1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance ofElvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?
Lonny: Singing wasn’t exactly what I was looking for in life. I really would have rather been a guitar player. It really came as a shock when ten years later the singing was becoming more primary. It was a very gradual change though and somewhat undefined.
Deb: I must have had a defining moment at about the age of 6...because I remember sitting on the sidewalk in front of my Bronx apartment building with the song book to "scarborough fair", singing to it and waiting to be "discovered"!..I just don't remember what brought it on. Now, every time I see a well executed artistic performance,(be it graphic art, drama , music, etc.) it is a "re-defining" moment of being in love with the "creation of art".
Deb: I must have had a defining moment at about the age of 6...because I remember sitting on the sidewalk in front of my Bronx apartment building with the song book to "scarborough fair", singing to it and waiting to be "discovered"!..I just don't remember what brought it on. Now, every time I see a well executed artistic performance,(be it graphic art, drama , music, etc.) it is a "re-defining" moment of being in love with the "creation of art".
2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?
Lonny: My musical tastes are similar to Deb’s minus the Beethoven, and Dvorak, and adding some old Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. I love the modern indie sounds and the old rock to a slightly lesser degree.
Deb: I listen to the likes of The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, the Shins, Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M., Margot and the Nuclear So and So's,The Dandy Warhols,Nick Drake, Wilco, Tori Amos,Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliot Smith, The Delgados, Crooked fingers, as well as Beethoven, Dvorak, and some Native American music that incorporates elements of that culture and newer music. Pink Floyd is a long lasting favorite which I can hear by just thinking about it!
Deb: I listen to the likes of The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, the Shins, Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M., Margot and the Nuclear So and So's,The Dandy Warhols,Nick Drake, Wilco, Tori Amos,Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliot Smith, The Delgados, Crooked fingers, as well as Beethoven, Dvorak, and some Native American music that incorporates elements of that culture and newer music. Pink Floyd is a long lasting favorite which I can hear by just thinking about it!
3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?
Lonny: Any show that we have managed to show an audience a good time has been pretty much equally the top of my list of great moments. There is absolutely nothing more satisfying and beautiful than a set of music that creates a true connection with an audience.
Deb: My greatest moments are associated with artistic triumphs of creating something I am really satisfied with...Our new album "Light Bright" has made me very happy in this way, and is the latest "great moment". Going on tour with The Flaming Lips could be the next!
Deb: My greatest moments are associated with artistic triumphs of creating something I am really satisfied with...Our new album "Light Bright" has made me very happy in this way, and is the latest "great moment". Going on tour with The Flaming Lips could be the next!
4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?
Lonny: Music is more a force of rebalancing than a force for change. Our natural state is probably the most amazing possibility to achieve. Music definitely nudges us back to that state. The current world is constantly pushing us towards thousands of external stimulations per day for most of us. The actual miracle is probably closer to who we are and how we interact. Music is a true compass to bring us back to the rare and exceptional thing we call reality.
Deb: Music changes the world, as does everything that happens. I consciously try to make music that helps everything evolve in a positive way. You go in the direction you are looking, and that's where I try to keep my eye on. Sound in particular is intrinsic to our physical presence...the original "creation" of life, as interpreted by physicists, was an organization of matter BY sound waves that "compressed" and "stretched out" matter... Music to me is an incredible flow of energy that is not limited by the physical or time realm. Music is limited in it's "ability" to change "current events" by how much consensus it does or does not have...Most of the time that music is a by-product or reflection of what already exists.
Deb: Music changes the world, as does everything that happens. I consciously try to make music that helps everything evolve in a positive way. You go in the direction you are looking, and that's where I try to keep my eye on. Sound in particular is intrinsic to our physical presence...the original "creation" of life, as interpreted by physicists, was an organization of matter BY sound waves that "compressed" and "stretched out" matter... Music to me is an incredible flow of energy that is not limited by the physical or time realm. Music is limited in it's "ability" to change "current events" by how much consensus it does or does not have...Most of the time that music is a by-product or reflection of what already exists.
5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?
Lonny: A large subject to broach I must say, and clearly a mixed blessing. In a nutshell, with technology, music making is accessible to every Tom, Dick and Harry. This is good because we all have an opportunity to express and grow, however individuating yourself is exceedingly more difficult than in the past. You pretty much have to be a genius and very hard working to break through the musical clutter out there. Electronica and Hip Hop are now such different forms of electronic sound that have changed the soundscape in fairly dramatic ways. These forms of music have fairly clear pluses and minuses of there own. I am probably not saying anything new here.
Deb: Everybody has heard the news that the "old" music industry is dead, long live...what?
The digitizing of our world's information, including music has opened up a lot of abilities as what can be accomplished by fewer individuals using less resources,so there is a lot more music just a mouse click away. For artists there is exposure to a lot of different influences that I think has increased the interaction of different "genres", and, as this gene pool mixes, sped up the development of "new" genres. Listening to some of the younger artists I am really impressed at how, despite this age being so information-saturated.they have filtered through it, finding an original sound that reflects their exposures. As a musician, technology is the interface that connnects my music with the public, except when I am playing live for the audience.,.so it is a lot of how the music gets heard, and how the audience gets their say. Also, for recording music, technology has made it possible for our band to record our music in our own studio at our own pace...for a band without a big recording budget it enabled us to produce exactly what we wanted, and made us better musicians in the "reaching higher" process.
Deb: Everybody has heard the news that the "old" music industry is dead, long live...what?
The digitizing of our world's information, including music has opened up a lot of abilities as what can be accomplished by fewer individuals using less resources,so there is a lot more music just a mouse click away. For artists there is exposure to a lot of different influences that I think has increased the interaction of different "genres", and, as this gene pool mixes, sped up the development of "new" genres. Listening to some of the younger artists I am really impressed at how, despite this age being so information-saturated.they have filtered through it, finding an original sound that reflects their exposures. As a musician, technology is the interface that connnects my music with the public, except when I am playing live for the audience.,.so it is a lot of how the music gets heard, and how the audience gets their say. Also, for recording music, technology has made it possible for our band to record our music in our own studio at our own pace...for a band without a big recording budget it enabled us to produce exactly what we wanted, and made us better musicians in the "reaching higher" process.
6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?
Lonny: I have to invent this one. Merrell’s Morphing shoes, hiking shoes completely able to be very nice looking on an evening out. Fashionable, durable and forever lasting? I am just a man you know.
Deb: Shoes I would be Italian,leather, dark brown, 1 and 1/2 inch heel,side buckle...are boots allowed?
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