or if you're too lazy to click on the link, here's the full interview ;-)
Popshifter One Giant Leap for Fankind Q & A with Bedtime for Toys Posted in Current Faves, Music |
Interviewed by Lisa Haviland (via email)
Close your eyes; beddy bye, tin soldier. Mommy says that it's time for sleep. If my folks were wiser and older, They'd know kids and toys don't need sleep.
Don't be bad little cotton dolly. See how nice Mickey Mouse sleeps now? Even my brass drummer boy has stopped all his noise, 'Cause he knows it's past bedtime for toys. Stevie Wonder, "Bedtime for Toys"
In their current, L.A.-based, pop/rock/R&B/funk incarnation Bedtime for Toys noise is generated by Marchelle Bradanini on vocals and lyrics; Toussaint Christophe on keyboards, beats, and vocals; Samuel Jacob Chatez on guitars and beats; Jenni Tarma on bass; Kenan on drums; and VJ Phi Phenomenon, video DJ artist.
Q: What are your top five albums and/or musical influences?
A: Prince because he's a punk. Talking Heads because they are The Funk. Bad Brains because they are they are the O.G. crunk. Shalimar because they are the actual Sound of Los Angeles. Afrika Bambaataa because we want to live on Planet Rock.
Q: Since getting together, you've collaborated with Har Mar, signed with Trash Aesthetics, been remixed by Le Tigre, and featured on Rolling Stone's "Best Bands on MySpace" list. How has the band changed in the course of touring and performing?
A: There have been obvious things that have changed, like adding band members and musical arrangement choices, but our original mission—to see a million faces and rock them all—has remained unshakable.
Q: Speaking of Le Tigre, how did you hook up with them for the remix?
A:Sammy discovered that MySpace messaging can be used for something other than staying in touch with friends from summer camp.
Q: How do you go about writing as a group? Is there a certain sequence or structure you adhere to in terms of composing songs together?
A:We share a creative kidney. The toxins get filtered out and we keep what's left to nurture the system.
Q:The line "L.A.'s the place that will drive a girl crazy" from "Mona Lisa Part 2? feels like a page right out of my own experience there. Your lyrics for this track, as well as for "White Fur Coat" and "Chandelier," bring to light a Los Angeles paradox—pose becoming person—and an array of specific imagery versus sonic distortion, which strike me as very particular to that environment. Your front woman, Marchelle, seems to have a lot of fun with this paradox, alternately mocking and deriding its power. For me, the most vivid example would be her tearing up a photo of Marilyn Monroe in the "Chandelier" video or the mannequins that served as the accompanying photo for "On the Shelf" on your MySpace page. How would you say living in the shadow of Hollywood/TV Land has impacted your process?
A:We've learned that rather than trying to break through the front gates, our takeover will be most effective by becoming members of the royal court and secretly poisoning the king and queen.
Q:I understand you work with a visual projection artist, VJ Phi Phenom, at your live shows. How did you come to collaborate, and what sort of images do you showcase?
A:Marchelle discovered that posting ads on CraigsList can be used for something other than selling furniture. To the contrary, Phi Phenom creates images in real time from a variety of sources and came with his own chair.
Q: In that vein, and because your music is multimedia-oriented, what are some major film, literary, art and/or fashion influences for Bedtime for Toys?
A:Film: Akira Kurosawa, Jean-Luc Godard, Adolfo Quinones Art: Keith Haring, Banksy, Drew Struzan Literary: Charles Bukowski, Bret Easton Ellis, Benjamin Hoff Fashion: Phil Knight, Paul Fireman, Adolf Dassler Note from the band: If you don't know who these people are, use Wikipedia just like we did.
Q:Politics, too, rears its often-ugly head. What, if anything, are you interested in conveying about the times we live in? A:If Toussaint and Marchelle can work together for the greater good so can Hillary and Obama.
Word Association Sign o' the times: House Quake Axis of: Bold as Love Stiletto: Weapon of Choice Schwarzenegger: Van Damme Revolver: something like Velvet
Q: According to an article published in Fact Magazine in July 2007, you are poised to become "Pitchfork [Media]'s darlings." Do you feel cheap? You can tell us.
A:Nah. We welcome all forms of "darlingism" and getting the quote cost us a lot of money.
LA TIMES Buzz Bands: BfT + KCET FEATURE LIVE + Indie 103.1FM
Current mood: thankful
KCET Online partnered with Indie 103.1 for their latest Online Feature including your very own, Bedtime For Toys, along with some other awesome bands!!!
Featuring an in-depth interview w/Indie 103.1's Mark Shovel, Video, Audio, Photo gallery and more!!!
