your living room. The album is a wonderful juxtaposition of heartache and pure bliss. Are you more likely to dance out your feelings than cry into your pillow at night? Say What You Mean would be perfect for it.
I’m not so sure about the new version of “I Was An Island”. I have had so many feelings to the past version, and I felt really connected the lo-fi honesty of the “I Was An Island” from …Was Right All Along, and now the song kind of seems overdone. The heavy guitar is so distracting. Some other songs could be a little less overproduced than they are, mostly due to the subject matter, but these minor faults don’t ruin the album as a whole.
The album may overwhelmingly be upbeat and catchy, but the few acoustic songs go a long way with their tenderness. “Wait For Me” and “I’ll Be Okay” are quiet, beautiful songs that also feature strings. This is my favorite kind of Allison Weiss song, pared down to just her her sweet voice and a touch of endearing innocence. This combination and strings? That’s all I ask for. After the emotional turmoil of the rest of the album, “I’ll Be Okay” is an especially great closer. The ballad is stunningly vulnerable and the end of the song is haunting with ambient noises. It’s a really quiet, thoughtful end to the album, which is a short and sweet 35 minutes long. Maybe we’ll be okay, too, after experiencing all of that intense emotional distress.
At times, Allison Weiss’ distinct voice kind of makes me think she’s a lot younger than she is, and that she could be my little sister performing at a local Battle of the Bands. There’s an adorable familiarity factor going on here. Long-time fans of Weiss will definitely see that she has matured a lot, especially from …Was Right All Along or even Teenage Years, but it feels like such a natural progression, instead of some completely different sound (oh hey, what’s up Tegan and Sara?).
You need this album. Go buy Say What You Mean starting Tuesday, April 16th and make sure to catch Allison Weiss when she tours with the Warped Tour this summer.
Crystal’s Track Stop Is The Bad One That Never Gets Hurt
Header by Rory Midhani
Welcome to Crystal’s Track Stop, where every week I bring you a selection of the raddest tracks from my record collection and also from the internet. All killer no filler.
“Demons” – The National
“When I walk into a room, I do not light it up. Fuck.”
You might get the feeling that you’ve heard “Demons” before even though it’s brand-new and that’s because you kinda sorta have, it sounds like a summary of High Violet. It has everything that a National fan would expect from a National song; darkness, a slow burn, intensity, lyrics that rip your heart apart. If you’re a little underwhelmed on the first spin (I was) then go twice, ’cause it shares one additional characteristic with their past pieces: the more often you listen the harder you’ll fall.
We need to wait another month for their new album, Trouble Will Find Me, however but if you pre-order it then you’ll get to download “Demons” straight away.
“These Paths” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Last week the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s streamed their entire new album, Mosquito (hear the entire thing here!) however youtube is just so awkward that despite my excitement I’ve only listened to it once. Did you listen? What did you think? My initial feeling is that it is so weird and unpredictable and I LOVE IT. I mean I don’t love it as much as I love “Phenomena” but parts of it are definitely blowing my mind. I’m extremely fond of “These Paths”. Karen O describes it as a “Dave Sitek heavily influenced medical marijuana track” and I just can’t top that. I can’t embed so listen to it here at the 26 min mark.
“Bottled Affection” – Cold War Kids
Cold War Kids wrote a song about my life. Crazy, right? It’s from their new album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, which was released last week. I haven’t heard the whole thing yet, I’m holding off on buying it until the Autostraddle Meet Me At The Record Store Day meet-up because it’ll sound a lot better that way. What album/s are you gonna buy on Record Store Day?
I also wanna give a shout out to “Loner Phase,” which is a stand out track and not just because it references aging and hibernation and being a loner. Dear Miss Lonelyhearts is the stories of our lives, basically.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egh0zLdUGmU
“If” – Janet Jackson (Ellie Herring Remix)
Remember queer musician/producer Ellie Herring? You should; she made you this amazing Valentine’s Day mix and so there’s a chance that you’ve done it (or wept quietly) (or both) to the sound of her music. Now she’s worked her magic on Janet Jackson‘s “If”, which you can stream and download below. I really didn’t like Jackson’s original and so this remix is surprisingly enjoyable.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/85684033″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
If you like what you hear and happen to live in Kentucky, Ellie’s playing two shows this weekend and you should probably go check ’em out.
“That Was The Whiskey” – Antigone Rising
Does any of you listen to country music? I am uneducated on the genre. I met Keith Urban once. That is a weird name drop but also the limit of my country experience. Antigone Rising have been a Thing in country rock for a long time, or so the internet tells me. They were bought to my attention is because one of the members, Kristen Ellis-Henderson, is kissing her wife Sarah on the cover of TIME Magazine right now, which is really neat. But also! They’ve just released this song and I can’t stop listening for many reasons, particularly the handclaps and rousing chorus of “that was the whiskey”. Dare you not to get into it. Dare you.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81926752″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Heard a great song? Shoot me the link via @trackstop or crystal at autostraddle dot com (please write “track stop” in the subject line).
