Menomena
January 18, 2005
ME : So Brent, you're venturing off on your own with this new collaboration with Monster Squad & Marty Schnapf. Please compare and contrast your experience of making music by yourself with making music as part of Menomena.
BRENT : There are two big differences. The first is that working solo is a heckuva lot quicker way to get things done. It had to be. I learned about the "Island Desk" project in November, I think, and now it's January and the performances start on Thursday. That's a very quick turn-around time to get to a finished piece. The second is that the music for "Island Desk" sounds to me like my own diary entries. Therefore, it feels like I can't be objective about it -- in terms of feeling confident that it's good enough to be shared, or that it's quote-unquote "finished." It feels like more of a shot in the dark, despite Tahni's and Marty's reassurances. I hope people like it.
I definitely prefer the music that results from collaboration with Menomena, but I'm thankful for this opportunity to try out some solo work.
ME : Interesting! How would you classify the music you've created for the piece? What are you going to do with it after the performance is over?
BRENT : It's very melodic, loop-based, and largely the result of personal Deeler Sessions. When these Portland performances of "Island Desk" conclude on Sunday, my number one priority will be finishing the 3rd Menomena LP, no matter what. I haven't really made any plans beyond that.
ME : I see. Is the music going to be pre-recorded for the performance, or are you going to play it live like we did for the first Menomena / Monster Squad ("Under an Hour", out now on FILMguerrero Records. Copyright 2005. Do you like it? We hope so. Let us know, ok? We're self-conscious) collaboration?
BRENT : Both and Neither. For "Island Desk," I wrote about 7 songs, comprised of over 25 loops. Each loop is a finished recording -- one loop might be Xylophone together with Acoustic Guitar, for example. These loops will be triggered and layered in real-time using a new little computer program I wrote (again using Max/MSP). In other words, these pre-recorded loops will be performed live via a computer. So, I guess this qualifies me as a Laptop performance artist. Does that make me avant-garde? (Fingers crossed...)
ME : As long as you make sure you hunch behind your laptop, bobbing your head, closing your eyes, and clenching your teeth with just the right amount of angst and alienation to reflect your inner turmoil over being a technologically advanced social outcast.
So how does one go about witnessing this marvelous event?
BRENT : "Island Desk" debuts in Portland this Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Jan 19-22). 8pm. At a venue called "Ghosttown" at 338 NW 6th Ave (at Flanders) in Portland, Oregon. Prices are $14. Tickets are best bought in advance. Please arrive 15-minutes early, etc. For tickets : www.disjecta.com or call (503) 708-5801. The full name of the piece is "Island Desk : my teeny tiny knowledge of nothing." It's a collaboration between Monster Squad (dance), Marty Schnapf (set/art design), Emily Bulfin (media/video), Disjecta (non-profit), and Jayme Hansen (costumes). It's Monster Squad + Marty Schnapf's first performance since "Under an Hour" at T:BA04 over a year ago. "Island Desk" will also be performed in Seattle in February 16-18: http://www.ontheboards.org/
Thanks for caring.
ME : No, thank YOU! Changing topics a little here, how are you feeling about the upcoming Menomena album?
BRENT : I'm so very excited to get back to working on our 3rd LP. Really truly.
ME : Ok, I believe you! Any general predictions for 2006?
BRENT : I'm no psychic, but my gut tellls me that 2006 will test us. (Insert foreboding "Dun-dun-DUN!" music here). What are your predictions?
ME : My predictions? Hmm. Well for starters - and only because you were kind enough to ask - I predict that my "other" band Lackthereof ("Christian the Christian", out now on FILMguerrero Records. Copyright 2005. Are you feeling embarrassed for me yet? I hope so... At least someone should be) will play THIS FRIDAY, JAN 20 at DOUG FIR in lovely Portland. Compared to that, 2006 will be largely uneventful despite the collapse of the global economy.
Thanks for your time, Brent!
Now onto Justin. Justin, you spent five weeks in Australia last October and November. You had a successful instillation of your amazing Theater for One project in the prestigious Melbourne International Arts Festival alongside many of the world's most respected performance artists. I hear you also had some free time on your hands to tour up and down the beautiful Sydney shoreline, surfing, hiking, and indulging yourself in rich Aussie culture along the way. So tell me, what is the most fascinating discovery you made over the course of your exotic travels?
JUSTIN : Toilet water swirls backwards.
ME : Uh... Fun trip, huh? So do you like INXS more or less now?
JUSTIN : Less is more. so I guess... More?
ME : How was that whole Melbourne Arts Festival in comparison to T:BA?
JUSTIN : It was T:BA on steroids! Which then of course leads to hemorrhoids, which then of course leads to brown astroids.
ME : Great analogy (minus the "ogy", of course. Two can play this game) Do you have any plans to release the music you did for your Theater For One project?
JUSTIN : Yes. I released it on MySpace... Or should i call it MyLife!
ME : That's a bit sad, yet strangely familiar (you can still freely download "Yeah" - one of Justin's songs - here*). And how are you feeling about Menomena these days?
JUSTIN : Very good. Today.
ME : Any funny/depressing recording stories?
JUSTIN : Depressing - I do more Menomena recording by myself than with you guys. Funny - I do more Menomena recording by myself than with you guys.
ME (noticing Justin's incredibly sexy facial hair) : So, is cunnilingus** easier with a beard?
JUSTIN : For me, yes. For them, no. Does it matter? Either way you're wearing a beard.
ME : Wow... Um. Yeah, uh, totally. And finally, Joaquin Phoenix: Scar or harelip?
JUSTIN : Harelip, definitely. is cunnilingus easier with a hairlip?
ME : That's supposed to be spelled "H-A-R-E", as in rabbit... Wait, you knew that, didn't you? (sighing audibly) This interview is over. -------
ANYWAY, we're still taking a break from playing shows while trying to get this record finished. As always, you will be kept well informed. Thanks always for your support!
Love,
Danny / Menomena
*http://www.myspace.com/mmmenomena
**naturally, in reference to the Aboriginal definition of "cunnilingus", looselytranslated as, "to hunt and consume the raw flesh of the Dendrolagus, i.e. Tree Kangaroo"