This is a page where I will be putting up some of the interviews I´ve done and some new. Also a lot because of the fact that the zine that I write for is in Swedish. Happy reading! To get to Her Name In Lights, click here
The Haircuts (unedited and uncut)
This is an interview that I did with them this summer:
-How did you two start making music together, with one living in Canada and one in USA?
TERESA:
i believe it was thru friendster that ryan and i became acquainted. at the time, i was keenly interested in meeting new people to collaborate on a new project w/, so when i met ryan on friendster and i found out we enjoyed much of the same kinds of music, i proposed teaming up on our own project together (as i had already forged my first collaboration with raoul popgun some months earlier) and so the haircuts were born. we agreed that ryan would write the first batch of songs, record them on 4-track, and then send them to me, whereupon i would go ahead and add my parts to the mix, and send the tape back to him for the final mixdown. 3 of the songs that appear on the yellow mica ep were a result of this initial tape exchange.
RYAN:
Like Teresa said, we met at friendster! We swapped emails since then. She was into long distance collaborations and i haven't tried it before, so i asked her if she'd be interested in doing a project with me after i heard her band, Sarah, Plain + Tall. She was interested so we started sending tapes to each other and record our parts on 4-track cassette. This long distance collaboration is actually fun!
- How long have you been making music as the Haircuts?
RYAN:
I think it has been 2 years. We haven't been recording a lot but Teresa already sent me some new stuff. Still waiting for it.
- How is it compared to you earlier bands/groups?
TERESA: i think it's similar in that the songs are still pretty simple in structure, though i'd say the haircuts is a little bit cleaner sounding on account of ryan who's a great musician and actually knows a thing or two about recording techniques. i'd compare the haircuts much more closely to paint your wagon red than sarah, plain + tall though (not that anyone has heard of those bands anyway, but whatever)... i think an obvious difference between the haircuts and apple orchard is that you don't hear any girls singing on the songs by apple orchard. but ryan's obviously in a much better position to comment on the similarities or differences between the haircuts and apple orchard, so i won't say any more on the subject. i actually think all the songs i write sound more or less the same, regardless of what band i write or record them for. if you were to hear a song i wrote for sp+t, and then hear one i wrote for the haircuts, you'd definitely know they were written and recorded by the same person.... not that they sound identical, 'cause i think the haircuts sound is unique from any of my other bands, and a lot of that has to do w/ ryan, but overall i think the similarities outnumber the differences...
RYAN:
Sound-wise, it's different from my other bands, definitely. In Apple Orchard, it's mostly melancholic songs, a strong Sarah records influence, The Haircuts are definitiely more twee, thanks to Teresa's singing. Sodajerk is more on guitars, like noise pop. The different influences on each project have something to do with it. And i always try to write songs that are not similar from each project that i get involved with.
-What do you do when you're not making music?
TERESA:
do you mean like a hobby or something, something of interest? 'cause apart from music, there's really not a whole lot that i do. i'm still in school (which i hate) and that takes up a lot of my time, and i work a few hours part-time on the side. i'm a big thrift store junky, and make at least one outing to the nearby thrift store a week, though lately i can't seem to find anything, and that depresses me.
of course i like *listening* to a lot of music, and discovering new bands, and trading mixtapes w/ my friends or new ppl i meet on the internet. i also co-host a radio show called the electric lampshade once a week at the local college station, chrw. it's probably on at a listenable hour over in sweden i bet; though it's on super early over here: from 7-9 in the morning, when a lot of people are still asleep!
here's actually what i have listed on my friendster profile under the interests/hobbies section, though it's been a long while since i baked any cookies: music, making & trading tapes, the environment, thrift shopping, writing songs, collecting old things, playing tennis, meat free straight-edge living, baking cookies, taking naps, drawing pictures, eating sesame seeds, long phone calls etc.
RYAN:
Nothing much, really. Aside from working part-time (I'm still in the process of job-hunting), I patiently wait for some cool gigs to come to California. I'm a huge music fan, so I always search for new music -- online, record bars (bargain bins especially). I'm a big basketball fan too, so I always look forward to watching games on TV and i love video games.
-The title of the Ep "It´s always better when we´re together",
could you explain it?
