Twelv considered hundreds of bands before deciding which to include in issue 2. As a New York based magazine, Twelv is always on the hunt for emerging music talent in the New York area. When our editor in chief spotted Motive, he knew this dirty-rock band from Brooklyn was fit for Twelv.
These four Seattle transplants are rapidly taking NYC by storm. Since moving to the big city, Motive has shed their casual West Coast persona, donning a sleek yet gritty New York style cool enough that Twelv tapped Motive to record a Talking Head's cover for our Jean Paul Gaultier fashion video.
Twelv jumped at the opportunity to present Motive at The Studio at Webster Hall. It only upped the ante when three more stars of the Brooklyn music scene joined the bill. Friday will include a performance by Computer Magic, the solo project of Danielle Johnson, the rock quartet the Starlight Girls and DJ Ricky Tempo. In one short year, Johnson has recorded over 17 lo-fi/electro-pop singles and signed with two labels. Her Computer Magic project could be described as half 60's nostalgia, half Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. Although the Starlight Girls refuse to be confined by anything as simple as genre, this popular musical troupe features harmonious female vocals inspired by psychedelic experimentalism.
We asked each artist to share anecdotes of their adventures in music.
We felt like we were in a movie:
We felt like a movie when we were in this movie called Care. It filmed last year, and our role was the band that the protagonist played drums in, so Chris, our real drummer, played the parts off camera while the actor mimed along.
Favorite tour moment:
It was a night we call the Old Chicago Car Switch (laughs). After the show we met some new friends and after ten minutes of trying to start their car, we all realized that this car belonged to a stranger, and was just an unlocked identical model and color. So much for She-car-go!
Funniest live slip-up:
Nick tried to say "Thank you Seattle!" in a Spinal Tap English accent, and it came out sounding like "fuck you Seattle!". They were insulted. We weren't even in Seattle.
First gig:
Nick played saxophone in his elementary school talent show and his teacher thought he was good enough to have his own CD someday. He called him CD Man.
My post-show cool-down (or re-warm-up):
Eating dinner at a good local restaurant somewhere near by, assuming they're still open
Most fated gig:
My laptop broke at Bottom Lounge in Chicago opening for Ladyhawke.
Favorite locale I've toured through:
I like different places for different reasons. Montreal was great, really liked the area.
My funniest live slip-up:
When a beach ball we threw out hit me in the face.
I felt like I was in a movie:
When someone was videotaping me.
My post-show cool-down (or re-warm-up):
Cool down happens the next day. Yoga.
I still can't believe I've shared a bill with:
We once opened for Sharon Jones. Her manager wrote us like a week before the show because we’d sent her a fan letter.
The best on-road meal I've had:
Crab legs at this very nice family’s house in California.
Favorite locale I've toured through:
New Orleans. We played a show at a giant treehouse.
My funniest live slip-up:
I once played an outdoor solo show where my keyboard broke and I could only get five notes to work. I did a set with those five notes. It was awkward
I felt like I was in a movie:
When we played at a high school youth group’s house party.
Nearest and dearest tour memory:
After a long stretch of shows we found ourselves in this hundred jet fiber optic disco hottub in the woods in California. The water changed colors as it opened our corresponding chakras.
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