DiamondJim asks: What beverage would you advise your
fans to drink while listening to Sunny Border Blue? What beverage should we completely avoid drinking altogether
while listening to the album?
Kristin: Tequila. Herradura Silver. And I would avoid drinking Clamato.
Kate asks: Hi Kristin, When you released Sky Motel you were quoted as saying that it was the first album you've
written where you have been in control of the songs but on your radio interviews for Sunny Border Blue you speak of
the new songs almost as if they were living things with minds of there own over which you have no control so
what I'd like to know is ~ was this a deliberate return to you old style of writing & if so do you plan to attempt
another album like sky Motel in future? by the way I've been lucky enough to hear SBB & I love it! Kate x
Kristin: The songs were definitely beyond my control; it happened suddenly. They took me to hell & back! And I
think it may have been worth it.
Duncan MacDonald asks: What place should everyone go,
once in their Life ?
Kristin: New Zealand, maybe. Maybe Lawrence, Kansas.
dr asks: Do you think there a general theme(s) to SBB? If so what is it/are they?
Kristin: The recurring elements that I've been able to identify are: moths, the word 'fuck' and
there's a third...
'yayyyy, I'm not dead!'
Cormullet asks: Describe the place you are at!
Kristin: Spiritual or physical? Physically it looks like a practice
space. Spiritually I'm still practicing.
Ian Senior asks: Of all the promotional items that have been produced by 4AD + other associated record
companies for your music (Muses & solo), what is the best item you have seen and what is the worst?
Kristin: The worst was probably the Throwing Muses golf tee. The best was Throwing Muses smelling salts.
juno asks: I had a tattoo of your logo done on my back, does fanaticism scare you or do you know we're harmless
really (well i am)
Kristin: I've seen beautiful tattoos, and I appreciate them all. I'm one of your fans.
Bingo asks: Are you hard work?
Kristin: [Billy, deliberately:] No, she's not. [Kristin] Implication, Yes... I am...
Mark Campbell asks: If all your songs were Valentine's chocolates, I'd gorge myself on the lot. But which ones
would you consider to be the most tasty, most dark, most bitter, most sweet, most addictive and most messy?
Kristin: tasty: I hate that word and I'm not going to answer it dark: I don't think I can do this... they're all kinda dark
bitter: Listerine sweet: Summer Street addictive: Like A Dog messy: Hillbilly
Vasco Nunes asks: Hello Kristin. I enjoy very very much your music especially moments like "Strings-ep",
"Throwing Muses" and "The Real Ramona"... I just would like to ask you to describe your musical
career in 3
words (if possible) and you to know that I'm still hopping one day you will come to Portugal for a gig or two, you
have fans here too... Best for you and your family.
Kristin: I am going to hop to Portugal, next spring career in three words? "WEIRD SHIT HAPPENS"
Dunk asks: Thanks for sharing a few not often played tracks in yesterdays set. 'Hook in her Head' was a
fantastic bolt from the blue. What song would you love to do a cover of but can't?
Kristin: Hey Bulldog
Rob McLaughlin asks: What were your five favorite albums from the nineties?
Kristin: I don't think we bought any records in the nineties. Vic Chesnutt - Any record. Latin Playboys, first record.
In Utero; Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual. Pond - the
first record whatever it was called.
Mannie asks: I think your lyrics are magnificent. When you write them, do you try to be as clear as possible, or there
is some tendency to express things in a, lets say, more poetical or obscure way (not so clear, but more "artistic"?
Kristin: Lyrics to me are a percussive melody. I don't find out what I'm saying until much later, when
someone complains about it.
Cedric Caspesyan asks: Do you enjoy answering people questions about the meaning of your lyrics (you have a
unique style, I find), or do you find this rather annoying and
unpurposeful.
Kristin: I just never have very good answers to those questions. I'm just as confused as they are.
Stoni asks: Do you, on purpose, change your hair style with every new record?
Kristin: No, on purpose I *keep* my hairstyle for every new record. In between records I shave my head and do all
sorts of crazy shit to it.
Cedric Caspesyan asks: When you sing that Heaven is a place where all the sissies hang, I want to know which
club you are talking about ?
Kristin: I meant that I had to go where people who can't take it go. If that were a club, I'd be there now.
Damien asks: Hey Kristin I really love your music, it's truly wonderful. I just wanted to ask if there is any chance of an
Australian show this time? We never get to see anything down here. Best wishes for the new album :)
Kristin: Yes. Last night our agent promised us we could go to Australia and NZ this summer (July or August, although
we don't know for sure) Believe me, we've been trying to get there.
Cedric Caspesyan asks: I haven`t heard Sunny Border Blue Yet... If you had to sell it yourself in underground
metro stations, how would you describe it ?
