i am honored and extremely excited to present to you I SEE SEATTLE’s exclusive interview with one of my favorite local bands,
NATALIE PORTMAN’S SHAVED HEAD!! their red-hot energy, enthusiasm, and addicting beats are absolutely mind-blowing. THANK YOU to NPSH for their generosity of time and incredible kindness! luke smith answered for the band via e-mail. ENJOYYY!
1. Names: Luke Smith (19), Shaun Libman (20), Claire England (18), David Price (19), Liam Downey Jr. (19)
2&3. What is the story behind your band's creation and fabulous name?
We met in high school (except for Liam, who we met on myspace). The rest of us had film class together. Shaun and I (Luke) wanted to form an "a cappella" electronic group by making beats and synth sounds with our mouths, and them looping them to make songs. Needless to say, that didn't work out. I started writing songs with a crappy keyboard and a crappy drum machine. Since then we have evolved, adding many more instruments and live drums. Now we are a musical wrecking ball. Our name was invented during a high school language arts class game of "vocabulary olympics." Shaun, David, and I were on a team and we needed a name. The news of Natalie Portman shaving her head was just hitting the presses, and we thought it would be a funny name for our vocab team. We won the olympics. On a whim we slapped the name on our fledgling band. It just stuck, and here we are!
4. Who are your musical influences?
So many amazing bands. Hot Chip, the Unicorns, LCD Soundsystem, Of Montreal, Daft Punk, CSS, Klaxons, 70s soul, 80s funk, Curtis Mayfield, Crystal Skulls...
5. What are you currently listening to/favorite bands?
Claire and I recently got into Mark Ronson, the producer guy who covers everyones songs but adds a new-motown flavah to them. He is fresh like a babe, and he works with Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse. I've been also cruising the blog scene for rare 60s and 70s jazz and soul recordings. There are some sweet gemz out there. We're into the new Fiery Furnaces, new Rilo Kiley, new Chromeo, and new Kayne, and new Britney albums too. You knowz.
6. Can you tell us about some of the highlights of your band's magical journey into stardom thus far?
A definite highlight for us is when one of our favorite bands, CSS, asked us to play with them when they were in Seattle. That show was so amazing. We had been talking to CSS on myspace since last summer, and when they came in October of last year we gave Lovefoxxx an NPSH shirt with Shaun's face on it and she wore it onstage! We talked to her after the show and she said that the next time CSS was in Seattle, we would play together. And we did. And it was amazing. They're all super nice people and there will be more collaborations in the future. Another major highlight/super fun time/hard work time was when we road-tripped as a band down to L.A. We rented a house with a swimming pool and a live-in vocal coach, and I worked with our producer on some of our new tracks. L.A. is crazy fun/magical.
7. Where are your favorite places to shop?
Usually before big shows we go to Atlas Clothing in search of any cool goodies we can buy to wear on stage or to wear in real life. We agree that Atlas is a rad store. Also having friends that work at American Apparel makes it a fun place to shop (price cutzz, if you know what I mean). We went crazy at the Teenage Millionaire store in L.A. All their shirts we're $5 and super rad. No "Jesus is My Homeboy" crap.
8. Favorite local nosh spots?
What's nosh?
9. What are your favorite things about Seattle?
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Hoobastank, The Jamie Kennedy Experience, Real World Seattle,
10. What is/are your favorite piece/s of clothing?
Shaun: "My vintage 1990 pink Where's Waldo shirt that I got in L.A.!!!"
David: "My plaid Vans Skate Hi shoes!!!"
Claire: "My plaid coat!!!"
Luke: "My pea coat!!!"
Liam: "My mage robe!!!"
11. Who are your fashion inspirations/icons?
The Zombies. Kanye West. Jonny Cash. John Wayne. Raven-Symone. The Cobra Snake. Cory Kennedy.
12. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Conquering MTV, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, Fuse, MTV2, and E!. World touring. Releasing a 3rd or 4th album. Dating supermodels.
13. Can you surreptitiously give us any information whatsoever in regards to your highly, highly anticipated first album release next year? Pretty please?
All we can say is that it will be out sometime early next year. Like, February or March. It will also explode your mind.
14. Have you met Natalie Portman?
No, we wish! Last week we actually wrote a letter to her (or her "people") asking permission to use the name. No word yet, but it doesn't look too good. I would love to meet her. I think she'd really like our band.
15. Finally, if you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?
A guitar, a keyboard, a drum set. We could get so much work done. When we finally get rescued, we'd have like 5 new albums written.