Almost Famous: Dalice Malice
Welcome to Almost Famous, a weekly segment where we ask up-and-coming queer musicians some not so hard-hitting questions about music and life and maybe even convince them to share 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
Dalice Malice
Chicago, IL
Dalice Malice is a loud queer trans folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who kicks around Chicago, plays two types of ukulele and knows how to rock a mandolin and rainstick. She’s spent the past decade singing songs for strangers and friends, recording and releasing a heap of records and working toward her dream of one day opening for Ani DiFranco.
On April 18 Dalice Malice is playing a show in Chicago and you’ll probably want to go check out after she charms you below.
How would you describe your music?
As one of my partner’s says: I’m a folk singer, but loud.
What instrument/s do you play?
Guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, autoharp, baritone and soprano ukulele, piano (kinda) and rainstick.
Which song would you most like Autostraddle readers to hear?
A demo of my newest song, “Horror Show”.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/86282450″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
What’s your ‘guilty pleasure’ music?
Music is like sex: as long as you’re not hurting anyone, you shouldn’t feel ashamed of what gets you off. That said, I do have Aqua’s album, Aquarium, in my iTunes library.
What is the best and worst thing about touring?
Touring.
If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Harvey Danger’s Where have all the Merrymakers Gone.
If you could share a line-up with any two other artists, who would you choose?
Alive: Ani DiFranco and Neko Case
Dead: Utah Phillips and Woody Guthrie
Friends: Heidi Barton Stink and Imogen Binnie
When you’re famous what will be the name of your autobiography?
Dalice Malice: The Butchest Femme You Know.
What was the last book you read?
I just finished the 2008 Guardians of the Galaxy series, because I’m a nerd.
What is the best concert you’ve been to?
By far, best concert: Chinese Happy‘s album release show for their album Rampage. In the middle of the set the guitarist got into a kiddie pool and was covered in sugar. For real.
Do you have any pets?
No. But my partner has a kitten who’s part cyborg.
Dalice Malice is performing at the Hard Rock Cafe, Chicago on April 18th at 8pm. If you wanna go along to support then you can purchase your $5 tickets here.
More information about Dalice Malice, including where to listen to and buy her numerous recordings, can be found at these places:
dalicemalice.com
facebook.com/dalicemalice
twitter.com/dalicemalice
dalicemalice.bandcamp.com
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!
Guest Playlist: Kaki King’s Australia Mix
Last month Kaki King announced a national tour of Australia, which was v. exciting news to many Australians but especially our music editor, Crystal. To celebrate, we asked Kaki to make a playlist based on the theme ‘Australia’ and she said yes. What a champ.
Kaki King’s Australia Mix
All of these songs I heard for the first time in Australia!
Camp Out – An Horse
Peaches and Cream – John Butler Trio
Ghosting on my Mind – Jeff Lang
How to Tame Lions – Washington
Drawing Smoke – Leroy Lee
Fatal – The Necks
Water – Blue King Brown
Contact High – Architecture In Helsinki
Come into my World – Kylie Minogue
Trembling Hands – The Temper Trap
Australian Tour Dates
May 11 @ Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm QLD
May 12 @ Mullumbimby Civic Hall, Mullumbimby NSW
May 16 @ Darwin Old Town Hall Ruins, Darwin NT
May 18 @ The Tanks Arts Centre, Edge Hill QLD
May 19 @ The Basement, Sydney NSW
May 22 @ Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba NSW
May 23 @ Heritage Hotel, Bulli NSW
May 24 @ Lizotte’s Dee Why NSW
May 25 @ Lizotte’s Kincumber NSW
May 26 @ Lizotte’s Newcastle NSW
May 30 @ The Corner Hotel, Richmond VIC
May 31 @ The Governor Hindmarsh, SA
June 1 @ The Bakery, Northbridge WA
June 2 @ The Vanguard, Newtown NSW
There are also EUR and US shows happening in April, see KakiKing.com for details. If you haven’t already, maybe read about why you’ll love Kaki’s new album, Glow, and then grab it at your local record store or here (iTunes Aus) or here (iTunes US) or here (iTunes UK).
Let The Knife’s “Shaking The Habitual” Shake You Too
Cara’s Team Pick:
Back in February, Elaine told us all to keep a lookout for The Knife’s new album, Shaking the Habitual, which comes out on Tuesday, April 9th, via Rabid Records. But it’s 2013, so you don’t have to wait until Tuesday to hear it! You can listen on Pitchfork Advance, the indie behemoth’s new streaming service (PRO TIP: the new Rilo Kiley b-sides/rarities compilation is there, too). I highly suggest it. Especially since if you choose to do it this way, you will also be treated to giant flashing artwork the color of a radioactive watermelon, and when your coworkers ask you what you’re listening to, and why you are bobbing your head up and down in that way, with your eyes all wide and bloodshot, you can switch tabs and frighten them away, because you are listening to The Knife and no one should bother you.
“WHEN WE AREN’T MAKING MUSIC, WE ENJOY SEARCHING FOR SHINY THINGS”
For the yet-unstabbed, The Knife is a brother-sister duo from Stockholm, Sweden. Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson make electronic music that generally sounds, to me, like a seaweed creature reanimated by lightning and dancing in front of a beach campfire. They also make political statements, such as the time when they won a Grammy in Sweden and sent two Guerilla Girls in their place to protest gender imbalance in the music industry. Or the time Karin accepted an award for her side project, Fever Ray, in a costume that makes Lady Gaga look like a nine year old on Halloween.
