the nogoodforme.com interview: Mary Timony

I forgot I interviewed Mary Timony. That's pretty weird, considering that she's one of my favorite people ever and that, upon landing said interview, I ran all around town shouting it from the rooftops (metaphorically, or whatever). I don't know what the hell my problem is, but ultimately it makes sense for me to post the interview so soon after our brilliant and groundbreaking Style Icon series: Mary's sort of like my personal patron saint of girls who always wear jeans + t-shirt; I've probably copped her look more than any other rock dame I've ever gone bananas for, and it's all worked out fantastically thus far.

But my absurdly huge collection of beautiful thrift-store-bought tees is not all I owe to Mary Timony. Basically, her music's been my number-one creative inspiration for the past decade, and whenever I get around to making some sort of book, she'll surely be thanked in the liner notes. I can't even tell you where to start if you don't already have her records; they're all so damn great and each shows off Mary's guitar god/weirdo poet thing in its own genius and gorgeous ways. But 3hive's got a nice little selection of mp3s from her last three albums, so maybe you could start there and see what most strikes your fancy. For now, though, go on and plunge into our happily unearthed MT interview, and maybe skip the last question if you'd prefer not to know the depths of my unabashed dorkiness.

What was your first experience in making music? I took piano lessons in second grade. Then in third grade I took viola lessons. That lasted until I was 15. I remember singing "You Light Up My Life" in music class in second grade.

Who are your all-time favorite bands? Off the top of my head, I will just spout off a bunch of stuff. Yes, Can, Jimi Hendrix, RIchard Hell and The Voidoids, Television, The Slits, The Raincoats, Fugazi, Polvo, any of Ash Bowie's projects, any of Christina Billote's bands, Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, Steve Howe solo records, Alice Coltrane, The Adverts, The Stranglers, The Who, Moondog - I'm sure this list could go on and on...

How did you go about discovering new music when you were in high school/college? My friends took me to local shows in DC while the HarDCore scene was happening in the 80s. That's how I found out about punk. I met lots of people playing indie-rock music in Boston in the early 90s.

What most inspires your music? Daydreaming, long walks

What have you been listening to lately? The Evens, Welcome, Battles

Who's your number-one all-time music crush? Not telling

What do you like to wear onstage? I have to wear clothes that I can move around in while I'm playing, and clothes that I can load heavy equipment in, so usually I just wear jeans and a t-shirt. Occasionally I'll spice it up and try wearing a more flashy shirt, but I don't usually really get dressed up on tour because there's usually not too much time, and the clubs are kinda dirty, and it takes too much effort! But I do my best to look presentable. Usually I have one or two pairs of pants that I wear the whole time! Then I rotate shirts. Skirts are usually out of the question, because I have to much stuff to do, and things to climb across. I guess it mostly has to do with loading, now that I think about it. But also it feels weird to me to play in a skirt.

Name one clothing item you always take on tour with you. Like I was saying, I usually try to have at least one shirt that makes it look like I tried to put some effort into looking nice. Other than that, I have to wear shoes that I can move in, and that slide around on stage, and that I can load gear in. I usually opt for Converse.

What's the craziest/weirdest/most memorable show you've ever played? With the band Green 4 we played in a person's barn in Maine. It was a private party but we didn't know beforehand.

If you could choose any locale in the universe to play a show, where would it be? How about an island off Greece?

Who are your style idols? To be honest, I don't have any. I don't know, maybe Joni Mitchell circa Blue? Or perhaps Richard Hell in the early 70s. Not for me, though - for boys.

What are your favorite places to clothes-shop (in your city or elsewhere)? In DC, it would be thrift stores.

Lastly: When The Golden Dove first came out, I was living in Boston, and one day while stopped at a red light in Harvard Square, I took out the CD booklet and started looking through it. There was a car full of kids next to me, and this 13-year-old girl leaned out the window and shouted, "Who is that cat-human lady?" and then started hissing and purring and clawing at the window. Anyway, my question is: Do you ever wear that cat mask these days? [Editor's note: Look up and to the right for a glimpse at the mask I'm nerdily referring to.] I don't wear it. I had it as a Halloween costume one year. But I still have it in my possessions, yes.

Posted by Liz in Interviews
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