**DESA INTERVIEW!**
Photo Credit: Cameron Platt
cameronobscura.com
I can't believe my luck sometimes!
Adam from DESA agreed to do a mixtape interview for Fuzz and I get to post it for everyone to enjoy! Not only do you all get to read his awesome answers to my 14 ridiculous questions, but he also built the mixtape to go along with the interview so you get to listen as you read! Hope everyone enjoys this as much as I do...
Which song made you realize that music was something special or important in your life?
Song: The Fad – Kill Punk Rock Stars
When our old band Link Eighty was on tour, I met a young boy named Jimmy Doyle. He told me, "Hey I'm starting a band…" and I said, "..oh yea? Cool..." and didn’t think much of it. Then years later, homeboy shows up at a DESA show, all grown up and says "Hey, check out my band." And guess what? They're awesome! They make me want to slam into people and wreck shit. I'm super bummed I missed them the last time they came through, because I had tickets to see The Comedians of Comedy tour that same night, and they flipped their van a few nights later. So, if they make it out here again, I'll definitely be there!
When you think back to your first kiss, your first crush, which song takes you to that time and place?
Song: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Young Shields
I'd say Owen really captures the feeling of being young, single, , broke and wreckless. This doesn't really relate to my first kiss (which was during a game of Truth or Dare when I was 18, and was terrible) or my first crush (which was on a comic book character when I was in 5th Grade), but I think it speaks to the fragility of young hearts and relationships.
Who is your dream/fantasy lover? And which duet would depict your time on the stage together?
Song: Gay For Johnny Depp – No Teeth Thumbs Up
I think the band name and song title says it all.
If you’re into music as a tool or forum for social and political reasons or expression, which song would speak your voice?
Song: Yaphet Kotto – Highly Enlightened
"Syncopated Synthetic Laments for Love" is one of my favorite all-time records. I caught this band by accident one night at Gilman and was so stoked that I did. I don't think they play anymore, and I think one of these dudes is in Saviours now. I let the screamier singer cut in line at the Bay St. Theater to see one of the Lord of the Rings movies.
If you discovered music as a way to escape the seriousness of life and were inspired by the more silly and weird aspects of it as an inspiration...which song would you blare through the boombox?
Song: wallpaper – T REX
Silly, Weird and Boombox all describe how I feel about this song. Totally Awesome would also work. Perfect weirdo pop songs, every single one clocking in at or around 2:32.
Emo gets a bad rap with just about everyone except for the huge following that it has. What song would you pick as your pro or con?
Song: Envy – Further Ahead on Warp
I might be showing my age here, but when I think of "Emo" I think of bands like this. Homeboy might be screaming his head off, but notice that he doesn't sound like a meathead or a whiny twerp. I guess these guys are doing a split with Thursday, so the two camps of "Emo" will be joining for that occasion. I'll still take Indian Summer, Fugazi or Pg. 99 over the current crop of "Emo" any day.
Roots Folk, urban folk if you will, and Jazz were so punk, decades before the term would garnish any attention in the main stream realm, that it's a crime to me that the key artist from these era's to this day have gone down with such an overwhelming lack of credit and mention, especially by thousands of authors that have published books on the genre over the past 30 years.
Give me a punk song that was 25 years ahead of its time?
Song: Tera Melos – Where's the Worm
I don't know about 25 years ago, but 25 years in the future, "Punk" will probably sound like this, crazy-long songs as a reaction to the norm of fast short songs, no repeating parts and no vocals. Those of you with short attention spans; you're going to want to skip this one. It's loooong.
What's the best song that Elvis ever wrote?
If you made it this far...Elvis never wrote a song and you know it. But imagine that he wrote ‘em all, which one would be his signature tune?
Song: The Team – Hyphy Juice
Oh snap son! Trick Question! Fooled me! I was going to put the Afghan Whigs version of "True Love Travels on a Gravel Road" but damn!! Good thing I read ahead, eh? Elvis is pretty Hyphy, right? He'd wear a grill and shake them dreads if he was alive today, right men? He for sure wore stunna shades…
What song would you play to try and get your Ex back?