VOGUE
This time, the group has decided to do both at the same time, very openly. The Knife came out of hiding and actually did press for this album, and used a lot of it to hammer home the issues they studied and the problems they’ve been thinking about.”In the past we’ve worked with how structures in society affect us on a psychological level, but we’re trying to be a bit more clear this time,” Karin explained in an interview with Daze Digital. Olof took classes in queer theory and feminist history, Karin borrowed his textbooks, and they brought Judith Butler and Jeanette Winterson and drag and intersectionality and environmentalism into the recording studio. You can read the results, obliquely but powerfully, in the manifesto they released in lieu of a regular album announcement:
“We have made some decisions.
We want to fail more, act without authority.
Plus there’s something phlegmatic about the world state don’t you think?
There’s a blood system promoting biology as destiny.
A series of patriarchies that’s a problem to the Nth degree.
What about hyper-capitalism, this homicidal class system, the school system that’s kaput?
Then there are castles everywhere—look at them fake tanning and signing autographs!”
You can see them in the biting satirical comic about “educating the over-wealthy” that they have up on their website:
GREAT IDEAS ALL AROUND
Or in the music videos and accompanying statements for ‘A Tooth For An Eye‘ (“Who are the people we trust as our leaders and why?”) and ‘Full of Fire‘ (“Who takes care of our stories when the big history, written by straight rich white men, erase the complexity of human’s lives, desires and conditions?”) which was made by feminist porn director Marit Östberg. Most importantly, you can hear it in the music. The album’s title is taken from a Foucault quote (“The work of an intellectual is not to mould the political will of others; it is . . . to re-examine evidence and assumptions, to shake up habitual ways of working and thinking”). It has songs called ‘Oryx’ and ‘Crake.‘ And although I know in my head that gender is a construct, I don’t know if I felt it in my gut until I heard Olof grimacing “let’s talk about gender bay-BEE” a dozen times while his voice morphs.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/76786704″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Plus the sounds are, viscerally and sonically, just extremely queer. Acoustic and electronic instruments bleed together and stretch out until you can’t tell which is which. Found sounds, ambient noise, and strange mixing decisions take their time; they interact rather than locking in or matching up. “Sometimes I get problems that are hard to solve. What’s your story? That’s my opinion.” Or: “Now we have to start. We choose process over everything else. Letting go of outcomes is another privilege.” This is an album that, like the theory it’s based on, prefers to thoroughly explore questions rather than hazard many answers.
Some people think this is all not so great, calling the album “willfully intellectualised,” accusing it of being bombastic and carrying overly long songs and off-puttingly grand and abstract ideas. And it’s definitely not an “easy listen,” especially not compared to Silent Shout, which had, you know, verses and choruses and songs less than ten minutes long. But if you let go and sink into it, and let it take you where it will, you’ll learn some things, feel others, and definitely go somewhere. And seriously, if you can’t dance to “Without You My Life Would Be Boring,” I don’t want to dance with you anyway.
Almost Famous: Marina Marina
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
Marina Marina
Vancouver Island, Canada
Marina Marina’s ‘organic free range folk pop’ has been described as being “like golden mist caught in a strong wind twisting into patterns and sparkling in the gentle muted sun.” Her music is earthy and soothing and it all sounds so effortless, like her guitar is part of her body. Be sure to check out “Progress Still” below, you might fall in love a little.
Marina has been winning hearts all over the globe; she recently finished an intensive three-month tour of Eastern Canada and Europe and is currently playing a string of shows throughout North America. Next she’ll head to Northern Canada where she works as a Fire Lookout in the summer months and writes and produces in her cabin studio in the forest.
How do you describe your music?
Organic Free Range Folk Pop. Hopefully this doesn’t make people think that I dress up like a chicken on stage playing the ukulele, pecking at the ground and pretending to lay eggs or something like that… because I haven’t… yet.
How long have you been playing guitar?
I had an on again off again relationship with my guitar for a few years after high school until I finally got swept off my feet in 2007, we’ve been inseparable since. I’m planning on proposing but sshhh, I want it to be a surprise. My ’72 Takamine refuses to allow me to see other guitars but has recently decided that it would be ok for me to make out with random banjos here and there.
Which song would you most like everyone to hear?
My fave would be “Progress Still”
What is your ‘guilty pleasure’ music?
Well, now that Tegan and Sara have gone all ‘hardcore Superstar by far’ with Heartthrob I have to hold private dance parties with my bandmate Devin. Whenever we’re onstage gyrating and being ridiculous, “Closer” is totally playing inside my head. Who thinks I should do a folksie cover of it?
What environment do you write your songs in?
Picture a humble cabin isolated in the forests of Northern Canada…where the wolf prints are bigger than your head and the mosquito and black fly swarms are so thick they look like storm clouds on the horizon and sound like ambulance sirens in the distance coming to collect you.
