Example

It's been a while, so to kick off the newest round of interviews right, we have for you, Example! This amazing rapper from Fulham (yes, Fulham) has a sense of humor that is to be reckoned with. His grinningly good album "What We Made" is not only highly entertaining, but has a considerable amount of substance and is just an all 'round taste of what Example is about. Luckily enough he is on tour at the moment, be sure to go to his page and find a show near you. Personally we can't wait to hear what comes form this genius in the future.
Tracks we recommend to get you started: 'So Many Roads' 'Diamond Day' 'Take What I Want' 'Posh Birds' 'Birthday Card' 'Me and Mandy' 'Vile' etc. and the pod-casts.


How long have you been making music?

Well I attempted to make some music when I was 11. On my casio keyboard with my sister doin' backing vocals. But making proper music that’s worthy of release maybe 6 years.

What made you want to be a musician/did you grow up in a very musically charged home?

My sister and I learned to play Piano when were both in our early teens. We got to a pretty decent standard. I used to fuck about with an old drumkit as well for a while. My dad was always singing around the house though really loudly to Motown and The Rolling Stones.

When did you know you wanted to me a musician?

Dunno, maybe 2003, I wanted to be an actor or director before that

What kind of music did you listen to growing up?

Whatever was in the charts. I used to buy loadsa compilations. I went through a Michael Jackson stage, a Wu-Tang stage, a Nirvana stage, I’ve consistently listened to rap and motown though my whole life.

What is touring like for you?

What have been some of your favorite moments. Touring is the best part of my job. That and the freebies. I love seeing the fans reactions to my stuff.

What place do you really want to play/ go on tour?

Australia, Canada, parts of the US. I have already visited these places but want to see the crowds reactions. I know I have fans in all these places.

Do you enjoy larger or smaller venues?

Smaller venues are more fun. The buzz at festivals though cant be matched.

What's the worst place you've played? What happened there?

A place called Hartlepool which is in the north of England in the middle of nowhere. Nobody came. I was watched by 8 people. And all the locals were downstairs fighting each other and throwing beer and pizza.

What's the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you during a show?

Someones wife got up on stage and tried to take the mic off me. I took the piss out of her and her husband tried to fight me. Also we had a guy in a chicken suit dancing at a festival last year. I found out after that 5 different people changed into that suit throughout the show and I didn’t even notice.

Through outlets such as Beat Stevie we have been able to catch a glimpses of what your life is like. What would you like people to know about you that they might not know from just watching Beat Stevie?

My life is actually the opposite of Beat Stevie. We play up for the cameras. It is a warped perspective. The magic of tv editing!! I actually spend 90% of my life in meetings and down the gym.

Have there ever been moments where you wanted to through in the towel?

Never. I have one of the best jobs in the world

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

Making films or doing stand-up comedy.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Are many of the characters in your songs based in reality? Well a lot of my stories are based on books or articles I’ve read in magazines. Only a small percentage of my songs are based on real people and situations – like Me & Mandy and Birthday card

Do you ever worry about the publics/parents reaction to some of your lyrics?

Nah not at all. I would never release something I wasn’t happy with

In historical perspective where do you see yourself in 10-20 years?

On a beach relaxing. Maybe with a pen and notepad writing a few songs.

How do you feel about today's culture, what would you change if you could?

I’d like John Lennon’s song Imagine to become reality.

What kind of music do you think you would be able to go the rest of your life without listening to again?

Death Metal.

As people from an internet site how do you think the web affects the music industry?

It’s now more important that tv advertising and magazines in a lot of respects. The web is always changing though. One minute your video, myspace or blog is the hottest thing in the world, but you can soon be forgotten. You have to keep up with what the kids are doing these days. They know where its at.

You're a very political man, what issue peaks an interest in you the most? If you could make one large political/environmental change what would it be?

This is a misconception. Im not that political. My songs are more observational than preachy.

If you could live in any movie what would it be? Who would you be playing?

I would like to be in a film like Waterworld. Lots of people think that’s a shit movie but I would love the adventure of trying to find the last piece of dry land on the planet.

If you could sum yourself up in a few words, what would they be?

Gives short answers in Interviews

Example (myspace)

Oct. 17th : The Terrordactyls

This Friday make sure to come and see The Terrordactyls, coming all the way from Vashon, WA. With supporting acts by St. Mannequins from NYC and local band Madam Lee. The show will be at The Tinder Box, Friday Oct. 17th, 8pm and there is a $5 suggested donation. It's going to be amazing.

