Da Muses: Howdy.
Da Muses: Why are there two of us?
SPINaps: What do you mean?
SPINaps: -dump -q
SPINaps: Welcome SPINZapper.
SPINaps: Welcome Throwing Muses.
Da Muses: Hi.
SPINaps: Hang on I have to send a bunch of opening statement kind of things before we start.
SPINaps: here goes.
SPINaps: So, Muses, where are you and who's there?
Da Muses: It's Kristin...and a typist.
SPINaps: Kristin, sorry, we said you're in NYC tonight. That's wrong, right?
Da Muses: We're actually in Newport, RI getting ready to leave for NYC...Does that count?
SPINaps: Yes, that counts. I guess.
Da Muses: Good.
SPINaps: What do you think of this MAC Music fest thing?
Da Muses: To tell the truth we don't know a whole helluva lot about it...
SPINaps: yeah, neither do we...
SPINaps: but we like computers.
Da Muses: Our friend Michael Dorf at the Knitting Factory called to ask if the Muses could do some kind of a
SPINaps: and where are you playing tomorrow?
Da Muses: special show at the Knitting Factory
Da Muses: I'm going to open for my own band
SPINaps: Let's take some questions from the masses. Random, disjointed, the usual...
Question: In the song "Downtown" from HT, are you singing of someone you know personally or is it an
Question: anonymous "she"
SPINaps: Hello?
Da Muses: I wrote that 10 years ago...out of my head...she probably stands for "she"
Question: what's it like to meet Jay Leno
Da Muses: I don't know, I've never met him.
SPINaps: Me neither.
Question: Kristin, how did the STRINGS album come into being?
Da Muses: The guy who runs 4AD, Ivo, wanted a 2nd single...
Da Muses: from Hips and Makers...I had no more songs...so we did string arrangements instead...classical music..
Da Muses: and my big head.
Question: Kristin, you've said that when writing songs, you sometimes write out the words
Question: phonetically as they come to you -- does the music come along with the words? Do you find
Question: yourself changing much once you have the new song written down?
Da Muses: Sometimes I make mistakes trying to understand the lyrics phonetically...
Da Muses: Overall, though I don't change very much other than production.
Question: How is your son?
Da Muses: Which one?
Da Muses: I have 2...They're both great.
Question: I'm aware of only two cover versions of Muses songs, both being covers of "Hate My Way";
Question: one is by The Divine Comedy, the other by GLE. Have you heard either and do you know of any
Question: others?
Da Muses: That's ok.
Da Muses: Haven't heard either of those...There is a dance version of "Your Ghost" coming out soon (!)
Question: How long will you be touring for?
Da Muses: We're finished touring for the next couple of months.
Question: Is it ever scary to wake up in the middle of the night with songs ringing in your head?
Da Muses: We're just doing this for fun.
Da Muses: Yes, scary, scary...Well as scary as humming a tune ever gets.
Question: Love the Bright Yellow Gun on the shirt I bought at one of your shows. Can you tell us
Question: about it?
Da Muses: Thanks for buying a shirt...
Da Muses: It has a gun on it.
Question: Do you get nervous on stage?
Da Muses: I get nervous before I'm on stage...I'm not really "there" when I'm playing
Question: Who do you consider your peers in todays rock scene??
Da Muses: X, Vic Chesnutt, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Pond...You have to know how hard a question that is.
Question: how about michael stipe? you two are buds?
Da Muses: He says we're buds...It sounds better coming out of his mouth...I'm flattered.
Question: What type of music do you listen to?
Da Muses: All the above mentioned, plus some others who are dead now, therefore not my peers.
Question: I heard a teensy rumor that you might be touring with Air MIami later this year. Any
Question: truth to it? (please oh please)
Da Muses: Air Miami...Yes we're trying to pull acouple of weeks together on the east coast...
Da Muses: and in the midwest, for Sept. and Oct.
Question: Do you ever take your child on tour?
Da Muses: Yes, I've taken both boys on the road...They've put in their time...The baby just flew 27 hrs from
Da Muses: London to Auckland, NZ.
Question: What is "Rabbits Dying" about?
Da Muses: Not being too safe...Not living in danger.
Question: I've got the Fort Apache compilation that came out this year, you've got a song ("Run
Question: Letter") on it. Do you regularly record at different places, and where's your favorite place so
Question: far?
Da Muses: Kingsway in New Orleans is my favorite so far...I can't imagine a better place to make records...
Da Muses: I grew up in the Fort...It's like making a record at home...We love it too.
Question: Kristin, if you had to pick a favorite song and/or album of yours, what would it/they be?
Da Muses: The album would be Red Heaven, and the song would be my next one.
Question: What inspired/prompted you to do a solo album?
Da Muses: My husband did both.
Question: Have you gotten much gardening done since you're away from touring now?
Da Muses: I do everything he tells me to (snicker).
Da Muses: Gardening?
Da Muses: I go to the beach alot.
Question: Do you get irritated (kristen) when people ask you about Tanya??
Da Muses: No, I love my sister...It's only irritating to have people think the music business could come between us
Question: were there real stories involved with the writing of "hate my way" and "vicky's box"?