Would you ever date someone whose favorite artist/band was your least favorite?
No, no I would not.
What has been the most memorable moment of your music career to date?
I have this as-of-yet unrecorded, unnamed song that I played last spring for a wonderful crowd at Caffe Fantastico in Victoria, BC. Near the end of the song the entire crowd was singing along and all of the musicians from the opening acts were playing their instruments, guitars, banjos, drums, trumpets, everything! It was the single most inspired moment of my career and continues to propel me towards writing songs that anyone can sing along to.
What inspires you to write?
Intelligent, environmentally aware, hardworking, sexy, queer activists/artists/poets. They also tend to make my knees weak and tie my tongue up.
CDs, MP3s or vinyl?
MP3s are my pref, they take up less space and keep CD’s and vinyl out of the soil.
What is the best and worst thing about touring?
Best: Having people tell you on a daily basis that you’ve made their day better.
Worst: Not being with my dog.
Tell us about your dog.
Her name is Ember, also known as Cadero, Embercadero, Emmy-Lou Hairy, Arrow and Monkey bums. She’s defs the lead actress in above YouTube video, she throws down a 10/10 scene stealer at the very end.
Ember
Upcoming Shows
April 4: Victoria House Concert B @ 7pm, 1726 Stanley Ave. Victoria BC.
April 5: Janice Oakley’s @ 7pm, Galiano Island, BC. Email aboutmetoyou (at) gmail.com for details.
April 7: Sunday Short Stack @ 11:30am, Toast Collective, 648 Kingsway, Vancouver.
April 8: Duncan Garage Showroom @ 7:30pm, Suite 201-330 Duncan Street.
April 12: Wired Monk @ 8pm, 2610 West 4th, Vancouver BC.
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!
SXSFAIL: A Queer Takes on The Madness of Austin
all images © Najva Sol
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- Day Three
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- Day Five
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- Day Five
I’ll tell you the truth: I’ve avoided writing this article. Why? Because I’m still recovering from South By Southwest (aka #SXSW). How is that possible? I’m a seasoned traveler. I’ve shaken my booty in music festivals across the country, diligently attended poetry conferences and shot the kinkiest of summer camps — basically, this ordeal should have been a piece of babely warm-weather cake. A musician bought me a plane ticket in exchange for a photoshoot, but my actual job there cancelled* (see: Mercury retrograde) three days before my departure. I decided I’d go regardless, heart and suitcase full of optimism. Instead, SXSW kicked my ass, and laughed while walking away.
Day 7
SXSW, if you don’t know, is a two-week music, film, and tech conference/festival/shitshow that has happened in Austin since 1987 (we’re the same age!). It’s got over 40,000 registrants, over 100 venues, and upwards of 2000 bands, which basically rounds up to a million things to do at every moment (just thought I’d help you with the math).
Day 7
Somehow though, when you look at the photos, you can’t tell that I made every mistake possible! (Ok, maybe not all the mistakes — just many, many mistakes that caused undue anxiety that led to teary calls to my friends back in Brooklyn who all dismissed me and were like, “You’re in 80 degree weather? Surrounded by free music? Oh, yeah, tell me how hard your life is. Not.”)
This self-portrait is full of lies
SXSW Life Lessons
I learned some life lessons immediately:
-Everyone was right, you don’t need a badge. The stupid long long long long long impossible lines will still exist with them. Even the VIP $1600 platinum bage holders have a line.
-Carry snacks. And cash. SXSW is Austin’s largest source of event based revenue, which means ATM fees can go up to $7. Even roadside coffee (not a latte, mind you) is $3.
-Teenyboppers will threaten to cut you if you shove ahead of them. If you’re press, attempt to get a press pass instead of pushing to the front of a sold out cant-breathe show with Macklemore and Tegan & Sara.
I offer the reflection of these sunglasses as proof.
-Don’t let #FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) get to you. Don’t fixate on the shows you can’t get into *cough* Justin Timberlake’s secret show for Myspace *cough* Prince’s exclusive showcase for Samsung *cough* and instead think about how great it is that you can see the DJ from down the block spinning all the way in Austin! (Just kidding. But chances are that neighborhood DJ can get you in & you can stick around long enough to see someone you aren’t already friends with, too.)
If you can avoid all those things, you can probably avoid my fate: hungry, defeated and alone for hours charging my phone in a random bar, begging my internet to work so I could come up with alternate plans after a show I’d wanted to see had a line that was four blocks long. #Fail
On FOMO
Some people don’t have to miss out because they have private roof access. I am not one of those. My view is often this:
But when you get stuck outside, sometimes you stumble upon a midnight retro yard sale, or generous stranger to share a smoke & wait for the next adventure.
On Mercury Retrograde
Can you believe this tarot reading was in a crowded queer dive bar? I can. Queers love their woo, even in Texas.