Facebook Event Page
Map To The Tinder Box

Drew Danburry: October 4th

Drop Magazine is happy to bring you Drew Danburry, supporting will be The Alterations, and Marty Cain. If you're in the area make sure to come by, it's going to be a great show, promise.

Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2008
Time: 8pm
Location: The Tinder Box
Street: 17 Elliot St.
City/Town: Brattleboro, Vermont
Cost: Suggested $5 donation.

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Air France Interview

Light playful and enjoyable are just a few words to describe Air France's sound. Music that doesn't stifle your mind but, encourages it day dream and explore new places and states of mind. They're like snuggling under lots of covers on a cold night and the joy of a beautiful spring day at the same time. Anytime is a good time to sit back and listen to them. Make sure to go to their page and download their 'Roof Top Music' mixtape, it's a must.

'June Evenings' - Air France

How did you decide upon the name Air France?

We wanted something that gave the sense of movement, of elevation. We’re both terribly afraid of flying, so when you think about it, it’s quite strange.

How/when did you two meet?

We met up at high school, and almost emidiatelly the mischief began. We listened to dreamy music, and behaved like popstars. We were always being creative in some way, everyday was a new adventure, new barriers to cross and new levels of being disorderly to be reached. We were often told to try to calm down by the principal.

Do you think where you grew up had a large impact on the music you make today?

We grew up in small towns, which had it’s pros and cons. The surroundings were beautiful; streams, bright landscapes, forests, glowing sunsets, but also a lot of frustration, boredom and conflict. It was easy not to fit in, and we were treated as such. About a year ago the local paper wanted to interview us, but it soon turned into a farse. The questions were silly, so we gave silly answers, and next thing you know there’s a hateful article about us that our parents had to read for breakfast. It’s funny now, but our folks keep a low profile nowadays haha.

Do you think where you reside today has a large impact on your music?

Gothenburg is bigger, but by no means big. It’s an industrial city with a lot of rain most of the year, so it’s only natural that the creativity is blooming here, even though most of what comes out of this city is utter rubbish. This place, when comparing to Stockholm, is more relaxed, more humble minded, cheaper, which makes it easier to spend most of your time on art.

Where do you get your ideas, and inspiration from? What's the driving force behind your music?

Ingmar Bergman once said that he could only make happy films when he was miserable, and dark films when he was happy, and that’s kind of how we operate as well. We don’t bury ourselves in self pity and gloom when making music, we try do turn the feeling around, but there’s always some of the melancholy left in there.

What is your creative process like? Do you have an idea of what your want to the product to sound like when you start?

No, there’s never any goal we try to achieve, the songs takes us where they are supposed to be. We don’t want to close any routes, we need to keep that naïve attitude about life, there’s no closed doors. You can tell straight away if a song is mapped out, perfectly executed from start to finish. It’s hollow.

If you could do a show anywhere, where would you play?

On a beach somewhere in front of a sunset that goes on forever. Or on the roof top of a light house. Or in an old wooden boat house. Or on a cricket field below a harvest moon. Anywhere, as long as it’s not indoors.

What's the weirdest thing that has ever happened during a show?

Actually, we have only done one performance as of yet, last summer. It was a freak show. Henning of the Tough Alliance stormed the stage with a drum and took the whole thing over, girls gried his name and climbed the stage and Joel got kicked out from his own concert by the security and the technicians pulled the plug after two songs. At least that’s what we’ve been told, can’t remember a thing haha, we need a bit more practise I think.

During your downtime, what do you enjoy to do?

Flying kites, sailing, badminton, swimming. Have you ever seen a sad person at a beach? Like, apart from a kid who got stung by a wasp? No.

How do you think the internet affects the music industry?

In the beginning we were happy, beacuse downloading meant the major labels would get a wake up call, but in the end it hurts small time labels even more. What worried us most though, was that the context of the music would get lost in the sea of mp3s, but you’ve just have got to find another way of working with it. Music is only 50% of Air France. We use text, images, geography, anything really, to create other levels of what we want to convey.

What kind of music could you go the rest of your days without listening?

We don’t care for most types of rock. There’s no playfullness in most of it, just stupidity, machoism, conservatism.

Favorite Expression?

Why have roots, when you have feet? Haha it’s better in Swedish when it rhymes.

If you could sum yourself up in a few words, what would they be?

Erratic and erotic.

