Simply Six: May McDonough

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 of Elvis 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?

-----  My mother kept musical instruments around the house, and she was a rock n roll girl herself.  I learned guitar watching her, and passing tips back and forth with my brother.  Singing was just a part our lives as a family.  The three of us used to harmonize irish folks songs on the way to kindergarten in the mornings.  So I'm not sure I can isolate any defining moment for me.  I was always a musician.  All though I did go through a few years in highschool trying to be a comedian.  Even then though... I think comedians are just musicians who can't play, and musicians are just comedians who aren't funny.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to?  Who are some of your favorites?

------  My music collection is pretty lofty, but I've got favorites.  Sonic Youth, Neutral Milk Hotel, Tom Waits, The Beatles, The Pixies.  I grew up on Bowie and Led Zeppelin and the greats and then moved into the more obscure stuff in high school.  There's a common thread in what I like, but I couldn't name it for the life of me.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

----  That's got to be a tie between recording my first album last year, and now having a band and playing the House of Blues for the first time.  For an indie band, that's one of the biggest stages we'll ever be privy to.  Can't wait.

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?   How much can music influence current events?

----  Sure.  Music is art.  And art is distinctly what we do with our humanity.  There's not much pragmatic purpose in it, yet it's what we do.  so I feel like it must be some integral part of the human experience.  It most certainly can influence our actions and our perspectives.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected your career as a musician?

---- Well, while the industry fat cats we're busy debating over what new format to use, some nerdy music fans sitting in their basement somewhere created the mp3 and started sharing.  That's definitely the greatest influence I've seen on the industry.  Sharing has given indie bands like us a platform.  Mp3's have made word of mouth powerful again. It's unfortunate that the RIAA refuses to see that.  I wrote an open letter to the RIAA about it on our blog.  They need to revise their laws.  

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

----  Probably the kind of pair where one is always missing.

Simply Six: Sigurður Eyberg

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 of Elvis 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?

I was about seven when I told my grandmother I was gonna be a singer. She said: "Don't. Singers are all so cocky". This was probably the first time the idea occurred to me, it was after seeing some band perform on TV, not sure what it was, in the memory they look a bit like AC/DC but I have no idea really.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

I listen to the flavor of the month at any given time I suppose, or some of whatever is going on at the moment but I am quite saddened by how few artists make it beyond a good single or even a good first album. The ones that do I tend to fall in love with. The ones I can continually return to are people like: PJ Harvey, Beck, Gorillaz, The Pixies, The Beatles etc. all of who have an extensive catalog of great music.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

The greatest moments are hard to remember because they are the moments when you become so immersed in the music that you forget yourself. Therefore it is hard to actually recall the moment. Although there are numerous concerts that have felt great I still am certain that the best moments, live and in the studio are ahead of me.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

I absolutely think it can. Anything we put out there affects other people and ideas can come from anywhere. Perhaps it is rare that musicians come up with ideas that are that radical that they can actually shape the world on a big scale but a thought or a feeling that resonates with someone else perhaps takes on a life of its own and then reverberates from that individual on to someone else and so on. Who knows how big the effect in the end.

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

It has helped me with my writing as well as enabling me to go solo as I could shape the songs etc. without having to rely on someone else to aid in that process.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

The neon green trainers I had twenty years ago. They captured my character completely.