Admission: Until this go-round, I underestimated Mercury retrograde. My flight into Austin was cancelled and I almost had to spend 24 hours in the Dallas airport. My phone mysteriously stopped working for three hours. During SXSW, I had one possible commercial and one photoshoot cancel. One night I sat in a warehouse alone because it was too dark to shoot the girl emcee, Zuzuka Poderosa, and all of my buddies had cancelled. Finally I got a text to come to a bar a few blocks away, where a guy friend was debating going to another event in search of a hot girl from earlier in the day. Utterly exhausted and with nothing else to do, I decide to tag along. It’s only after we arrive, and I decide to enter even though I’m not allowed to take photos, that I realize one of my favorite DJ’s (Gaslamp Killer) is playing an extended set! THIS is how Mercury retrograde breaks you, like some crazy zen lose-all-your-hope-and-desires-before-you-seek-the-truth shit.
Everything sucked until retrograde ended on my last day, which was GayBiGayGay (more on this later,) and I actually dropped my phone in toilet and it DIDN’T DIE (totes MIRACLE.) Point being: plans will fall through. Just stop trying so hard and chill the fuck out.
next: food, accommodations, running away and austin
Crystal’s Track Stop Remembers You Well In The Chelsea Hotel
Header by Rory Midhani
Welcome to Crystal’s Track Stop, where every week I bring you a selection of the raddest tracks from my record collection and also from the internet. All killer no filler.
“We The Common (For Valerie Bolden)” – Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Do you miss Thao + Mirah? Do you still watch their cover of Salt ‘n Pepa‘s “Push It” on the reg? Yeah, me too. We The Common, the new-ish album by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, will maybe satisfy at least some of our collective yearning. To the surprise of absolutely no one, it is delightful. The one song I can’t get enough of is the title track, which’s dedicated to a woman Thao befriended while volunteering for the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Sounds heavy, but with the plucky banjo work, soaring chorus and generous application of “oo-hoo”‘s, it’s mostly rallying.
If you dig this then another track worth hearing is “Kindness be Conceived“, a duet with Joanna Newsom that is pretty darn cute. I’m calling for a Nguyen + Newsom collaboralbum next.
“Chelsea Hotel #2” (Leonard Cohen cover) – Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey’s cover of “Chelsea Hotel #2“, the 1974 ballad about Cohen‘s affair with Janis Joplin, is such a beautiful thing. Not everyone will love the fact that she’s ‘gone there’, however, at the risk of sounding like a judge on The Voice, I think she’s really respected the song. Even the super 8 style video is working for me- it’s a subtle tribute to the landmark and the era that could’ve easily been gross and over the top. So, yeah. I have a lot of love for this.
“Pilgrim” – MØ
MØ, aka Karen Marie Ørsted, is a Danish musician who has been around for a while but just created a whole lotta ‘buzz’ at this year’s South by Southwest. From what I can gather she’s basically the Grimes of 2013 but even more hip because she’s got a cool looking moniker that probably only Europeans and people who read Pitchfork will confidently pronounce on the first try. Reader Erica tipped me off to track called “Pilgrim” which came out in 2012 and which I now share her obsession for- partly because hand claps and partly because I can’t tear my eyeballs away from the video, which is a little lol wut-ish but in a good way.
“Glass” is also pretty great.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/73955990″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
“Never Should Have” – Ashanti
Ashanti‘s written a sad sad song. “Never Should Have” is a fairly typical heartbreak ballad, or at least it was in 90s but I actually kinda dig that. It’s no “Foolish” but the vocals are seriously smooth, sadness sounds good on her. In other Ashanti news, I just read a fascinating conspiracy blog about how she’s been brainwashed by the CIA. The more you know. Her new album, Braveheart, drops in June.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/84948984″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
“Motorway” – Little Boots
Little Boots is back! Is her new song, “Motorway” a teeny bit repetitive? Well, yes. You could say that. I just did, to my cat. But then I also just guffawed over a youtube comment describing it as the “best song about breakdown services evah”, so maybe don’t trust my judgment. What I really dig about this track is that it’s SO chill, it’s the chillest- it has this relaxed flow that I could listen to forever, which is a good thing because that’s exactly how long this song goes for.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/80758707″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
The new album is called Nocturnes and its comes out May 6. Not to be confused with that other electro-pop album called Nocturnes.
“The Phoenix” – Fall Out Boy
To be totally truthful, this is actually the track that I’ve listened to the most this week. If loving Fall Out Boy‘s new single is wrong then I don’t wanna be right. (Fair warning: the vid’s gory).
Playlist: To Be An Emotionally Intense ’90s Woman
I’d always heard that women were crazy, and that we’re super difficult to deal with, let alone figure out. We’re like ticking time bombs of inexplicable and confusing insanity! Everyone else (men) are chill and reasonable, and we’re all fucking nuts — and if we’re not crazy, it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be crazy. I didn’t know much at 10 or 11 years old, but that stereotype had definitely been ingrained. Perhaps you can relate? So when I started feeling Every Available Feeling a few years later, I just chalked it up to being a crazy girlperson — someone’s future crazy ex-girlfriend, or future complicated mess in some way or another. And I was ok with that, actually, because being complicated and tiptoed around (lest I DETONATE!) was pretty satisfying at the time, even if I didn’t feel interesting enough to be complicated.
