Mike (Gehenna)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
- Psychic Limb - Jamaica LP
- Fog Specter - Freezing Lair Of The Spider Queen Cassette
- Zola Jesus - Versions LP
- The Hunt - The Hunt Begins LP
- Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels CD
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Somehow I missed Stevie B the first time around in 1988. I have no idea how, but I missed him. While I was watching youtube videos one day I came across "Spring Love." I was drawn to it immediately but it wasn't the Roland TR303 conga drums that start the song off. It wasn't the instrumentation that sounded familiar and seemed like it was possibly produced by Pretty Tony Butler (a.k.a. the greatest freestyle producer of all time). It wasn't even the pain filled crooning of Stevie B that touched my heart. It was this video.
It was the rented 1982 Monte Carlo convertible with the $60 Zebra stripe seat covers. It was the majestic and beautiful jheri curled mane blowing in the Fort Lauderdale breeze. It was the gold-like stud to chain earring dangling and the red 3/4 sleeve blazer with no shirt. It was the classiest video I've ever seen that was shot on a budget of $86. Stevie B made my life better.
DIY or DIE!
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
2013 is the year that I learned the self-serving nature of most people involved in music.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Records, tapes, DVDs, shows, and a lot less stress.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
- Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 2
- New Perish - Demo
- New music from Egyptian Lover
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
It's hard enough as is for bands to get royalties from labels. But Spotify sucks even worse. It's just another corporate entity that wants nothing to do helping musicians. All Spotify wants to do is exploit the labor of musicians. I personally don't like it at all. But what can you do?