TERESA:
well, when i was thinking of a name for the ep, i already had in mind the photo of the two little girls holding hands. i wanted to come up w/ something cute, that reflected the artwork, and the music that we make, but i also wanted a title that largely summed up or captured on some level the feelings and attitudes of so many indiepop kids i know. and for that reason, i think the title is pretty befitting of the ep, and i like it because it works on so many different levels. it's kind of a reference to the two girls on the cover, as well as a statement about mine and ryan's collaboration: "it's always better when [we work] together". but first and foremost, it's just a cute title that, in its own simple way, echoes one of the dominating beliefs of twee culture.
-Which one of you write the lyrics, or do you do it together?
TERESA:
whichever one of us writes the song. it's usually ryan; he writes most of the songs (about 2/3rd's worth) and i usually pitch in w/ a couple of my own. we also like doing cover songs as well: on the first ep we covered a song by oklahoma scramble, and on the new ep, we've decided to cover a go sailor track which i can't wait to record.
RYAN:
Well, The Haircuts, being a long distance collaboration, me and Teresa write the songs seperately, I wish we could do it on the phone you know, like jam a song or something. When we decided to give The Haircuts a go, I had written about 6 or 7 songs and sent them to Teresa. Teresa liked them and she wrote a few more...On the Yellow Mica EP I wrote the lyrics for 3 songs, Teresa wrote "Summer" and the other one was a cover of Oklahoma Scramble as Teresa mentioned. We try to split our contributions, like 2 of each then a cover song.
-How did it come that you released a record with Yellow mica?
TERESA:
i think ryan can better answer this question since it was ryan who first got in touch with them. i think it probably all started when ryan would have sent martin a copy of our demo, which he liked, and so he emailed ryan w/ an offer to release our songs on his label. ryan then passed the email along to me, and asked for my opinion. i wasn't too keen on the idea of a cd-r release at first, but when i found out that yellow mica was a *swedish* label, and that they had previously released music by second-hand furniture, i suggested to ryan that it would probably be a good way to go. he agreed, and not long thereafter, our ep was out, and copies were for sale.
RYAN:
I've never really heard about Yellow Mica before. I was working on the Apple Orchard website and I'm adding links on it. I remember "Google-ing" Apple Orchard and I found out that Yellow Mica added the old Apple Orchard link on their site. So i emailed them to thank them and mentioned that I'd love to send them Haircuts songs then that's it. I checked out their roster of artists, great line-up. I'm really glad that they like our stuff.
-What do you think about cd-r releases?
TERESA:
since the haircuts first ep, i've developed a lot more respect for cd-r labels than i had in the past. i mean, really, it doesn't get any more D.I.Y. than a cd-r label, 'cause these are just ppl who love music, but who just don't have the wherewithal to put it out on cd or vinyl. so instead, they make their music available on cd-r, and they don't give a fuck about making any money off of it. to me, music is music, no matter what format it happens to be on. of course, bands and labels are taken more seriously when they're involved in making music on cd or vinyl, but i try not hard to let that reality take anything away from the work that these musicians and labels are doing. to me, cd-r labels are doing today what k records was doing in the late 80s/early 90s w/ tapes, and what raoul has been doing for the past ten years with popgun. it really doesn't get any more punk than this, though sometimes it takes a bit of effort to be reminded of this truth.
RYAN:
I think it's of big help to the small labels especially for small bands like us for the music to be heard. In this time of mp3 downloads, it's almost too hard to land a label that would release a small band like us. I don't really worry about which format our songs would come out. As long as someone's interested in helping us to put our stuff out, that's fine --that's already a huge compliment.
- Could you tell me about the songs on the ep?
TERESA: are you referring to lyrical content w/ that question? i guess the songs ryan are i write, true to the spirit of twee culture, are very simplistic in nature. i can't really tell you specifically about what ryan's songs are about, but the one that i wrote on the ep, 'summer', kind of expresses my feelings of disappointment, longing, and isolation that i had at the time... which isn't to say it's this great song that touches on these immense themes central to the human condition, but they're kind of recurring themes in my own life at least, which for that reason are often echoed in the content of the songs. the song 'summer' addresses all that, w/ special attention to this bitter truth: that life is unfair, especially when it comes to love, or matters of the heart. as for the 'oklahoma scramble' cover, i chose it 'cause it's obviously an amazingly catchy song, but beyond the infectious music itself, the lyrics are just so honest and beautiful in their simplicity. that girl jenny in the band sure could write great songs: "...got no view outside my window, but i don't mind/ 'cause i can hear the city just fine..." it's a crime this band didn't stay together long enough to record and release more songs...