RUMMAGE words by Mr. Shovel
In the age of recycling and repurposing, LA musicians are on the vanguard of a movement to adapt old technology and musical ideas to form new hybrids, giving birth to a generation of music and visual aesthetics that are fresh and inventive, yet reminiscent of a bygone era. The DNA of music and technology are creating a new breed of sound and vision that will alter and shape the cultural landscape of Los Angeles' future.
The wonderful thing about popular music is the way in which musicians of each generation can rummage through the trash piles of music's past to find the magic gems of musical ideas, to infuse into the music what we see being forged in warehouses, rehearsal studios and apartments across Los Angeles today. KCET has given me the great opportunity to feature 4 bands that exemplify these ideas.
"With the talented hosh-posh of ethnicities, LA based Bedtime For Toys is a metaphorical bag-o-bounty with their celestial hybrid of electro, hip hop, pop and metal."
Vote BfT for Cover of Nylon Magazine! NEW Website! NEW VIDS! Live Shows!
Current mood: chipper
Category: Music
Hey Lovelies,
Nylon Magazine is looking for bands to feature in their International Music Issue and hot damn!... not only would we love a shout out, but we want the COVER and we need your help!!
Afterwards, check out the new BfT Website www.bedtimefortoys.com designed by UK's finest, Graeme Swinton!!! With websites and previous work for Gwen Stefani, Talking Heads, Thom Yorke, and M.I.A. already on Graeme's resume, we think the boy done good with us too...
We've also launched our own online video blog, BFT TV!!! There you can watch everything from exclusive behind the scenes videos, recording sessions and recent rehearsals! Step into the mad, mad world of BFT and don't forget to subscribe! www.youtube.com/bedtimefortoyswww.youtube.com/bedtimefortoys
And finally, we'll be kicking off a super special series of live shows at the Scene in Glendale every Saturday in May. They'll be plenty of surprises and special guests, so mark your calendars and polish your dancin' shoes.
Trust us... in the next few weeks we'll be brining you a lot more great news and appreciate you ridin' with us on this fantastic voyage. We luv you all!!!!
PS- BfT in the press! Here's some of our recent faves...
"So much electro noise has been coming out of New York City, London and Paris that it's about time L.A. got a proper foothole on the action. And what better group to represent the laid back vibe of West Coast electro better than Bedtime For Toys. Picture Sheena Easton hogtied to a boombox in Outkast's sex dungeon. That would somewhat give you a glimpse into BFT's tripped out, retrosexual sound. Throw in a hot interpolation of Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" and you can only imagine why this foursome aren't in the pages of every music mag..." --Pocket Rock
"Have I been living under a rock? Does like everyone already know and love Bedtime for Toys? Because there is like no way these kids aren't huge. Or there is no reason they shouldn't beMona Lisa Part Two is the perfect summer jam, and not only because they used the Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love." Bedtime for Toys feels like something Gwen Stefani would be doing if she was actually interesting." --Big Stereo
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE picks BFT as TOP 25 Best Bands on MySpace!
Current mood: bouncy
Category: Music
Here Ye, Here Ye!
We have a super special announcement to interrupt your pre-holiday festivities. Bedtime for Toys was selected by ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE as one of the TOP 25 BANDS on MySPACE.com!!!!! Check it out here: www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily
That's right...we are almost famous :-)...Of the gazillion bands on MySpace, we have been ordained by the Staff at Rolling Stone to enter their inner sanctum of coolness. Stillwater and Penny Lane would be proud…We wanted to let you know as soon as possible, so you can prove you knew us first before your hipster friends or your Mom try and take the credit.
Actually, in all seriousness, we really love you all and appreciate your support over the last year. We're taking this Toy Train to the top with all of you aboard. Choo! Choo!
As a token of our sincere gratitude, we've posted a brand new exclusive track on our MySpace page called "HUSH" and made you a special holiday card which you'll find below.
Expect more details on the return of BfT LIVE!, more smoking hot recordings, and more good times coming soon.
We love you!
B.I.G. in 07, Marchelle, Sammy, Tous & Paul Bedtime for Toys *************************** www.myspace.com/bedtimefortoys www.freshlabs.com thetoys@bedtimefortoys.com
The Great Photographer Ellie of Shadowscene.com has documented the night of Marchelle's glorious BDay! Check em out... they're insane!... Barney the Pinata got a whooping...
Can Bedtime for Toys survive as technology wreaks havoc on the creative process? Tune in at becausewespithotfire.blogspot.com or watch the Episode Below to find out!
Video Blog Episode 1 bft presents, Because We Spit Hot Fire
Category: Music
This is a rag-tag start to our upcoming Video Journal where you'll get to see weekly episodes of the Toys on their adventures in the Studio, across the globe and beyond. Becausewespithotfire.blogspot.com visit the link above or watch the vid below and we'll see ya next time ;)
breezy
thankful
bouncy
chipper
cheerful