T.V. Coahran Interview

It never sucks to find yourself outside of The Tinder Box in downtown Brattleboro as parades of punks and hippies and all the in-betweens drift amongst the music in something close to harmony, but it is even better if you find yourself there with people who are making some of the most interesting music out there right now. Washington’s T.v. Coahran creates music that, if it existed in a material form, would resemble some sort of drugged-out carnival. There would be bright colors, shapes that had no name and made no sense, sounds with mysterious origins, a vaguely unsettling and paranoid vibe. These things may come close to frightening you, if they weren’t so damn captivating. Plus, it all carries an exhilarating brand of fun. The lads of T.v. are no less fascinating than the music; Trent Vernon Coahran , the origin of the name and the mastermind at work in creating the psychedelic busted-up-merry-go-round pop jams, approached us wearing a leather pilot’s cap and a Charlie Chaplin-style mustache. Trent was joined by Charles Leo Gebhardt IV, or Leo, and Mike De Leon, a photographer who learned drums quickly for the purpose of joining the group for the tour and had been playing for only three months by the time he reached Brattleboro. Check out the interview we grabbed before their show back in April, and head over to their Myspace to hear and download some of their tracks. They may just make more familiar forms of pop music seem like a waste of time.

T.v. Coahran Interview

Best Friends Forever, August 23rd

Drop Magazine is happy to present Best Friends Forever hailing from Minnesota, with the supporting act from Bob Carlton, and opening Madam Lee. So if your in the area and looking for an amazing show, make sure to come by.

Date: Saturday August 23rd, 2008
Start Time: 8pm
Location: The Tinder Box
Address: 17 Elliot Street
City/Town: Brattleboro, Vermont

Facebook Event Page
Map to The Tinder Box

A Word With Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror is a captivating group. This New York City based band has formed much of their forthcoming album 'The Society for the Advancement of Inflammatory Consciousness' around their home, NYC. Through their music you can really start to get a picture of their urban surroundings. 'New Horizon' is a track that is most engaging and you likely won't tire of it anytime in the near future.

How did you come up with the name 'Mirror Mirror'?

Davie Riley: I think we were sitting in the park, writing out a list of any names that came to mind. MM was the name that offended everyone the least—which is to say it's generic, hinting at duality and self-reflection and mysticism without really meaning anything. It could be the name of a perfume.

How did all of you meet? What made you want to form a band?

Ryan Lucero: When I first moved to NY I went out a lot. I was at this crazy-ass gay dance club where I saw David dancing around on stage in his underwear singing in his old band Navy... DR: I think I was covered in flour. RL: I thought to myself "I need to start a band with this guy!"

Did you come from very different backgrounds? Do you think where you grew up had a large impact on the music you make today?

DR: Yes. I grew up in a small town on the coast of Maine. We would sail from island to island, exploring and eating wild peas on the beach. My father is British, so we also spent some time in the UK, and I lived in Denmark for three years, and France for a year. I went to international schools. My friends were from Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Turkey, Romania… I don't know how that affected the music, but it gave me an outsider's perspective. I learned to be diplomatic, observant and adaptable. Good qualities for a musician in the end.

RL: I grew up in the suburbs in LA but went to a totally insane arts high-school in LA. I would drive 2 hours everyday to get there and back, but it was totally worth it! It was an audition only school, so the kids were fucking amazing. Everyone was so unique and had such advanced interests in art, music, dance and all that. It was also super experimental.. We were all into really obscure music. I was in a lot of experimental bands with my friends. Around that time, the first incarnation of The Smell opened. I'd hang out and play there a lot. Now when I see all the bands that have created such a scene around that place, I think "Geez I'm old", or "Whoa cool!", or "Wha?"

If you weren't making music what would you be doing?

RL: Painting.

DR: Ryan went to RISD for painting, and I went to NYU for Film and Video, so I'd like to think we'd be putting our pricey educations to good use. Well I guess we already are. We have strong opinions about what we want to do with the band visually. We make props and costumes for our shows at our studio in Bushwick. I just found a church podium at a yard sale for $5, and I've been re-finishing it. And making a series of ritual objects, like silicone molds, cloth snakes. We've also been shooting the New Horizons video there. Actually, we don't even have a rehearsal space, just an art studio...

What did you listen to growing up?