RYAN: i actually wrote the first batch of songs (3 of them got included on the EP) for teresa to sing, i didn't plan on singing on the haircuts but teresa kinda forced me to..just kidding. she suggested that it'd be better if both of us sing. I got away not singing on "5mph". that song's about getting lost with the one you love. "umbrella day" was actually inspired by the beatles' "rain", ironically, for me it sounded like a summer song. "it's in the stars" was the only song that i really planned to have my vocals on. i wrote it with boy/girl harmonies in mind. very much influenced by red sleeping beauty. "it's in the stars" and "umbrella day" are much more alike lyrically,they're both about sticking together.
- Any new releases planned?
TERESA: yeah, we're currently working on a new ep which will likely consiste of 6 songs (5 new ones plus a cover of go sailor, as mentioned)... we've just begun recording, so it'll probably be a while yet before we'll have it finished up. i'd give it a couple months at least. we're both pretty excited about the new batch of songs though. it's gonna be a bit of a departure from the sound on the first ep.
RYAN: we should have a cassette EP out on Italy's best kept secret label. not sure when's the release though. we began work on some new material already.
- What is in your opinion the best record so far this year?
TERESA:
um, i can't really think of anything that's really impressed me so far in 2005, but i'm a little bit out of the loop when it comes to new releases. i still think 'every night' by Saturday Looks Good To Me is *amazing*, even though that came out in the fall of /04.
RYAN:
i love teenage fanclub's "man-made". i have waited for a new album for 5 years. they never cease to amaze me. i really love bearsuit's "cat spectacular" also, it was released here only this year but i believe it came out in the UK last year, it's a close second.
- Have you played live?
TERESA: no, but i had a dream once that we played live together. we were opening for the diskettes i think. ...being on opposite sides of the continent makes it pretty difficult for us to get together (we've never actually met in real life before) but hopefully one of these days we'll get to perform live together. maybe at a swedish popfest or something
RYAN: never. we haven't met her yet! i know that's a bit weird but i'd sure love to play live with her. definitely!
- How do you like the music from Sweden?
RYAN: I love the music! i remember being obsessed with The Cardigans when i heard "emmerdale" and "life" in the early-mid 90s. then i discovered bands like eggstone, club 8, acid house kings, red sleeping beauty, to name a few. i'm a huge swedish indiepop fan! there's definitely a Swedish indiepop influence in some of our songs. I think Swedish music has influenced a lot of bands in the Philippines (where I'm from, originally) -- a lot of Swedish pop fans there just so you know.
TERESA: i think it's awesome of course! if i knew swedish, i'd seriously consider moving to gothenburg one day.
- Whats your impression of Sweden?
TERESA: i think a lot of us in north america idealize the pop scene in sweden to enormous proportions. but as w/ any scene, i'm sure it grows stale or tiresome from time to time, and the kids get cynical and bored of the fads and wanna shake things up or tear things down. but that's just the nature of art and culture i suppose...always in a state of flux. but the bottom line: what you guys have in gothenburg is really really awesome and amazing, even if you don't always realize it or appreciate it. i could only wish for one tenth of the scene you guys have over there for my pathetic, conservative city. even a big exciting city like toronto is a bit of a drag when the only music kids really get excited about these days is new wave disco-punk. somehow pop music just hasn't caught on w/ anyone here on the eastcoast, whereas indiepop generates a lot more enthusiasm and respect out on the westcoast. (places like portland, oregon come to mind)... and who knows why that is. maybe it's something in the water. but yeah, you can't help but listen to the happy birthdays and feel a sense of longing and alienation... or you'll put on a 7" by the fat tulips and fantasize about a new life in gothenburg. i sometimes think of moving to sweden and i imagine having an experience similar to the famous bee girl from the blind melon video 'no rain', when at the end of the song, she finds a field of other bees just like herself, so she never has to feel sad, lonely, or like a misfit ever again... (aw) not that sweden is some kind of slice of heaven of course (or maybe it is) but there's no doubt that it's infinitely cooler than living in shitty london, ontario... or even toronto or probably any other canadian city for that matter. besides that, my understanding is that sweden is a very socialist country, (much more so than canada) which obviously rocks!
RYAN: i'm thinking it's always sunny there, it's probably because of the "summery sound" of the songs. now you made me more curious. what i do know is that there's a FANTASTIC indiepop scene there.
-Teresa if you had to choose between moving to USAor Sweden for the rest of your life which would you choose? Ryan if you had to choose between Canada or Sweden which would you choose?
TERESA: yeah, i'd definitely move to sweden before i moved to the US, for sure! the language barrier would be pretty challenging to overcome though, and swedish seems extremely difficult to learn...