Kristin: "Buy this little square pile of puke. My kids haven't
eaten in weeks."
Jonny asks: Now that you play all the instruments on Sunny Border Blue , I was just wondering what you felt
about the different instruments - You said that songs on the Acoustic are very different to ones on the electric
because of the instrument itself . Did these new instruments change the way the songs crystalised ?
Kristin: I wished I had my band to play these songs with me, so I did my best to imitate them. But I have to tour
them solo acoustic, so I had to honor that approach as well.
paul whitfield asks: Does Kristin prefer working with other musicians in a group or is a solo career more satisfying at
the present time?
Kristin: I miss my band. I miss my band. I miss my band. I miss my band. I'm getting used to the solo acoustic thing.
Cedric Caspesyan asks: Have you ever felt embarrassed of being slated on a gig with this or that artist, or rather,
describes the most ackward gig you ever played.
Kristin: Throwing Muses opening for New Order in Florida. There were people screaming on rollercoasters and New
Order passing buckets of drugs around. It was weird.
Art asks: do u know mexico?
Kristin: I've been to Mexico. Nobody's hired me to play there yet.
Andy asks: Did you make Billy shave his 'tache off?
Kristin: His porno mustache? Absolutely not!
Cedric Caspesyan asks: You seem to have everything one would desire in order to get happy: an artist career, a
steady relationship, kids, some good friends, etc... Your new record is called Sunny Border blue, so I was
wondering: can you manage to get depressed ? :)
Kristin: I am really happy. It's the songs that are depressed.
Rob McLaughlin asks: What do you think of Yo La Tengo?
Kristin: Yeyyyy for them. They do what we should all be doing.
brassic asks: Hi Kristin! FABULOUS show last night. What was that song you played that you said that no one would
know? I think you said it was a B-side. I really liked it.
Kristin: Ha! I was right. "Hysterical Bending"
Andy asks: Are you surprised at the songs fans pick up on? - do you think 'Oh my god, why the hell do they like that
one the best'?
Kristin: I can't believe they listen to *any* of them. Honestly.
tedbern asks: I absolutely love the demo/live versions of some of your newer songs that didn't make it onto the
upcoming album (in particular, I'm thinking of Hungry and Status Quo) and I'm dying to buy a a studio version of
them. Do such versions exist and if so, do you have any plans to release them either over the web or on a single?
Kristin: OK.
ben786@hotmail.com asks: Excellent show at the Underworld last night - best yet... Noticed it was being
filmed - will there be a webcast or something at all ??
Kristin: The word is: maybe.
simon asks: how important is the internet to you as an artist, being able to be closer to your fans ?
Kristin: It's brought me closer to by dream of being able to just mail songs out without having to tape my face onto
them.
Mitchell asks: Hi Kristin, it's Mitchell...just wanted to say hello to you from Boston...i miss you.
Kristin: Hello Mitchell. I miss you too. I'm in London and you're not. Ha ha.
Andy asks: hi Kristin - great gig last night :o) - quick question: Do you play the banjo?
Kristin: I tried. It's really hard. It's a bizarre instrument and
I'm none to bright.
nicole asks: hi kristin, i loved 'your ghost'. do you have any more collaborations coming up (Michael Stipe or
otherwise)? If you could pick anyone to work with that you haven't in the past, who would it be?
Kristin: I don't have the "Let's Jam" gene. But if I need the sound somebody makes I'll go and get them.
Kevin asks: After reuniting the Throwing Muses for two shows in May 2000, are there any plans for future reunion
dates or (hopefully) a recording?
Kristin: Maybe both, in May in San Francisco?
Melissa asks: What are the things in your life that you're most proud of?
Kristin: Dylan, Ryder and Wyatt.
junior asks: Are there any plans to release a kristin hersh live album? You are a very beautiful and talented woman
and i hope you never give music up.
Kristin: Maybe in May, in San Francisco...
Aaron Race asks: I love the strings ep--would you ever do an all strings album?
Kristin: There's one in the works right now, with Martin McCarrick and his wife Kim.
poppy asks: is there anything you have not done yet that you wish you had?
Kristin: I always wanted to be a petfood scientist.
steven l'enfant terrible asks: How are the dogs, Kristin?
Kristin: The dogs are wonderful. I miss them. One of them is very muddy, I hear - the white one.
Greenboy asks: Hi from New Zealand! When are you coming down to see us next?
Kristin: August, maybe. I said summer before, but I meant winter, for you.
muppet asks: how do you feel about answering the same old questions over and over again?
Kristin: how do you feel about asking them?
Arturo asks: Kristin have you tasted peyote?
Kristin: Du-uh!