DR: I remember driving with my mom when I was 12 and hearing "Dirty Boots" on WERU Blue Hill (my favorite Maine radio station) and thinking "What is this?!". A few years later I was at track practice in little shorts when I heard Kurt Cobain shot himself in the face. Basic 90s. Jane's Addiction, Breeders, Husker Du, NIN, Skinny Puppy. And then there were a whole bunch of Dead heads and Phish heads, you understand you're from Vermont. Ryan went to an arty high school, so he had much cooler taste. RL: I was really into the Swans, Art Bears, This Mortal Coil, Subversion! I was drawn to darker stuff, but in general, I had really broad taste: Stacy Q, John Cage, Wee Papa girls, Harry Pussy, Harry Partch, tons of north Indian music (I took sitar lessons all through high school).

Do you think where you live today has a large impact on your music?

DR: Of course. In New York we're surrounded by so many talented artists and bands. It's inspiring but also really competitive. And there are so many crazy characters stalking the streets at all hours. A lot of the inspiration for our album came from the storefront churches in our neighborhood… in the summer, the doors are open, and you can hear all the wild, distorted sermons mixed with off-key choirs. And then that mixes with screaming children and bass-pumping minivans.

Are any of your songs/characters in your songs based in reality?

DR: Well, I'm not really based in reality most of the time... but I feel like I've known all of the characters in my own life in one way or another. The album is based around a group of people who reject society, and try to live outside the usual boundaries. I've known a lot of people like that. Some of them were successful, some weren't. Some survived, some didn't. But none of the characters from the album is based on any single, actual person.

Have you ever been on tour? What is tour like for you?

DR: We've played in NYC, LA, SF, Miami, Providence and Paris, but never really an extended tour. We're going to be touring in September and October to promote the album. So far we have dates in the UK and France, and we'll be doing an East Coast tour with one of our favorite bands (and Cochon label mates) The Judy Experience. Maybe we'll even get to Vermont...

RL: We've done some smaller tours. We're planning some bigger ones. I've been on tour with different bands. I just finished a leg tours with Telepathe. It was a lot of fun, but also really hard work. Getting up early and staying up late every night can get pretty draining. I think touring is really just all about showing up to places on time, being hyper-organized and professional. Partying comes so naturally to the environment, but too much of that can kill you.

DR: Ryan would call me up when he was on tour, either ecstatic or completely miserable.

What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you during a show?

DR: That's difficult because we really try to cultivate weirdness at our shows, it's part of the job. We've led sing-alongs, served audience members food, given them massages. Whatever it takes to make them comfortable. We played a really fun show with our friends Ryan Trecartin and Veronica Gelbaum in LA, they're really great artists. They bought a ton of stuff from Target and glued it to their clothes: fake fruit, seashells, bath soap, teapots. The weird and wonderful Dynasty Handbag played that show too...

How do you feel about today's culture? If you could change one thing what would it be?

DR: I don't know where to start. This country simply can't survive in its current form, it has to adapt. In a word, simplify! Consume less, pool resources, grow a garden on your roof. Share pants with your lover. That was one of the reasons we wrote an album about a sort of visionary society looking for "answers". It's not new age bullshit, it's survival. Also, radio is terrible, let's change that.

What are some of your favorite acts circulating these days?

RL: I'm really into Girls from San Francisco. They are such amazing song writers! Chris has a totally captivating voice.

DR: Our friend Lispector, from France, writes wonderful lo-fi Casio symphonies. The new Telepathe album, which Ryan played on, sounds incredible. Not sure when it's coming out though.

If you could play with any other band/musician in the world who would it be?

RL: Kate Bush. She is a major inspiration, especially now that she's older. I'd love to play a few tunes with her and then have tea, talk about life. DR: I heard she has a circular, glass-walled bedroom with a 360 degree view of the forest. I don't care if it's true, she's an idol of ours.

As people from an internet site, how do you think the internet affects the music industry?

DR: We're not a major label with a terrible business model, so we're very happy with the internet. It means that people everywhere in the world can hear our music. And we have immediate access to so much great music, old and new, that would be impossible to find in most record stores. I find it very exciting.

If you could sum yourself up in a few words what would they be?

DR: We've been called mercurial. I like that. I think we're a little moody and hard to pin down. Also: organic, interactive, synergistic.

What can our readers look forward to? New releases, tour etc..?

DR: They can look forward to the dawning of another day. And our album The Society for the Advancement of Inflammatory Consciousness comes out September 16th. We'll be starting a tour around the same time.

Out thanks to Mirror Mirror for answering our questions.

'New Horizon' - Mirror Mirror