Song: Xiu Xiu – In Lust You Can Hear The Axe Fall
If I played this, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want to get back with me, which is good! I don't want to get back with my Exes! That's why they are an Ex! Thanks Jaime Stewart! Thanks for crafting songs that scare the living shit out of people!
Which song would be the theme song at your wake?
Song: Fall of Efrafa – Beyond the Veil
When I die I'm planning on being cremated and having my ashes pressed into records. There's a company that does it in the UK. I think it would be fitting to have the music be this Brighton-based band. Plus, their songs are ridiculously long.
What song to you say's fuck all these questions, fuck everything all together, music is something personal with no right answer. It's just something that I Love. What's the most powerful song in your life that could be translated as meaningless....yet for some reason, means everything to you?
Song: Atari Teenage Riot – No Remorse I Wanna Die
If there ever was a musical 'FUCK YOU' it was Atari Teenage Riot. I went to see Rage Against the Machine because these guys were opening, and I missed them.
Now....after all these stupid questions, which of your songs would fit into this list. Don't give an answer, but rather a question.
Alright… What song has a ridiculously long title and has lyrics about death and the end of everything?
Song: DESA – The Arcs of Eagles End in Skeletons
Finish the interview with your own thoughts. Make us leave this whole ordeal with your final kick in the ass. Why should we leave you alone now?
Thanks for checking out some of my favorite songs, and reading my words about them. You can read more at www.desadesadesa.com/journal. If you come out to a show, please come say hi and tell me that you read this. It'd be great if we could play some more killer shows in the East Bay, so feel free to email us at desabooking@hotmail.com or contact us at www.myspace.com/desa if that's easier. I love burritos. I started doing a podcast called Break This City with AJ (my best friend, who also made our music videos!) and you can subscribe to it on iTunes by searching for "DESA journal". Yea, the stream is kinda funky, we're working on straightening it out. We're playing a show with some awesome friends of ours, Judgment Day, this Friday at 924 Gilman. We play second, so come out early
cameronobscura.com
I can't believe my luck sometimes!
Adam from DESA agreed to do a mixtape interview for Fuzz and I get to post it for everyone to enjoy! Not only do you all get to read his awesome answers to my 14 ridiculous questions, but he also built the mixtape to go along with the interview so you get to listen as you read! Hope everyone enjoys this as much as I do...
Which song made you realize that music was something special or important in your life?
Song: The Fad – Kill Punk Rock Stars
When our old band Link Eighty was on tour, I met a young boy named Jimmy Doyle. He told me, "Hey I'm starting a band…" and I said, "..oh yea? Cool..." and didn’t think much of it. Then years later, homeboy shows up at a DESA show, all grown up and says "Hey, check out my band." And guess what? They're awesome! They make me want to slam into people and wreck shit. I'm super bummed I missed them the last time they came through, because I had tickets to see The Comedians of Comedy tour that same night, and they flipped their van a few nights later. So, if they make it out here again, I'll definitely be there!
When you think back to your first kiss, your first crush, which song takes you to that time and place?
Song: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Young Shields
I'd say Owen really captures the feeling of being young, single, , broke and wreckless. This doesn't really relate to my first kiss (which was during a game of Truth or Dare when I was 18, and was terrible) or my first crush (which was on a comic book character when I was in 5th Grade), but I think it speaks to the fragility of young hearts and relationships.
Who is your dream/fantasy lover? And which duet would depict your time on the stage together?
Song: Gay For Johnny Depp – No Teeth Thumbs Up
I think the band name and song title says it all.
If you’re into music as a tool or forum for social and political reasons or expression, which song would speak your voice?
Song: Yaphet Kotto – Highly Enlightened
"Syncopated Synthetic Laments for Love" is one of my favorite all-time records. I caught this band by accident one night at Gilman and was so stoked that I did. I don't think they play anymore, and I think one of these dudes is in Saviours now. I let the screamier singer cut in line at the Bay St. Theater to see one of the Lord of the Rings movies.