For those times when I was really seizing my Womanly Psychosis (“feelings”), I would find sisterhood and solidarity in the female musicians of our time (“the ’90s”). I’m realizing now that, taken out of context, some of these lyrics are terrifying. Many of them give me the warm feeling of “thank goodness I’m not dating the singer of this song,” followed by “wait, I’ve been a version of the singer of this song. Hm.” This is the soundtrack to a decade’s worth of processing and embracing emotional intensity.
To Be* An Emotionally Intense ’90s Woman
[*or to be in a relationship with / to break-up with]
You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette
Bitch – Meredith Brooks
Jealousy – Liz Phair
You Were Meant For Me – Jewel
Silent All These Years – Tori Amos
I Want To Come Over – Melissa Etheridge
Do You Love Me Now? – The Breeders
Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Conner
Stay – Lisa Loeb
Don’t Speak – No Doubt
Untouchable Face – Ani Difranco
Take A Bow – Madonna
Fade Into You – Mazzy Star
Sleep To Dream – Fiona Apple
Only Happy When It Rains – Garbage
Rid Of Me – PJ Harvey
I’m The Only One – Melissa Etheridge
Jealousy – Natalie Merchant
Adia – Sarah McLachlan
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
#1 Crush – Garbage
Violently Happy – Bjork
Who Is He And What Is He To You – Me’Shell Ndegeocello
Angry Johnny – Poe
Ex-Factor – Lauryn Hill
What did I leave out? Let’s light some candles and talk about it.
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone from the team will make it for you, if you’re lucky.
Almost Famous: Stacy Kovacs, Batala NYC
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
Stacy Kovacs // BatalaNYC
New York
Stacy Kovacs is a self-proclaimed marching band dork and the musical director of BatalaNYC, an all-women’s AfroBrazilian Samba Reggae drumming band. BatalaNYC have garnered a lot of interest since forming one year ago; they play New York street fairs and shows on the regular and have even opened for the Rolling Stones.
Tell us a little about Batala and BatalaNYC?
BatalaNYC is an AfroBrazilian Drum Band. Batala is the name of a larger global arts project. There are now 30+ cities with a Batala band. The music is Samba Reggae, typically heard in Bahia, a northern state in Brazil, with its roots in West African drumming. It’s not “samba,” and we are not a “samba band.” All Batala bands wear the same style of clothing and use the same drums, all of which are hand made in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. The drums are recognizable as they all have the same painted patterns and the clothes have similar designs. All Batala bands play the same arrangements and communicate via the same hand signals.
BatalaNYC began in my head after seeing a group of Batala members from around the world play at the 2011 Brasilian Day in NYC. They were being directed by the founder of Batala, Giba Goncalves. His mere presence got me addicted to the music and the band. After many long Skype conversations with Solange, the founder of Batala Washington DC, and Paulo, the director of Batala Brasilia, Batala NYC was formed officially in January 2012.
Can any woman join?
Yes, any woman can join regardless of musical experience or drumming experience. We will teach her to drum. It’s fun!
What is your music background?
I started playing piano when I was 6 or 7, then drums at age 8. I also started trombone at age 14. I have a very musical family, and am grateful for my parents for letting me play drums in school, and practice at home. Not many parents would tolerate that, and I had a pretty cool band teacher who let girls play whatever instruments they wanted. I went to Big Ten University to be a dork– a marching band dork! I have been involved in American marching bands since age 10. When I moved to NYC in 2006 I found the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra and played trombone. I missed drums and started going to Dr. Galinsky’s samba drumming classes in 2010. I then got involved with Manhattan Samba and Maracatu NY.
Right now I teach 4 instruments in the Brazilian repertoire: surdo, the bass drums; dobra, the drum of syncopation in samba reggae; repique, the drum that plays the patterns and calls; and snare drum. I have been playing these drums for only a few years, but the technique is more or less the same as other types of drums. I can play other hand drums, and marching band snare/bass/quads, however, for some reason I am not coordinated enough to play drum set! I am really bad at drum set!
What song or performance would you most like everyone to see or hear?
I think they should come see an entire show! Our music is designed in a way that it all flows together. We have “songs,” but they are ever changing and flowing in a way that they may not sound the same each time we play them. My current favorite is the song we call “Boing.” It’s a mix of samba reggae and Afoxe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEQXZ1sTg3U&feature=player_embedded
Who are some of your favorite percussionists?
I think my favorite, the guy I grew up listening to, was Sandy Nelson. His music was kind of surfer stuff in the 60’s. Also, Gene Krupa. I love Kim Thompson as well. Also, that female Taiko group, Cobu. They rock.
What were the first and last records you bought?
The first record I bought was a tape- Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The last I bought was a download of “Gangnam Style.” I admit it. So there.
What has been the most memorable moment of your music career to date?
Well, BatalaNYC had the honor of opening for The Rolling Stones on their most recent tour – their final tour. We didn’t play our own music, but we played along with a track overhead to “Sympathy for the Devil.” It was quite incredible to march through the aisles on the floor and welcome the Stones to the stage. There’s so many other amazing memories, thinking about them makes me feel overwhelmed with joy and I can’t type…
What inspires you to write?
