Lucky Dragons is a man/woman band from LA who cut and paste clips of sound to make some of the most simultaneously beautiful and abrasive music you’ve ever heard. Field recordings abound in his music, mixed with a deft electronic hand with odd blips and bleeps and the occasional acoustic riff that compose the backbone of his sound. Music that starts when human skin gets in touch with human skin. This should make for an interesting, touchy, feely evening at the Hirshhorn, wehre they’re playing tonight, so to mentally prep you, we sent William after them to as 16 questions. No more, no less.
1. Have you ever had one of your songs mistaken for a broken kitchen appliance?
i’ve had cds returned from the pressing plant with apology notes saying there was something broken but it was in the master… yes it sounds broken sometimes i guess. what does “appliance” mean?
2. In interviews, you’ve called yourself a “trickster.” Do you feel like you’re playing a trick on your audience?
no, no, no, “trickster” means you jump between contexts, or combine them, play different roles. its from folklore.
3. I noticed that you’re playing the Whitney – how do you feel about playing a museum?
museums are the best place to be. especially if they are free. they’re usually pretty democratic and comfortable for everyone. usually. sometimes they actually amplify divisions… but either way, you get a lot of very different people together in a very open-minded state.
4. Do you feel like Hawks and Sparrows innately communicates its anti-war message, or are you afraid that that message could be
completely lost on audiences?
people already understand. i like “innately communicating” though, it opens up the possibility of communicating things i didnt initially intend to transmit.
5. What’s the worst audience reaction you’ve ever experienced?
getting all of my possessions stolen after the show from off of the stage. even my clothes and records and stuff.
6. If you could write a cracking pop tune for a big star like Beyonce, would you?
yes, but i don’t think it’s a matter of anything holding me back.
7. If you could have any Hollywood star fall in love with you (as did the guy from Coldplay), who would it be?
bad question! can i say that?
8. Do you draw any inspiration from earlier similar works to yours, such as Aphex Twin’s more playful work or V/VM or Chessie?
ya totally! i’m too involved to think about “similar” but i am definitely inspired by those guys. standing on the shoulders of giants.
9. Have you ever seen your records in the sale bin at a record store? If so, how did that make you feel?
ya in hamburg. it still had the price in deutsch marks instead of euros. it made me feel like a part of something, like change and waste and history and culture bigger than i could conceive of. i guess it made me feel like i had made something that now existed in the world in spite of people or taste or anything like that. it just took up space!
10. Are you proud that so many of your releases have sold out and are collectible?
no, i don’t care. music should be free, and it kind of is, and it totally will be.
11. Have you ever had a fan request that you make a certain type of song?
if they did, i think i didn’t hear them right.
12. Do you have groupies?
it’s more like a book club. we meet once a week and sit in a circle quietly and discuss things politely as a group, taking turns and listening intently and eating snacks.
13. What’s your ideal job? Now, what’s realistic for you to actually do for a living?
good question. good question. lets everybody think about it! everybody!
14. What was the inspiration for Bleach on Bleach?
i’m always confused by the question of “inspiration”… in my experience, its just like ideas that are in the world, and the ones that seem good, i do them. its like being at the grocery store and remembering you were supposed to get some fruit, and thinking “i like pineapples” and then figuring out if you can carry pineapples home from the grocery store while riding your bicycle, and then just carrying it out. everything you will know you already know in some way, maybe. and everyone you’ve ever met you will meet again. its very emotional, but not very inspiring, i can’t say. maybe my intention with that record was to let the dead speak?
15. Do you think you could make a living from your music?
ya i’m doing it now! i just try to live real simple, you know?
16. Do you consider yourself an activist?
yes, i advocate the cause of listening to eachother better.
want more:
befriend them socially
catch them tonight at the Hirshhorn After Hours
let me just note for the record that i intended to contribute some questions to someone else’s interview. i had no idea this would be the sum total of the interview, and, it was transmitted and written up by someone else.
obviously the tone of the questions alternated between jokey and snarky, intending to go between serious questions by someone else.
and i would be glad to do a follow up (especially on the anti-war question, the ideal job, and the trickster item).
call me.
April 5, 2008 at 10:14 am