1.At what age did your love of music first begin, and when did you
decide that music was something that you wanted to be a part of?
My first memories are of songs, of artists and their mystique
My mom was in The Industry, so I was surrounded by music
all the time from day one. Its as natural to me as air is.
2.As a band, how did you all first meet and how would you say your
personalities and musical ideas blend together?
I met Troy a long time ago
I stalked him because hes
one of the best, most angular and yet soulful guitarists around. Through
Troy playing in Mark Lanegans band, I met Norm Block and Eddie
Nappi, who was also Troys bandmate in ENEMY. All of us in this
band have a dark side thats predominant, and Id say dark
humour as well, so thats a uniting factor musically and in terms
of personality for our group.
3.If you were to compile a Spotify Playlist for me featuring some
of your favourite music, what songs including one of your own
would you definitely add to it?
Of our songs, I think The Sting, which is on our debut album (set
for release in September 2009), because its deceptively simple
but biting and sexy. In terms of other artists
I think Hang On
To Yourself by Bowie, Champs by Wire, Charborg by Pinback, Needles In
The Camels Eye by Brian Eno and from T.Rex, The Slider. On our
last tour, I was listening a lot to this new band from Sweden called
The Flare Up. I love all their songs, but particularly Whip Em
Hard, Whip Em Good. I love Swedish Rock!
4.A couple of important figures in The Music Business are trying their
best to help up-and-coming musicians. Firstly, Radioheads Manager,
Brian Message, has just launched Polyphonic an artist-friendly
record label that helps artists keep their copyright. And secondly,
Trent Reznor recently posted a lengthy essay on NINs Official
Forum, advising young artists / bands how to best deal with the industry.
Do you think this is a positive step and whats the best advice
youve ever received?
Its like the Wild, Wild West in music right now. Were
all cowboys. It takes a lot of balls to enter an industry thats
in such transition, but if you want to make music, you dont care,
and you just charge forward like a bull. I think anyone that advocates
for artists rights are taking a positive step. And the best advice
Ive ever received is that no one knows anything. It
gives you infinite freedom.
5.When it comes to Sweetheads music, do you have complete artistic
control / creative freedom + what was the first and last song that you
recorded for your debut album?
I wouldnt dare let anyone tell me to change a lyric or a
melody
You shouldnt second-guess yourself, nor should you
let the people working with you. Bertrand Russell once said something
that always resonated with me which is, Between the artist and
the bureaucrat there must always be a profound mutual antagonism.
I love that. So you wanted to know the first song we recorded for our
album
I think that was a track called Other Side. The last song
we recorded I actually mentioned before, which is called The Sting.
We recorded it last week. Its still fresh and sweaty.
6.Do you think the days of album releases being an event
are over, and growing up, was there ever a record that you just couldnt
wait to buy and listen to?
Maybe event releases could be over, but so what? Times
change and thats alright. None of us know anyway whats next
and it doesnt matter, because it will change no matter what, and
right itself eventually, if need be. You know, I liked so much music
when I was younger that I couldnt possibly pick out something
I was excited for
It was all rapturous and titillating!
7.Some people feel that the significance of lyrics is being lost through
downloading, due to a smaller number of music buyers looking at CD booklets,
or incorrect words being posted on websites. Are lyrics important to
you and what are the main themes of your songs?
Lyrics are like the vertebrae of the vocal melody
They dont
always have to mean something super profound, but they should have a
good structure. I, personally, like to write lyrics that follow a thought,
a path, a storyline
I would never want to print them, though!
I think people should listen to a track and learn the lyrics in their
own way. If they learn them wrong, then thats their own subconscious
putting in the meaning. And THAT means something. In terms of the main
lyrical themes running through the album
I would say I mostly
write about disgust, disbelief, triumph over stupidity, and lust.
8.What inspires you outside of music?
Travel
The world
People in the world
And peoples
art and their passions.
9.A lot of musicians talk of how playing live on stage, fills them
with feelings of being both vulnerable and invincible. Is
this the same for you and which songs do you most enjoy performing?
Im relatively new to performing
Ive been playing
shows on and off for about seven months
But its an incredible
experience
I understand the vulnerable part, but for
me, I just let that go and try to feel comfortable with the audience,
maybe even a little naughty, but I would never say invincible.
I think you always need to feel humble and excitable. I like playing
all of our songs for the audience
Im too new to this to
be bored by anything yet!
10.If you could put together a fantasy Guest List featuring musicians,
producers, writers, poets, artists, actors, film directors anyone
that you admire really with the guarantee that all of these people
would turn up to watch one of your shows, who would you most like to
invite?
That is a HUGE question! Oh, for poets, maybe Goethe, if he was
still alive. For artists, assuming you mean musical, I am inspired by
all my friends in the QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE camp, so all of them,
plus so many other artists that I would want around that Id make
you cry if you had to read the list. I dont have any interest
in actors, and for film directors: I would like to raise Kubrick from
the dead and have him be there. I like Scorsese, too.
11.Sweethead have a classically cool rock n roll image,
but who for you, have been some of the sharpest dressed bands and artists
over the past 50 years?
Bowie, Blondie, shit
the Ramones!
12.And as the NME sometimes asks, Who Is The Coolest Rock Star
Of All-Time?
David Bowie. Or Keith Richards, I suppose. I dont know.
Everyones ultimately human.
13.Theres a real youthful energy in Sweetheads music, but
of all your favourite artists / groups, which songs do you feel best
capture both the spirit of rock n roll and the invincibility
of youth, e.g. The Undertones Teenage Kicks?
I know this sounds so horribly self-serving, but I like our song
called The Great Disruptors, because it was written in that who
gives a fuck frame of mind. Its about getting out of your
narrow-minded environment and out from under the influence of losers
and fucking doing your own thing, which I find to be at the core of
Rock N Roll. Yeah!
14.Can you tell us what we can expect from your debut album, and
what your biggest hopes are for Sweethead long-term?
World domination, of course. On a less cocky note, Ive seen
Troys other band, QOTSA, slay the world with their live shows,
and Id love to experience some of that! I wanna travel with the
band for years and years and make videos and short films and art and
loads and loads of music!
15.Lastly, chips or cream buns?
Ohhhhh, no question: chips! I prefer savoury over sweet any day.
Salty is where its at.
A very special thanks to Serrina, and to Mike @ Charm
Factory, for all of their time and help.
www.sweethead.net
www.myspace.com/sweetheadmusic
We Can Be The Great Disruptors
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