Owen asks: I see you've gone back to brunette after the peroxide at Gut Pageant. How much grey hair are you
hiding ?
Kristin: Meeeeeow! I have no idea what color my hair actually is.
ghostinthemachine asks: if you could bring one person back from the dead for a day, who would you choose and
what would you do with them?
Kristin: Adele Davis. To talk petfood science with her.
todd thorsen asks: will you and Tanya ever record together again?
Kristin: I don't know. But we're trying to tour together.
holy magnet asks: If you could trade places with any othermusician or creative artist in the world - for a little while
anyway - who would you choose?
Kristin: Dave Grohl, the luckiest man alive.
David Curtis asks: Dear Ms Hersh, Have you ever published poetry? If so, where could I find it? I just gotta
add - I've enjoyed your work for years - I hope you never stop recording! Cordially, David Curtis
Kristin: I can't stand reading my lyrics so I doubt I would ever publish poetry. Unless I could just scream it.
caroline heywood asks: I feel madonna has used similar techniques and sounds to you in her latest album,has
anyone else seen the similarity and if you agree how do you feel about this?
Kristin: Yeah, I've influenced Madonna a lot. She also took my look.
Patrick asks: Hi Kristin. I heard rumors you and the fam were moving to Seattle...True?
Kristin: Wow. Where'd you hear that? That would depend. Are you a psycho?
Dan Weissman asks: Hi Kristin. I've said it before, I'll say it again: it's a VERY good thing you don't take as long to
come up with an album's worth of songs as I take to finish a film about my favorite artist. I know that's not a question,
but what the hey. Thinking of you AND looking at footage at this very moment...
Kristin: I can't imagine the hours of footage you have of me and my bandmates staring at speakers. God love you.
Aaron Race asks: You are a very supportive to your fans. What makes you as such?
Kristin: My feeling is that most music happens outside of "The Business" and I'm lucky to be heard at all. The fact
that you people actually listen is truly touching.
Vic asks: I want to share your music with a friend of mine, but she has a toddler, so I can't play her songs with
'cuss'words in them. I love 'cuss' words, myself. Are there any of your songs that your kids particularly enjoy? Can't
wait to see you in Seattle!!
Kristin: My kids sing the cuss words. Can't wait to see you in Seattle. If I ever go there.
Ben asks: Hi Kristin! I love your music. My question is: How have the places you have lived over the years inspired or
affected your music/lyrics? Thank you, Ben....
Kristin: Sky Motel sounds like a desert record. Sunny Border Blue sounds like New England. Touring makes you
restless and makes you pay attention to your surroundings.
Cedric Caspesyan asks: when you travel, are you afraid of airplanes ?
Kristin: I'm afraid of airplanes when I *don't* travel. They could just fall out of the sky right on top of me.
Mitchell asks: Blame T for the golf tee, not me!
Kristin: I blame you.
Mitchell asks: When would the proposed KH/TD take place?? I'll be seeing T play on Tuesday, by the way...
Kristin: I might be there too.
Dunk asks: I've not been to a gig where there was quite so much friendly(ish) heckling before. Did it annoy you a little,
a lot, or not at all?
Kristin: Thank God people talk to me when I am up there, or I would just leave.
kate asks: Why was there no merchandise on sale last night?
Kristin: I'm not actually on tour right now. It was just a one off show.
Catie asks: Hey there! How about some more English dates for those who can't get to London? I know you're
really busy but I'd love to see you.
Kristin: April / May, I'd love to see you too.
Mitchell asks: Hi there Kristin (and Billy)...when you tour the States this spring will you be playing clubs or small
theatres (like the Brattle)?
Kristin: Both. City to city, it depends.
Lynn asks: Are there any plans for future tours with Vic
Chesnutt?
Kristin: I really hope so. We're trying to make a record together.
Cate asks: Are there any of your songs where even you have no idea what they're about?
Kristin: Most of them.
Catie asks: If you were an animal what would you be?
Kristin: A tree.
Diamond Jim asks: you once said something about notbeing able to play 'the letter' live, That it'd make you throw
up. Do you mean you're sick of the song, or that the song makes you feel sick, or was it something else?
Kristin: That song moves me so hard that I can't deal with it. I either puke or cry when I play it. I usually can't get
through it.
Greenboy asks: Is there a picture book that your boys loved reading when they were real young? What are they
reading now?
Kristin: Guess How Much I Love You. Cowboy Baby is another one. Someone from Australia sent it to us.
Catie asks: Hi, how are the kids doing and do you take them all on tour?
Kristin: We took one of them on tour. The two who stayed home are doing fine.
NicholeC asks: Hi Kristin, What's your favorite guitar in the world?
Kristin: My Collings C-10 (it's a custom), or my '72 Fender Telecaster
Thinline.
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