the nogoodforme.com interview: Starlight Mints

I first discovered Starlight Mints about a year ago via Fluxblog - that magical place where about 3 out of 5 obsessable music things are discovered these days - in a post that said something about the band out-Bowie-ing Bowie himself. That feels sorta blasphemous to us (being creatures of undying David Bowie worship at all), but we can't deny that the Norman, Oklahoma-based foursome's latest record Drowatown is crammed with lots of smart, bubblegum-sticky pop and grandiose orchestral arrangements that come off so dreamy (instead of clunky/pretentious, as could easily happen in the hands of a way less fun band - go download "Inside of Me" as proof of their pure catchiness).

Starlight Mints may also have a Bowie-esque predilection for things of a slightly foppish nature, as drummer Andy Nunez (sharp-dressed dude on the far left there) has tipped us off to his Brigitte Bardot crush and affection for French pop. He also introduced us to the concept of making out to the 2001 score, which I think might've just broken my mind (but in a good way).

What was your first experience in making music? A tennis racket/pots-and-pan band in my parents' garage.

Who are your favorite bands? Too many to name them all...We love the 60s, The Kinks to French pop (Serge Gainsbourg, etc.); the no-wave movement of the late 70s (Gang of Four, etc.); and a lot of the so-called alternative new-wave bands of the 80s (The Cure, Talk Talk, etc.).

Name one record you loved when you were a little kid that you still listen to today. Wings at the Speed of Sound was on my parents' turntable a lot. I still love that record!

What have you been listening to lately? Enon, Juana Molina, Spoon, LCD Soundsystem, to name a few.

Who's your number-one all-time music crush? a young Brigitte Bardot

Favorite makeout music? 2001: A Space Odyssey soundtrack (Strauss)

What do you like to wear onstage? Anything with a really high soft thread count that doesn't advertise something.

Name one beauty product you always take on tour with you. We are fans of all Aveda products.

What's the craziest show you've ever played? One time we ended a tour in Portland, Oregon, and had to get to CMJ in NYC in two days. We showed up just in time to play...it was surreal to say the least.

Tell us a beauty secret. Sleep till you can't sleep anymore.

Who are your style idols? Devo had some of the all-time greatest stage style.

Any favorite fashion designers/labels? Camper shoes and Modern Amusement are some of our faves.

What are your favorite places to clothes-shop in your city? Gypsy Shoes, but we buy most of our clothes when we're traveling.

Any advice for girls/boys looking to start a band? Do it because you love it, because it can be hard to make a career out of it!

What are the biggest inspirations for your music? After a while it becomes hard to know what inspires us. Most of all we love the idea of making money doing something we would do for free.

(Starlight Mints photo by Christian Pitt)

Posted by Liz in Interviews
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