RYAN: I would love to try and live in Sweden! with all the great bands there!?!? living in Sweden would be a good retirement plan
Thanks a lot! we had fun answering these questions. Her Name In Lights
A small interview I did just recently with Mary Wyer:
How long has Her Name In Lights existed?
-In September 2003 I took 3 songs to simon holmes (ex Hummingbirds) and asked him if he would help me produce them >we asked Alison Galloway (smudge) to drum and my boyfriend almond cafarella also joined. We formed just to record but we had a good time doing it so we started playing in June 2004
The name, is it from the expression “...her name in lights”? (I
googled and
found out that it´s a cocktail), The cocktail? Or does it have a
completely
different story behind it?
-We recorded the album at a cottage in the country – we stayed there for a week. We took a white board with us and every day we would brainstorm band names. Simon wrote up “the Mary Wyer Experience” which they all thought was hilarious & which I was not at all impressed with. Everyday they embellished that name on the white board (see picture attached) until it looked like a flashing neon sign. Alison said “look, it’s her name in lights” and the band name was born.
How did it come that you guys teamed up? (a kind of all-star group if
you
ask me!)
-I’ve kind of answered this but Sydney is a small place and we are all friends. I really wanted simon to produce & I love alisons drumming so I was thrilled they said yes. Almond is new to the live scene but he is an amazing songwriter and guitarist so I was happy he said yes too
You have been doing music for a while now, does it still feel as fun
as it
did ten-fifteen years ago?
-Try 20 years ago
The only part that isn’t as much fun is hanging around waiting till very late till you get paid. But that was never much fun. Otherwise I still love it every bit as much. Partly because I have less angst about what people think of me now. It’s for me and whoever wants to listen rather than trying to get noticed
What is in your opinion the biggest difference between now and then?
-It was easier to get gigs as a new band back then because there weren’t as many bands around. But it’s easier now record & to get your songs out for everyone to hear because technology has changed so much
I can’t work out whether is felt more exciting back then because I was younger & new to the whole music making thing. Everything felt underground- like we were all in on a special secret. I’d like to know if that’s how younger people starting bands feel today.
John peel was around then too……
The album feels like a theme album, was that something you intended to
do
or was it just something that happened along the way?
-Yes – we used the 6/8 tempo to keep a theme and we wanted it fairly lo-fi. Most of the songs were written around the same time and about a particular time in my life
The boy story, is it true? And if so, has he heard the record?
-The boy story is true. It’s about someone from EAWS – but not Matt Love.
I don’t know if the boy has heard it because he doesn’t speak to me. I hope he does get to here it one day. That’s really his car I’m sitting on in the CD tray
How was it to have one of you producing it?
-I love having Simon produce my stuff – he’s a legend
How did you decide to do a cover of the Mousse T song?
-Simon & Almond came up with it – simon suggested it and almond came up with the 6/8 tempo. The original is such a bad song – I like the way we made it sound – it’s cheeky
Whats your favourite song on the album?
-“Here she comes”
My boyfriend Almond wrote this one after listening to me whinge about the boy & the car for too many years. He got inside my head & wrote from my point of view. I think it’s such an anthem for making you strong when you feel like you’re falling apart
I understand that you have been playing live, any plans of playing in
Sweden?
-As much as I’d love to – I can’t see the whole band coming over. But Almond & I might make it to Europe next year – so maybe
How do you like playing live?
-I love playing live. It is my number one passion, along with recording
In your opinion what is the best record so far this year? (your record
is
my #1, sucking up, yes hehe.. but it´s true!)
-I’m embarrassed to say that with making my own music and working full time I don’t get to see/listen to enough music.
So I’m sure there are tones of great albums that I haven’t even heard of. BUT – I do love Modern Giant’s new album “satellite nights”. They are an Australian band on popboomerang records. They have these great songs where adam does spoken word over music in his really Australian accent. It makes me quite nostalgic
To make it a bit more Swedish, what´s your (all time) favourite
Swedish
group? And favourite Australian? (There you don´t come #1, The Cats
miaow
takes that one=)
-How could you go past ABBA – and I mean that. SOS is one of my alltime favourite songs. I sing it at any karaoke event. I think I will play it at my wedding next year. They consistently wrote great pop tunes.
Also love the Radio dept.
Asutralian – the Triffids are my alltime favourite.
Well that was about it, to round it all up. What do you have planned
for
the near future?
-We have a whole albums worth of songs to record so that’s the plan….