#2015 interview

[shannendoherty-fans]

In Touch, 2nd February 2015

I'm 43 and More Confident Than Ever

Hollywood's original bad girl on her former co-stars, kids and plastic surgery

Shannen Doherty was 19 when she burst onto the scene in the '90s TV phenomenon Beverly Hills, 90210 – and she quickly developed a "wild child" reputation, thanks to her turbulent love life and party girl ways. At 43, however, Shannen has settled down: She's been happily married to photographer Kurt Iswarienko for three years and tours the country with best pal and fellow Charmed alum Holly Marie Combs in the road trip series Off the Map With Shannen & Holly. She's also in the best shape of her life. "I feel amazing," Shannen tells In Touch's Rick Egusquiza. "I think in your 40s there's a confidence. You've done it, you've been there and you know what you want in a calm, peaceful way."

You're 43 and look amazing. How have you managed that?

SD: I was the girl who said, "I don't work out. I eat what I want." Then I turned 40 and my metabolism slowed down. Plus, after my father passed away [in 2010], I got depressed and didn't take care of myself. But now I embrace exercise.

What's your workout routine?

SD: My trainer, Kevan Watson, owns a gym called Box'N Burn. We do boxing and cardio, four times a week. And I'm trying not to eat such bad food. I've definitely become a healthier Shannen.

Now that you're in your 40s, have you considered plastic surgery?

SD: I haven't done anything yet. [Laughs] But I never say never.

In June, you told us you were considering adoption. How's that progressing?

SD: I can't even believe that I put that out there! Doing interviews on red carpets are tricky, man – they put this spotlight on you, you're like a deer in the headlights.

You travel around the U.S. in Off the Map; is it fun road-tripping with Holly, or has it tested your friendship?

SD: Actually, we've traveled a lot together over the years. We have small arguments about going here or there. But we work it out.

Have you also remained pals with some of your 90210 castmates?

SD: Yes, I ended up making some very good friends – Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Brian Austin Green.

What about Tori Spelling?

SD: Well, we have the same publicist, but I'm more social with Jennie.

Any regrets from those days?

SD: It was so long ago. I just look back and think, Wow, that was an amazing experience.

Are you open to a 90210 reunion?

SD: Possibly. But doing the new version [it ran from 2008 to 2013], I think I've already given some closure to fans who loved the show.

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ON A LIGHTER NOTE... Shannen answers our silliest questions!

What's your porn star name (childhood dog + childhood street)?

Curious George McVay.

What's your go-to karaole song?

"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

What's your guilty pleasure?

Truffle fries.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Coffee.

Who's your biggest celebrity crush?

Martin Scorsese. He's a director more than a celebrity but I love him.

What's one fact about you that would surprise us?

I am very sensitive.

Biggest splurge purchase ever?

My house, and then my house again since I'm redoing it from the studs up.

Which celebrity has made you most starstruck?

Harrison Ford.

What was your childhood nickname?

"Sugarplum" – but only my dad could call me that!

[jonathangroffappreciation]

Photos from the ‘New Potato’ interview, available at: http://www.thenewpotato.com/2015/03/20/jonathan-groff-2015/

Your idea of the perfect first date…

A spontaneous night in New York in the summer. No set plans, just walking around.

Advice you’d give to your younger self…

Don’t let them steal your joy.

[miiidnightdriving]

Q: You shouted, “Westside Till I Die” during ‘If I Ruled The World’. RM: That’s well. I was really wrong then (laughter). After the album came out and I listened to it, I thought “Ah”. I think I was immersed in the emotions while recording and ended up shouting like that. Q: What’s the specific reason why you feel you were wrong? RM: First off, I didn’t even live in the ‘west side’… And even if that song had a G-Funk sound, what I shouted wasn’t the way to respect the west coast hip-hop musicians. I believe there are many meanings inside the words “Westside Till I Die”. Sweat, struggles, pride, etc. Isn’t it a phrase that compressed all these factors of life. Q: Are you saying that you overlooked the weight and complex undertones that the phrase has within hip-hop? RM: That’s right. I believe it’s different from words like “Yo!” or “Check It!”. As a result, I was thoughtless. Q: Are you admitting it to be a mistake? RM: Further than a mistake, it was a wrong. I have nothing to say.

x

[sundara--karma]

Interview: Sundara Karma

(Lotus Play Beats, 15 Nov 2015)

You guys have relentlessly toured with tunes like ‘Indigo Puff’ and ‘Flame’ – could you describe being on stage at a mental gig in 3 words?

