By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound?
A) Punk rock music for dorks
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Poly Styrene, Plasmatics, Blondie, X, The Dicks, Dolly Parton, Destiny’s Child, Nirvana
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Lucky.”
A) “Lucky” came about when I was depressed and wanting to make art, which happens a lot. [laughs] I was thinking what vibe would I want to travel with and then I thought I want to be lucky and having the best life, so I just started jammin’ with my guitarist Adam Laidlaw and drummer and the words wrote itself.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) The beginning verse is a chant to get myself into “lucky girl syndrome” mode and out of a funk.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) The video for lucky is me dating a pickle – our friend Hatti Rese, who is an incredible special effects artist. We basically fall in love, have pickle babies and then she eats them. We made the video with the super talented director Pooneh Ghana and you would have to ask her the deep meaning behind the video. I think it’s to entertain the people and have fun!
Q) Dani, you wrote “Lucky.” What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) Right now my process is Adam [Laidlaw] and Sean [Powell] send me music and my brain lights up on fire with lyric ideas. Then, I send them back my words. We all giggle and then meet up a couple days later in the studio and do it for real. It’s always a blast. I also think of lyrics and ideas separate from the music, but the way it all fits together I def work off beats and riffs really well.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) I’m really lucky for this record. Surfbort’s very own Adam Laidlaw recorded a lot of the album in his backyard and then we also worked with Riff Cellular and Luis Flores a lot on the album. Also, we all work together and try and have fun in the process .
Q) “Lucky” is featured on your upcoming LP Reality Star. What are some themes you can tease you’ll be exploring on it?
A) Themes of Reality Star – Extreme happiness, laughing with friends, nihilism, navigating this crazy world, friendship, grieving, loneliness, hot dogs and the idea that we are all just Stars of our own reality!
You have shared the stage with acts like Alice Wolf, Idles and The Garden. Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) I love playing worldwide! Our fans are all lovers I don’t have a favorite place but I love playing a packed wharehouse where everyone is dancing and having a blast !
Q) Your song “FML” is a fan favorite and the video features Fred Armisen! How did his cameo come to be?
A) Fred Armisen is a bestie. I admire his talents so much and he just brightens everyone’s world, so it was a no brainer for him to be a superhero for everyone in our music video.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) Would be fun to collaborate with Blondie
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) Current favs: Mozart, B52s, The Garden, Dead City Punks, Blondie, Ho99o9, Eyedress, Viagra Boys, Blink 182, Lambrini Girls, N8 Noface, Friday the 13th, Starcrawler, Pretty Sick
Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?
A) Social media is annoying, but I’m an internet girl dork just because of the times. But I wish it was the 80s.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thanks for all the support and love. I hope my music brings you happiness and peace and a place to relax, be yourself and release your sadness or angst. Love youuuu!
All Questions Answered By Vocalist Dani Miller