I don’t really write music. I teach it as I hear it. But, the times I have written music, it’s been due to some break up or some new exciting person I have met.
Would you ever date someone whose favorite artist/band was your least favorite?
Yeah. I don’t care about that stuff – it’s what makes relationships fun!
What do you get up to when you’re not making music?
I am a surgical physician assistant. I cut you open and take stuff out and put you back together.
Have you ever had to work a terrible job to pursue your music career?
Yes. I work as a physician assistant in surgery to make money for myself to be able to do everything in my music life.
If you could share a line-up with any two other artists, which ones would you choose?
Madonna and Michael Jackson. However, he is dead. So, the lesbian in me chooses Ani DiFranco.
When you’re super famous what will be the name of your autobiography?
“You Can’t Make This Shit Up.”
What was the last book you read?
What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Margareth Menezes in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. She rocks.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, Max and Bella.
This is Max
If you’d like know more about BatalaNYC (or want to join!), visit their website or see them live in action at their 1st birthday party, to be held on 21 April at Littlefield, Brooklyn. The night will feature birthday cake, obviously, as well as performances by Pitch Blak Brass Band and the Dance Cartel.
Editor’s Note: Since this article was first published BatalaNYC has disbanded. The members have formed a new all women drumming group called FogoAzul NYC. Check them out on Instagram and Facebook.
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!
Captain’s Log: Brand Spankin’ New Music From CHVRCHES, Widowspeak and Savages
feature image via the blond-o-sonic shimmer trap
In Autostraddle’s tender infancy, I used to scrimp and save all year in order to head down to Austin for SXSW, where presumably all the new bands I’d ever care about were playing industry showcases all week long. I’d load up on open bar whiskey and wander the streets, consuming questionable streetcart tamales, making out with rappers’ girlfriends and then writing all about it in a series we referred to as the Captain’s Log. Nowadays, it’s a bit harder for me to get away, and I haven’t been able to make it to Austin in a couple of years. Still, as the weather gets a bit warmer I get the itch to come out of hibernation and start checking out new bands. Here are couple of new songs by new artists who’ve been haunting my headphones lately.
CHVRCHES – “Recover”
Here’s the funny thing about CHVRCHES – they’re a brand new (formed in 2011) Scottish electropop band who’ve only just arrived on American shores within the last couple of weeks, and their breakout single “The Mother We Share” garnered them an incredible level of hype.
I was lucky enough to catch their first-ever New York City show Monday night, and I was blown away, because for a relatively young band, their live show was tight, polished, and seemingly ready for arena tours. Singer Lauren Mayberry’s voice has a sweet, youthful quality that reminds me in some ways of Julia Volkova from t.A.T.u. (sorry for the weird compliment guys, it really does), and the catchy, melancholy tracks they played called to mind popular synth-heavy acts like M83 and the Knife. Their latest single “Recover” has been stuck in my head all week.
Widowspeak – “Ballad of the Golden Hour”
Widowspeak’s Molly Hamilton gets a lot of Mazzy Star comparisons for her breathy, dreamy singing voice, but it’s a compliment that’s well deserved.
http://youtu.be/OoasG1pCc9s
The Brooklyn-based band’s second record Almanac shows the band expanding on their lo-fi, 90s-influenced rock with more of a fleshed-out, classic country edge. My absolute favourite track is “Ballad of the Golden Hour,” with haunting guitar licks swirling under Molly’s wistful refrain: “We could never stay forever / We were destined to grow cold.” Girl, I feel you.
Savages – “Husbands”
If you ever asked me to design my ideal band, I’d probably tell you I wanted an absurdly good-looking all-girl rock band to authentically recapture the energy of late 70s/early 80s post-punk in the vein of Joy Division, Killing Joke and Public Image LTD, with sexy, yelping vocals like Siouxsie Sioux or an angry PJ Harvey. While their sound is decidedly familiar, Savages’ songs are moody and energetic enough to keep me riveted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y-cVzbBBQ8
I saw ’em play earlier this week, and I spent a fair amount of time staring awestruck at guitarist Gemma Thompson, who’s just as talented as she is smoldering hot. Their record Silence Yourself will be out May 7 on Matador Records.
Playlist: Pre-Game Dapper Primpin’
Feature photo via This Fellow
Awwww shiiiiiit. There you are, towel wrapped around your waist, fresh out the shower, dripping wet, your fresh and so clean clean boi bouquet wafting through the air. You’re gonna marry the night tonight and what you need is a pre-game dapper primpin’ playlist to set the tone for what is going to be an epic evening. Adjust your tie and pop your collar because you’re gonna be legendary in whatever you set your mind to: land the account, secure that second date, burn up the dance floor, turn some heads, snag a few numbers, knock your partner’s undies off. Hot boi, you got what I want. Won’t you really come and satisfy me? I be lovin’ you like endlessly!
Playlist: Pre-Game Dapper Primpin’
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?
Sharp Dressed Man
Sexy M.F.