Monkey Saturated Wonder

I read that Sundara Karma means ‘beautiful karma’. Our site name comes from Thich Naht Hahn’s ‘no mud no lotus’ saying, alluding to the culmination of graft, craft and shitty circumstances coming together to make something beautiful, like a song. Just a nice thought, really. Is the band name more “a lovely idea” than an influence on the music?

It’s so much more than just “a lovely idea”, it bleeds through into our everyday life at all times. It’s our ethos and fundamental message.

You’re headlining the Lotus Play Beats Festival (humor me)– who are 5 other bands you’d want in the lineup with you?

The War On Drugs, Arcade Fire, The Maccabees, TV On The Radio and Swim Deep.

If you had to listen to five songs for the rest of your days, what would they be?

This kind of thing is always hard to answer because it’s very much a day to day thing. Today I guess it would be:

Good Vibrations – Beach Boys

All Night Long – Lionel Richie

September – Earth Wind & Fire

Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations

You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates

Was there a show growing up that made you think “this is unfucking real, I have to do this”?

I remember when we were 13 we went to Reading Festival and caught The Vaccines and Bombay Bicycle Club. Throughout both of those performances I thought, “Fuck me, I WANT TO DO THIS”.

I really dig ‘Flame’ and read that it’s essentially a reference to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. Was that a tough one to write and weave the right meaning into?

No not at all, I don’t think I would have stuck with it if it was proving to be difficult. These kind of things should be easy and effortless, if it’s not then it’s not gunna feel forced and the end result will suffer – or perhaps make you suffer. I have wanted to write a song about this allegory ever since I first heard it. It’s such an old story, but still so relevant.

A lot of artists talk about the indie “sell out” which I think is a super subjective term (and not necessarily always true)– are you quite adamant not to ‘sell out’ to a more mainstream market?

I don’t really care about this sort of stuff, I just want to be happy and caring about trivia like “selling out” is a complete blockade.

How much does image play a role in what you’re doing? Interaction on social media and how you treat fans is so pivotal today – you’re quite good at acknowledging fans, which is lovely. Do you like that approachable perception?

It is socially expected of an artist now to be as accessible and approachable as they possible can due to the technological advancements in our day and age. There is no longer mystery, instead personal connection. I think this is a beautiful thing. I am very much for breaking down the facade of fame and idealising of celebrities.

FAN QUESTIONS

Sophie F. – You’ve said that you’ve enjoyed writing about consciousness and spiritual things as well as sex and angst – would you ever write a tune about Freud?

Absolutely, I actually need to read more of Freud’s work. His psychoanalytic theory on the id, ego and superego really interest me though…could defs be a song there!

Gianni H. – What would be your major at university if you went that route?

I would’ve quite liked to have been a counsellor or English/art teacher of some sort so something related to those career options.

Anna O. – On a perfect Fall Sunday in London, what would you be doing?

Writing music. Writing and spending time with my friends is basically all I do. That and breathing, eating etc…

Ryan L. – When are you coming to BOSTON?!

As soon as our label chucks enough money at us to get us over there! []

[sundara--karma]

An exclusive interview with Sundara Karma

(via TMRW Magazine,12 November 2015)

Reading-based four piece ­Sundara Karma formed at the young age of fourteen. Five years down the line, the young band spent their formative years forging a recognizable sound, but perhaps not one that should be called signature. “I don’t think we’ve found a blueprint yet, but I don’t want to,” explains singer Oscar Lulu, “I don’t want to ever get comfortable.”

The band has seen several name changes over the years, but ultimately decided on Sundara Karma, a name that translates to “beautiful karma” in Hindi, because of their interest in Easter philosophies. “It just meant something more to us than our other names, which were really shit, and they didn’t really have any meaning behind them.”

The band’s start at such a young age was surprisingly natural, “The first time we all met we were stood in the studio together and it just sort of felt right,” recalls bassist Dom Cordell. Drummer Haydn Evans agrees, “We’ve just always done it. Oscar and I met when we were eight, started a band when we were eight, and here we are eleven years down the line still doing the same thing.” Guitarist Ally Baty chimes in, adding that there was never any other option for the group – they’re right where they should be.

