keep art alive: vanilla swingers

the ten questions project: vanilla swingers

*1. what music (or other art form) inspires you when you create your art?

Miles - I'd say this album is informed by a mix of 80s pop (Pet Shop Boys, Talk Talk, The Smiths) and a few key records that make some kind of grand artistic or political statement, like Infected by The The or Don't Stand Me Down by Dexys. Plus there are some unusual song structures and time signatures, like you might find in the music of Blonde Redhead or Radiohead (1997 onwards). Another important influence was the English philosopher, John Gray, whose books I find simultaneously terrifying and empowering.

Anne - Brian Eno, The Fall, David Lynch, JMW Turner, Werner Herzog, Pina Bausch, Bill Viola, Robert Wilson, Seamus Heaney, Robert Wyatt

*2. long distance road trip: what three people do you invite along (fictional or non-fictional, dead or alive)?

Miles - Hope Sandoval, Mama Cass Elliott and my friend Dan, who's a lot of fun and I don't see enough of.

Anne - Brian Eno, Stephen Fry, David Lynch

*3. what is your favorite breakfast cereal?

Miles - Kellogg's Start, the athlete's choice (i.e. loaded with glucose)

Anne - Don’t eat cereal but like fruit and nuts with natural yogurt

*4. what is one thing that is hanging on your bedroom wall?

Miles - a small mirror with a silhouette of a bird on it

Anne - a cobweb

* 5. what smell/scent evokes strong memories for you?

Miles - Sure Pink, a type of deodorant. And tarmac, but best not at the same time.

Anne - Freshly cut grass, reminds me of summer coming, looking out the window in Our Lady’s Grammar School at 14, longing for freedom.

* 6. coffee or tea?

Miles - tea with soya milk

Anne - Depends on my mood, I like a nice coffee at my local Portuguese café but my Mum does the best cup of tea in the world.

* 7. what has been the most impactful compliment, or criticism, you have ever received?

Miles - Any supportive heartfelt comment from someone I don't know.

Anne - In a dance performance once I had a review that said I was 'sturdy', mmmm, went on a crash diet after that!

* 8. three words that describe you?

Miles - considerate, perfectionistic, blessed

Anne - warm, indecisive, capable

* 9. cartoon character crush: who is, or was, yours?

Miles - The comics I read as a kid were all about war - not much love interest there.

Anne - Superman

* 10. the world is ending in ten minutes and you get to listen to one, and only one, song: which song?

Miles - A song by Anne's old band, Florida, called Everything Will Be OK

Anne - It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue – Van Morrison version

***

vanilla swingers can be seen and heard at the following locations: myspace and vanilla swingers ~ time travel, communication, entertainment

i would like to thank vanilla swingers for re-awakening my vision of an alternate reality/time travel story i've been working on - but had been stuck in writer's block over. thank you for the inspiration, and for such lush and gorgeous music.

and, thank you for participating in keep art alive; the ten questions project

go now go and check out more of their music, catch them live if you can, recommend them to a friend, and buy something if you can. keep art alive and show your support.

new music review: vanilla swingers

take a listen to the vanilla swingers

if you fall

"if you fall for this,
you'll fall for anything."

danger in the past
& a live video

"souvenirs that you can feel,
won't give up what they reveal;
they never will."

the town

"the town was where we met,
but it could all have been so different."

remiscent of a wandering the city streets in the rain, a bit lost, three streets down from where you are meant to be. the pulse of your slightly nervous heart flows and pours out into the vibrations of each passing car, the rain drops drip dripping a back-up beat; everything is music. lost, yet not alone, as the accompanying voice chimes in, takes your hand, lets you share their battered yellow umbrella.

i am not good with comparisons when talking on music. i tend to take anything new in as just that - new. i am not keen on categorization and labels. but, if i had to choose the similar bucket to stream these songs - and their fantastic album vs into - it would be with bands such as belle and sebastian, azure ray, and stephen merritt's magnetic fields.

the album is said to be a story of love and alternate lives. described as a concept affair about two people who meet, run away together, go back in time, lose each other, and meet again in 2015.

as it feels, it is an album of songs to be lost and found within.

hear more here.