Touch The Sky
Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz)
Suit & Tie 
Change Clothes
SexyBack
Sexy
So Fresh, So Clean
Hot Boyz
All Gold Everything
Air Force Ones
This Is Why I’m Hot
Image via Wantful
Crystal’s Track Stop Is Feelin’ Hella Cool Tonight
Welcome to Crystal’s Track Stop, where every week I bring you a selection of the raddest tracks from my record collection and also from the internet. All killer no filler.
Header by Rory Midhani
Covers – Rachael Cantu
I really enjoy Rachael Cantu. This week I was stoked to discover that she’s released a stellar collection of covers which includes high school hit “Trailer Trash” (!!) as well as Tegan & Sara‘s “Alligator”. The nine songs, which were recorded in Cantu’s home studio, are all stripped back and feel so real and honest, as many of Cantu’s songs do. It’s sort of her thing. Every cover is a winner but my pick is Cantu taking on J-Biebs‘ “As Long As You Love Me”.
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Covers is available digitally via iTunes and Ameoba.
“T.R.O.U.B.L.E.” – Abbe Mae
Abbe May is a somewhat enigmatic Aussie gloom pop artist whose music is my latest obsession. There’s this one single that I’m hooked on in particular – it’s called “Karmageddon” – and it’s kinda intense and broody and it has these stunning vocal layers and I never want the sound to stop. May’s more recent single, “T.R.O.U.B.L.E”, came out last month and everything about it is S.M.O.K.I.N.G, from that dark ‘n dreamy voice to the fierce women featured in the music video. Check it.
Those two tracks are from the forthcoming album, Kiss My Apocalypse (out May 10). May’s 2011 album, Design Desire, is also killer- more rock than pop but just as dark. It led to the super intriguing music video for “Taurus Chorus” (below) which, according to May, speaks to “the legitimacy of love and lust, regardless of the gender” and (to paraphrase) the frustration that arises from not having your relationship recognised.
Speaking of dark dirty pop. Last year our pal Somer turned me onto a New York based duo called Zambri, formed by siblings Christi Jo and Jessica Zambri. Their 2011 EP, Glossolalia, is pure power and imagination; it’s definitely one of those discs that keeps getting better with every listen and the first was pretty mind-blowing, so. You can stream the entire thing here. I’m especially digging the opener, “On Call”.
Last year Zambri followed up with a full-length record, House Of Baasa, which I haven’t spent much time with (yet!) but seems to be a consistent flow-on from the above. Listen here.
“Little Games” – The Colourist
Just so you know, you guys have been sending me some amazing track tips; I’ve been discovering about 2-3 new artists each week and my ears have never been happier, so thank you! Californian indie outfit, The Colourist, is one of them. The band features a female drummer/singer and British-English spelling. Both major pros, obviously. Lead single, “Little Games” is guaranteed to bounce around your head for the entire day. Heartbreak has never sounded so damn joyous.
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“Cheers (Drink To That)” – Walk Off The Earth
My secret to being partially competent at living life is to start each day listening to this Rihanna cover by Walk Off The Earth about 3-5 times. Beneath the questionable advocacy of wearing Ray Bans at nighttime is an uplifting, empowering message delivered by two rays of sunshine personified. Rihanna’s original is good and all, but WOTE capture the celebratory feel-good vibes far better. I’m sorry if this controversial truth bomb has upset you. The absence of the Avril Lavigne sample is a clear loss, of course- but I think a hooded Sarah Blackwood playing the ukulele makes up for it. Sometimes that’s all you need to start your day off right.
If you’ve never checked out Walk Off The Earth’s youtube page, wait until you’ve got a few hours to kill- it’s a rabbit hole.
Heard a great song? Shoot me the link via @trackstop or crystal at autostraddle dot com (please write “track stop” in the subject line).
Playlist: A Bit Like Spring Itself
We made it through the wilderness. Somehow, we made it through. It’s finally spring!* Spring is the best. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and it is a welcome break from the dark, cold days of winter.
It’s my very favorite season, and I’ve even included my very favorite song on this playlist for you. That’s how special spring is.
Songs for spring sound a little bit like spring itself: they start slow and creep into your bones, they start with a bang and have you rolling down the windows of your car as you drive, they make you realize how beautiful your life is again. The sun is shining, girls are wearing sundresses (bless sundresses and the girls who wear them), flowers are blooming. It’s a wonderful time to be happy and alive, don’t you agree?
*Sorry, Southern Hemisphere, but at least you get autumn now? Autumn is okay, too.
Even polar bears are happy it is Spring again!
Playlist: A Bit Like Spring Itself
Open Air – Lemolo
Are You Still Waiting? – Hee Young
The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side – The Magnetic Fields
Parentheses – The Blow
Anything Could Happen – Ellie Goulding
L’Enfer – Coralie Clément
Sahara Mahala – The Jezabels
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect – The Decemberists
If You Fall – Azure Ray
Stella – Bertie Blackman
Two Way Street – Kimbra
Almost, Always, All Yours – Widower
The Sweetest Thing – Camera Obscura
Pollen – Mirah
New Lover – Josh Ritter
Lion’s Mane – Iron & Wine
The Next Time Around – Little Joy
Drove Me Wild – Tegan and Sara
What songs are on your Springtime playlists?
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone from the team will make it for you, if you’re lucky.