“It was a really weird time to be honest. We were only 17, we were still in school,” says Lulu of “Freshbloom,” the band’s debut release. He continues, “We were looking for management at that point, that was it. We put the song online and we figured if someone heard it and wanted to manage us, wicked. It got blown out of proportion.” Baty adds that they “didn’t really know how to handle” the attention. Things died down after a handful of live shows following the release. “It was just so scrappy,” recollects Lulu, “we played that first London show with nowhere near a full set, I was adlibbing most of the words, and I didn’t even have the proper lyrics or vocal melody for some of these tracks.”

Years of practice has resulted in a targeted improvement of Sundara Karma’s live performances. “We’re so much more mature and grown up, and professional in the respect that the songs we have and are playing are actually finished. They have lyrics and meaning and stuff,” laughs Lulu. Their first gig drove the band to work toward bettering not just their music, but their live shows especially – but not because it resulted in a loss of attention from labels. “In terms of taking it more seriously to impress the industry, I don’t know if that was the motivation. To be a good live band I think itself is our motivation. We just weren’t a good live band, but I think we’re gradually getting there.” The notion of a band not concerning themselves with industry attention isn’t entirely believable in this day and age, but considering Sundara Karma’s experiences at such a young age, it appears to be an honest sentiment.

Sundara Karma’s hard work towards refining their live performances landed the band support slots for bands like Swim Deep, Wolf Alice, Circa Waves, and most recently The Wombats. They were also given a coveted space on the lineup of several festivals, the band referring to Reading as a highlight. “Reading was great, because it’s a home show, but you know what? I think these headline shows are going to be really special,” Lulu predicts of their first headline tour.

Along with support and festival slots, EP I proved successful with support from BBC Radio 1, bringing them so far as to receive an invitation from Huw Stephens to perform at the legendary Maida Vale studios. Huw Stephens went on to premiere one of Sundara Karma’s singles, ‘Flame,’ a song inspired by Plato’s ‘Allegory of the Cave.’ When writing, inspiration sometimes comes from narratives but other times it’s more personal. Lulu contemplates, “I’ll write about anything that inspires me. If something’s not great, then I’ll write about it and make it more of a cathartic process than anything.”

Earlier this year, Sundara Karma traveled to Berlin to record their debut album. When asked why they chose that particular city, Cordell responds, “When we did a European tour with Circa Waves, Berlin was our favorite place. We just fell in love with it as soon as we got off the bus.” They speak highly of the city and their experience, noting that their studio was located next to train tracks. Some might find the surrounding sounds irritating, but Sundara Karma chose to embrace their environment. “We recorded the sounds, like the trains going past and people speaking German. That’s going on the record, so it was really nice to have that. It makes it more than just a song,” explains Lulu.

To tide us over, Sundara Karma have treated us to their second release, EP II. A dynamic collection of four songs, including a collaboration with singer-songwriter Marika Hackman, it’s evident that Sundara Karma have continued to experiment and improve in the lead up to their album.

Just days after the end of their first headline tour the band announced their plans to do it again. Sundara Karma will be back on the road in February and March next year, embarking on a 17 date UK tour. The tour includes a date at London’s Dingwalls, a venue that sees shows from some great acts, and it’s odds-on that Sundara Karma’s performance will stand out above others. []

[rustynr]

ONE-EYED DOLL Interview: Discordianism in a coffee shop

ONE-EYED DOLL Interview: Discordianism in a coffee shop

2015 One-Eyed Doll interview by Brenton Clutterbuck 

Appropriately it was Chaos that led me to a chance encounter with rockers One-Eyed Doll. I was part-way through a project doing interviews with ‘Discordians’; members of a semi-serious parody religion that celebrates chaos, confusion and disorder. The figurehead of Discordia is the Goddess Eris, whose act of throwing a golden apple with the…

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I AM IN ACTUAL TEARS WHAT HAVE I DONE

2015 interview x 2012 out of my limit

[rustynr]

DIVIDED MULTITUDE Interview: Keyboardist talks influences, new self-titled album

DIVIDED MULTITUDE Interview: Keyboardist talks influences, new self-titled album

Divided Multitude interview with Eskild Kløften

Twenty years ago, Norwegian progressive metal band, Divided Multitude began independently releasing demos, until their debut album Inner Selfwas released through Sensory Records in 1999. Flash forward, through many festivals and tours, including ProgPower Europe in the early 2000’s, to ProgPower USA in 2014, the band proudly holds six full length…

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