For a voice that has been described as everything from “boozy and out of tune” to a freakish version of Conor Oberst, Thao Nguyen and her band the Get Down Stay Down have accumulated a substantial amount of press leading up to the release of their album, “We Brave Bee Stings and All.”

Even Elle magazine is getting on board, no thanks to that namedropping floozy Nina Garcia. This is well deserved, of course. Their music is familiar and comfortable without ever coming off as lazy, and Thao’s admittedly acquired-taste vocals are a compelling compliment to the lyrics that she says are derived from an “economy of words.” With hints of folk, blues and country, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down are putting out a superb album that balances an honest freshness with a touch of old fashioned sensibility.
Get in on this action Thursday night at Iota, where Thao and the boys (Willis Thompson on drums, Adam Thompson on bass and Frank Stewart providing the magic) will be holding their record release party.

A homecoming of sorts for this NoVa-based band, they are keeping mum about what might be in store for the show, but there’s an off chance for some tears. But probably not. Maybe some gin and Taco Bell, if we’re lucky. I got the chance to ask Thao some heavy-hitting questions in the oh-so-stifling form of “e-mail interview,” where such delightful topics as Cat Power’s impossible baby and proposing marriage to entire audiences came up.

BYT: To preface, I recently read about your upcoming release in a girly fashion magazine. Just how excited ARE you about this new album, label, blossoming hype, etc? Is it a little surreal or just totally fun? Thao Nguyen: The attention is pretty hilarious because anything beyond the feature spot at open mic night is more than I had ever dared to imagine. It is quite surreal. Any bit of news we get about press is quite exciting for around twenty minutes, and then you realize nothing has changed and nothing is proven and you don’t buy the publication you are in because you are broke as a joke. We are glad for any press however [and] we are quite glad for any interest from people outside our families. And most of my family doesn’t even care.

BYT: How did the Get Down Stay Down come to be? How long have you been playing with the guys?
Thao: Willis (drummer, time keeper of our hearts) and I went to William and Mary together. We met adam on tour in Richmond and lured him in with tales of gin pouring from fountains in every venue. Frank recorded and produced and played some sweet guitar on [our first album] “Like the Linen” in his basement, and we lured him in with tales of Taco Bell, also pouring from venue fountains. We are all great friends and these gentlemen are integral.

BYT: Classic interview question #68: Who or what influences your music?
Thao: Short stories of Grace Paley and Lorrie Moore, Motown, 60’s pop/rock. Late 80’s early 90’s hiphop/pop, Lucinda Williams, Django Reinhardt, MIssissippi John Hurt, John Fahey, my interaction with humans.

BYT: How did your NoVa upbringing affect the music that you write? What parts of the area, D.C., your college, etc. can be heard in your songs?
Thao: Um, well, I was bored and lonely a lot and therefore had much time to explore guitar and self-expression. Growing up in the suburbs with friends not accessible by foot offered a lot of alone time. I [also] studied a good bit of Appalachian and blues music in college. I bet that surfaces a fair amount.

BYT: Your album release show is at Iota in Arlington. Is this a bit of an intentional homecoming for you? What can the audience expect out of the show and how is it going to kick off the upcoming tour and the album?
Thao: Iota is our favorite hometown venue. Willis and I return from Europe on the 28th and we play on the 31st. It also marks a bit of a reunion with Adam and Frank, with whom we’ve not played in a few months. We are so excited to share the evening with friends and family. we are proud of what we did, we hope they don’t think it sucks. I cannot reveal what might be in store (mostly because we might not get it together in time.) But i might tear up. Probably not. But maybe.

BYT: Despite the fact that your band is 3/4 men, what do you make of the “female singer-songwriter” label that gets tossed around? How does your music fit in, and more importantly, how is it different?
Thao: I shy away from that label just because of the stigma it conjures. But it is all literally true, I am all those things. I think/hope we have more energy and groove and innovation than that label implies, but I will acknowledge that a lot of my songwriting roots developed within that genre. In the beginning (and I guess in the end) my songs distill to me alone in a room, writing a song on guitar about myself.

BYT: Every reaction I’ve ever heard to your music has lauded your intimate, comfortable lyrics. Who or what do you write about and how do you refrain from every being corny? [It's kind of amazing how much I relate to some of them - "Chivalry" for example]
Thao: I really appreciate economy with words. I also don’t ever have an overwhelming amount to say, so I figure whatever I do get out there should be worthwhile. My intention/aspiration with lyrics has always been to strike something familiar yet different in anyone giving a listen.

BYT: You’ve been compared to a pretty wide array of other musicians - everyone from Conor Oberst to Fiona Apple to Ricky Lee Jones. What’s the most hilarious/dumbstrucking one you’ve heard, and what do you think might be the most accurate (if any)? Thao: If Edie Brickell and Cat Power had a baby, and you woke it up in the middle of the night and asked it to sing. [That’s] fundamentally unsound… unless they adopted or artificially inseminated, but still the baby would not be the biological hybrid intended. I have heard Erin McKeown, which I might agree with. I don’t try for any particular thing. I understand points of reference are needed.

BYT: As an aside that probably shouldn’t print but oh well – a friend of mine came up with the “boozy and out of tune” comment for a recent review of your single, “Beat (Health, Life and Fire).” Is that or is that not the most amazing backwards compliment ever?
Thao: hahaha. I think that launched a slew of commentary alluding to potentially alcoholic behavior. I like it. It’s by far the most original I’ve heard. Out of tune in a sort of in-tune way though, I hope. I’m no Celine Dion.

BYT: What do you think about touring with labelmates Xiu Xiu? Sounds like a pretty epic month. How will your music compliment theirs?
Thao: We are terribly excited to tour with them. We’ve heard only fantastic things.

I was originally worried that we were not cool and tough enough, but what can you do.

I think both shows will engage audiences in their own sways. We will do it by proposing marriage to everyone on the crowd.

BYT: You and the much-hyped Vampire Weekend album are both coming out on January 29th, leaving music critics quivering. That said, what releases, upcoming musicians, etc. are you excited about for 2008?
Thao: Our producer, Tucker Martine, is working with Mirah on a new record, I bet that will be fantastic. Lupe Fiasco, for sure. What else… I wish Gillian Welch would come out with something. Other than that, I am ignorant.

BYT: In our never-ending quest to give new shit to the masses, what good music/movies/goodies have you been enjoying lately?
Thao: I am overwhelmingly underexposed to new things, good and bad shit alike… the new National Geographic (has volcanoes on the cover) is pretty good… movies… I just saw “The Big Lebowski” for the first time the other month. That was funny, I liked it.

want more:
bff Thao on myspace:http://www.myspace.com/thaomusic
and
come see her tonight at Iota

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