If you discovered music as a way to escape the seriousness of life and were inspired by the more silly and weird aspects of it as an inspiration...which song would you blare through the boombox?
Song: wallpaper – T REX
Silly, Weird and Boombox all describe how I feel about this song. Totally Awesome would also work. Perfect weirdo pop songs, every single one clocking in at or around 2:32.
Emo gets a bad rap with just about everyone except for the huge following that it has. What song would you pick as your pro or con?
Song: Envy – Further Ahead on Warp
I might be showing my age here, but when I think of "Emo" I think of bands like this. Homeboy might be screaming his head off, but notice that he doesn't sound like a meathead or a whiny twerp. I guess these guys are doing a split with Thursday, so the two camps of "Emo" will be joining for that occasion. I'll still take Indian Summer, Fugazi or Pg. 99 over the current crop of "Emo" any day.
Roots Folk, urban folk if you will, and Jazz were so punk, decades before the term would garnish any attention in the main stream realm, that it's a crime to me that the key artist from these era's to this day have gone down with such an overwhelming lack of credit and mention, especially by thousands of authors that have published books on the genre over the past 30 years.
Give me a punk song that was 25 years ahead of its time?
Song: Tera Melos – Where's the Worm
I don't know about 25 years ago, but 25 years in the future, "Punk" will probably sound like this, crazy-long songs as a reaction to the norm of fast short songs, no repeating parts and no vocals. Those of you with short attention spans; you're going to want to skip this one. It's loooong.
What's the best song that Elvis ever wrote?
If you made it this far...Elvis never wrote a song and you know it. But imagine that he wrote ‘em all, which one would be his signature tune?
Song: The Team – Hyphy Juice
Oh snap son! Trick Question! Fooled me! I was going to put the Afghan Whigs version of "True Love Travels on a Gravel Road" but damn!! Good thing I read ahead, eh? Elvis is pretty Hyphy, right? He'd wear a grill and shake them dreads if he was alive today, right men? He for sure wore stunna shades…
What song would you play to try and get your Ex back?
Song: Xiu Xiu – In Lust You Can Hear The Axe Fall
If I played this, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want to get back with me, which is good! I don't want to get back with my Exes! That's why they are an Ex! Thanks Jaime Stewart! Thanks for crafting songs that scare the living shit out of people!
Which song would be the theme song at your wake?
Song: Fall of Efrafa – Beyond the Veil
When I die I'm planning on being cremated and having my ashes pressed into records. There's a company that does it in the UK. I think it would be fitting to have the music be this Brighton-based band. Plus, their songs are ridiculously long.
What song to you say's fuck all these questions, fuck everything all together, music is something personal with no right answer. It's just something that I Love. What's the most powerful song in your life that could be translated as meaningless....yet for some reason, means everything to you?
Song: Atari Teenage Riot – No Remorse I Wanna Die
If there ever was a musical 'FUCK YOU' it was Atari Teenage Riot. I went to see Rage Against the Machine because these guys were opening, and I missed them.
Now....after all these stupid questions, which of your songs would fit into this list. Don't give an answer, but rather a question.
Alright… What song has a ridiculously long title and has lyrics about death and the end of everything?
Song: DESA – The Arcs of Eagles End in Skeletons
Finish the interview with your own thoughts. Make us leave this whole ordeal with your final kick in the ass. Why should we leave you alone now?
Thanks for checking out some of my favorite songs, and reading my words about them. You can read more at www.desadesadesa.com/journal. If you come out to a show, please come say hi and tell me that you read this. It'd be great if we could play some more killer shows in the East Bay, so feel free to email us at desabooking@hotmail.com or contact us at www.myspace.com/desa if that's easier. I love burritos. I started doing a podcast called Break This City with AJ (my best friend, who also made our music videos!) and you can subscribe to it on iTunes by searching for "DESA journal". Yea, the stream is kinda funky, we're working on straightening it out. We're playing a show with some awesome friends of ours, Judgment Day, this Friday at 924 Gilman. We play second, so come out early
Comments

posted on May 12 at 9:55 pm
About the Author
Also by this author