Da Muses: I wish...They screamed themselves at me.
Question: What's the first concert you ever went to?
Da Muses: Peter Frampton...with my DAD! I wore a sundress(!)
Question: What do you think of Belly and The Breeders success?
Da Muses: Yay!...More great bands, better for all.
Question: Kristin, that's great lipstick you've been wearing...Is it #4?
Da Muses: I don't know what # it is...It's called Christine's lipstick, couse she gave it to me.
Question: Is there anyone that you would like to play with in the future?
Da Muses: I'm playing with "X" on Fri night in Prov...That'll do it...I'll be done.
Question: Are Throwing Muses, Chains Changed, and the Fat Skier ever going to be available
Question: domestically on CD?
Da Muses: Yes...Just be patient...We will take care of you freaks.
Question: As an artist, do you ever get very critical of your work to the point where it can be
Question: upsetting?
Da Muses: In the NEAR future.
Question: Will you bring a female backup singer on your next tour? On record it's not a problem, but
Question: without Tanya in the band anymore I think your live shows need someone else to help back you up
Question: at times.
Da Muses: If i get in the way...You won't hear that song.
Da Muses: We might bring a cellist to play backing vocal melody lines.
Question: What's your favorite song of University??
Da Muses: Fever Few today.
Question: Do you have any early influences?
Da Muses: V.Femmes, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, X...that's it. My 4 yr old son just said to say"Meat Puppets rock"
Question: Kristin, are you an online junkie?
Da Muses: My typist is...does that count?
Da Muses: Maybe if I could type.
Question: What do you think of the FM airwaves these days?
Da Muses: I don't...I'm old and tired.
Question: When is your next solo album coming out?
Da Muses: After the next Muses and a special release...Probably in early '97(!!!???)
Question: do you have to answer every question we ask???
Da Muses: Do I? Do you know where I live?
Question: do you and tanya still work with each other on occasion, or was there a complete
Question: separation between you two?
Da Muses: We never wrote together...We have different bands now, that keep us pretty busy.
Question: I heard that some weird stuff happened at a gig you played somewhere in Texas. Do you
Question: know of the ruckus I refer to?
Da Muses: YES...Ruckus Dallas...Owwww. Do they do some kind of special drug there.
Question: How much do you actually enjoy your music? You seem very serious in your shows and on
Question: record and it sometimes seems it's more work than fun for you.
Da Muses: ?
Da Muses: It makes me very happy...It's the most fun. But happy is not always "goofy"...
Da Muses: sometimes it's hard work.
Question: Why did you choose to do a longer version of "Soul Soldier" for THE FAT SKIER?
Da Muses: Big video budget...We thought the song should be longer than 3 mins.
Question: How did the intro to "University" come about with your baby singing?
Da Muses: He just climbed up to the vocal mic and said roll tape to Trina, our engineer.
Question: Do you think you will still be in the music scene in 10 yrs?
Da Muses: Not in the scene...But in music...Am I in the scene now?
Question: Was Hillbilly recorded during the University sessions, or is it newer and indicative of
Question: the next TM album?
Da Muses: It was a University "dropout".
Question: What's the story behind "DIZZY" from your Hunkpapa album?
Da Muses: My father wrote the chorus...I wrote the part that sucks.
Question: if aliens came to earth, what do you think they would look like?
Da Muses: Me, me, me.
Question: When do you think your next album might be coming out??
Da Muses: April/May '96...Itsreallygoodbuyit.
SpinZAPPER: Hi. Welcome to the SPIN Lounge. We're here with Kristin Hersh of Throwing Mueslix.
Question: Were you a child music prodigy and when did you write your first song?
Da Muses: I was 9 when I wrote my first song...I'm a grown-up prodigy.
Question: don't you think it is silly when people mosh at your concerts, and try to stage dive??
Da Muses: If they're moved and they don't hurt anyone...great.
SpinZAPPER: No, joking, I meant to say, "Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses." Glad you're here, Kristin..
Question: What is your favorite "vinyl" album cover?
Da Muses: "X" Wild Gift.
Question: what do you think of courtney love...how do feel about the way shes carried herself on and
Question: off the stage?
Da Muses: It's not up to me to think anything about her as a person...I like her band a lot.
SpinZAPPER: You can't have a SPINonline conference without a Courtney Love question
Question: You and the band sounded great on Conan. What is it like performing in front of TV
Question: cameras?
Da Muses: Cold.
Question: Some people consider the Muses' demo tape to be your "first" album. Have any floating
Question:
around that you could give me for Xmas?
Da Muses: You may get one sooner than you think (wink, wink) P.S. if you have one burn it.
Question: Do you really have a "Bright Yellow Gun"???
Da Muses: No...It's a METAPHOR...Maybe bright shiny things that catch our eye are dangerous and that's great.
SpinZAPPER: And on that note-- Kristin, do you have any last words for the masses?
Da Muses: Yes.
Da Muses: Thanks everyone.Bye.
SpinZAPPER: Buh bye. good night. .