slipjig3: (piggie)
slipjig3 ([personal profile] slipjig3) wrote2015-08-06 04:53 pm
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Three questions, answered forthrightly

The magnificent [livejournal.com profile] bluegargantua recently answered a three-question interview, and offered to ask three questions to anyone who so wished. I took the plunge, and great questions they are! In his own words, "It's murder ballads all the way down":

1) What was your first musical instrument?

My first "real" instrument, i.e. one that wasn't handed out in bulk to the entire grade school music class, was the flute, begun in fifth grade. I'd known that flute would be my band instrument for a few years at that point, although i don't recall the exact reasons why, aside from a single jean-Pierre Rampal LP in my parents' collection. I played on a serious band-and-recital level up through my freshman year of college, when thanks to a horrid audition I dropped from my high school first chair position to next-to-last chair in the lowest of four concert bands, which took the wind out of my sails. I still have my Yamaha open-hole, though, and play it occasionally, although playing with a beard is an interesting challenge. Maybe I should break it out for some Murder Ballads stuff.

2) What did you learn from your crowdfunding endeavors?

The thing I keep trying to learn everywhere else: that it's okay to advocate for myself. The hardest part about the Indiegogo thing, the newer Patreon thing, everything about finding listeners and landing gigs, is that I have to stand up and say, "Hey! I'm pretty good! Come check me out!" And not just once, but over and over again. People will help, yes, but not if I don't believe it myself first. Still working on it.

3) What's the funniest line from a murder ballad?

I have to go with "Matty Groves," when Matty is asked by Lord Darnell what he thinks of the Lord's bed, his linens, and oh yeah, his naked wife in Matty's arms. Matty, a cheeky li'l cuss, replies, "Oh, it's well I like your feather bed and well I like your sheets / But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep." Oh, SNAP.

BONUS: Since most people come on interview shows to pitch their latest project (book, movie, CD, etc.), pitch your latest project (anything fun you want people to know about).

Murder Ballads, natch. We've started talking about our second album, and we've got so much new material from just the last six months that we're going to have to trim somewhere. Part of that is from project #2: S.J. Tucker got me into hier songwriters' group, which means I get a prompt every Monday and have to write and record a new song by Sunday; it's a snootload of work, but I've been doing some of my best writing to date, so bring it on. One last non-musical thing is that I've begun writing cards again for a peculiar movie trivia game I'm developing (hey, [livejournal.com profile] theloriest, it's the one you playtested at the party a year and a half ago). It's tedious work but fun. I want to have at least 250 cards before I do anything resembling beta testing, and I've got a little over 100 now. Onward!

If you'd like some questions of your own, just ask in comments!

[identity profile] sandrylene.livejournal.com 2015-08-06 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh, I didn't know you played flute. Neat! I never considered the mechanics of playing with a beard, as it's never been directly relevant, but I can see on reflection how that'd be difficult/odd.

[identity profile] slipjig.livejournal.com 2015-08-07 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Yup! There's a definite amount of friction loss to deal with, especially if you're accustomed to relying on having a little adhesion against your chin. Then again, James Galway and Ian Anderson both do fine, so I dunno what I'm whinging about.

You didn't specifically ask for questions, but you didn't specifically refuse them either, so here you go (you may answer or not at your own whim):

1) If you could travel through time and space at will, what one concert would you most like to have attended?

2) What one object, out of all those you once owned and no longer do, would you most like to get back?

3) Stranger Ways has just thrown out its entire repertoire and refashioned itself as a 70's, 80's, and 90's cover band, using the same voices and instrumentation you've always had. You're in charge of choosing the music. Name one song from each of the three decades that you'd definitely put on the playlist.

And since I love the question so much, I'm carrying this over from Tom:

BONUS: Since most people come on interview shows to pitch their latest project (book, movie, CD, etc.), pitch your latest project (anything fun you want people to know about).

[identity profile] vulpine137.livejournal.com 2015-08-06 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay fans of 'Matty Groves' :)

[identity profile] slipjig.livejournal.com 2015-08-07 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, totally. Biiiig Fairport Convention fan here, although I think we do a pretty damn good version.

As I said to [livejournal.com profile] sandrylene up there, you didn't say you wanted questions, but I'm going to take your comment as a request; you can answer or not answer as you see fit.

1) What's the objectively worst movie that you in fact love? (As in, "This is really terrible. I want to watch it again.")

2) Describe the best restaurant meal you've ever had the privilege of enjoying.

3) Science and genetics have advanced to the point that you can have just about any sort of body modification that you want. You have a gift certificate that will get you any one body mod of your choice. What'll it be?

[identity profile] slipjig.livejournal.com 2015-08-07 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Also, you may add the same bonus question above.

[identity profile] theloriest.livejournal.com 2015-08-06 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooooh! That was a fun game! I'd love to play again some time. :)

[identity profile] slipjig.livejournal.com 2015-08-07 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I've already decided that the instant it's ready for playtesting, you're getting a phone call. :) I've got a hopefully decent game mechanic worked out to go with the cards now. Fully expecting you to mop the floor with everyone else regardless.

As stated above, I'm treating any reply here as a request for interview questions, but since I know you've already answered a set from Tom, I'll give you the chance to decide: Want another three questions?

[identity profile] theloriest.livejournal.com 2015-08-07 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, sure. :) Work is FINALLY quiet, so I have an hour and a half of peace left before I can get out of here.

[identity profile] slipjig.livejournal.com 2015-08-07 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Right on:

1) Breaking out my favorite AMA / interview/ truth-or-dare question: if we were to search your home, what object would we be most surprised to find?

2) Aside from the Lake Shore Limited debacle, have there been any travel choices you've made that you've regretted?

3) Due to a catastrophic solvent accident, all of your inkwork has vanished, leaving your skin a blank canvas. Luckily, an anonymous benefactor has granted you the unlimited services of the best tattoo artist money can buy. Do you have your current ink replicated, or do you make changes? Alternatively, do you take the opportunity to make a new, epic body-wide integrated work of art?
Edited 2015-08-07 20:25 (UTC)