Interview: TEENAGERSINTOKYO!

Left to right: Sophie McGinn (Guitar), Linda Marigliano (Bass), Samantha Lim (Vocals), Miska Mandic (Keyboard), Rudy Udovich (Drums).

There are a few bands that sounds live as awesome as on cd and have a charismatic visuality atthe same time - Teenagersintokyo is one of those bands that has a hidden telepathic message in their music demanding to be loved and not just liked. I'd seriously rather watch them fully covered Afghanistan-style rather than the whole cast of Bay Watch (in their original from-back-in-the-day shape) naked.

There's a lot of energie to their music and all the shouting just makes it better (make sure you owna cpy of the selftitled EP)!

I the interview below we kept the seriousness aside & had a go at goofing around with Miska (Mishka) & Sam (Samantha) while keeping somefacts intacts for the sake of not being mistaken for neanderthals. Enjoy the Quickie!

START.

Brifly before anything… You’re not Teenagers and you’re not form Tokyo? What are we missing?

Miska: Like most band names, it was something stupid we came up with without thinking that somewhere down the line we’d be getting asked “gee, how’d you come up with that little gem?”

I like how you’re fooling everyone by keeping the details of the new video shoot all hush hush and saying you’re doing that to prevent it from being spoiled! When the truth is, the concept is very dangerous and you don’t want blood on your hands if something “ACCIDENTLY” goes wrong? I heard Miska gets cut in half - & I heard you have a bunch of cement sacks, a bundle of scotch-tape, 5 cartoon network (power puff girls) plasters and a box of organic bubblegum.. I’m trying not to be nostalgic but what if all that didn’t fix her again? Who will she be replaced by?

Samantha: How do you know everything?? In truth Kris Angel was involved, he is the brains behind the whole concept for the video and it’s truly an original work of his vision and talent. It’s only natural, should Miska not be able to continue her work in the band, that she be replaced by him. We felt it was a natural progression for him and we welcome him with arms wide open (both physically and through the use of Creed as our backing track). p.s. I LOVE YOU MISKA!

Miska: I went to a Creed concert once… Oh no wait, I’m thinking of some other terrible Christian ‘rock’ band.

But Is the video for a song we already know or is it for a newly recorded one that hasn’t been released yet?

Miska: It’s for a song you already know AND have already seen a video for. Hmmm. We did a visual redux of End it Tonight to unleash in Europe when we release the single in a couple of months. And yes, everything you heard above about Kris Angel is true. Rumour has it, he also co-wrote the original track.

WOw! I also heard the Very Vampyr 7" single sold out like free toothbrushes at an anorexia club and some lucky people got a signed one or even one kissed by Rudy! Isn’t that bad for you? You don’t know what people could do with DNA samples, next thing you’ll find a Rudy clone running around town doing god knows what, ruining his reputation… or even worse a label can create an army of clones and sell Rudys to bands who need a good drummer!?

Samantha: Is there a target market for this? If so, then yes, we admire your proposition and shall begin production immediately. Otherwise, it’s just nice to know that people still buy music let alone records. And buying ours, even better for us and our eating requirements.

...Another item being traded for cash under your name is the Very-Vampyr-style gold foil dentures – I heard they were actually found among the clatter of glitter-stickers-covered instruments, under-lit jars of gummy bears, Venom lip thickening tubes, neon microphones, a huge pile of stolen designer shoes next to a broken wall mounted scorpions farm and jewel crusted Ex boyfriends skulls in your studio… plus your artworks are fleshy in a cannibalistic way... were they weapons incase you got into a brawl with New Young Pony Club?

Miska: That is an amazing pile of junk. I WISH we had that stuff at our studio. All we have are stupid instruments and tambourines and shit. WTF? But yes, Vampire dentures. Very classy. Good for picking up. If anyone out there is reading this, please buy some.

Who’s responsible for your nifty scientifically vulgar artwork anyways?

Samantha: That would be our dear little bear, Miska.

Miska: Vulgar?

LOL, I’m not very bright when it comes to math but…

[1 Guy + 4 Gals = A Lot Of Speculations]

Exactly what kinds of conversations are triggered away from the prying ears & what fun stuff do you all do in your so-tight-free-time? Have you ever caught Rudy jerkin off or watching porn – do you get him involved in your girlie activities & talks?

Miska: If I knew what exactly was implied by “girlie activities n talks” I could answer this question properly, but as it stands, I’m just going to reveal that yes, he talks about porn sometimes, no I’ve never seen him jerking off (THANK GOD) and yes we’ve seen him wearing girls panties.

(Intresting...! Hmmm...) lol.. Anyhoo, Congrats on the adoption! Back Yard is one of the killingest independent labels around - does this mean the promotional future will definitely, certainly, positively, unquestionably, absolutely, undeniably, and affirmatively withhold batches of remixes to dance to and to love?

Samantha: We’re very excited about joining the Back Yard family. We liken the experience to finding something that you always knew you wanted but never had. As for remixes we’re keeping our lips sealed, but if you’re good at the internet you can find out that we’ve already released two killer remixes of Robocat. One by the lovely Yama from Damn Arms under his G.L.O.V.E.S. guise and the other by Sydney production/dj duo/local idols The Knife Machine.

What about the album, is there one in the making? Producers you talked to? Solid facts? Is there a Demo disc full of new materials somewhere on this planet? Tell us what there is to tell at this point.

Miska: Yes to all of the above. We’re just in the process now of writing some new material and working with Back Yard to figure out who we should get on board to produce our next release. It’s a pretty intense period. We’re all juggling our lives and working hard to write music that inspires us and that we can be proud of. It’s a hard thing to do sometimes. But yes, THER WILL BE NEW SONGS. Fingers crossed we won’t ever need to do another video for End it Tonight again.

*Crosses Finges*... I’m sure that besides admiring and counting your Pokemon trading cards every day, you guys listen to music made outside your studio… So, each one of you name your newest favorite track or remix & explain why? (Notice that I’m not deliberately and indirectly leading you to create a mini playlist).

Samantha: Alison by SLOWDIVE – this is the opening track off their second album, Souvlaki, which for some reason went missing from my computer. The track recently found it’s way back to me and I’ve been lushing out ever since. I love this band, truly, madly, deeply.

Shadows (M83 remix) by MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS – It’s mad how M83 take this track in a completely different direction to the Jugegrnauts. It’s so unexpected, but it works so well.

Highly Evolved by THE VINES – this one goes out to Miska. Highly Evolved. Highly Evolved.

Miska: Thanks Sam. Good hustle. Mine are:

Flashing Lights KANYE WEST – ammmazing song. So simple, so effective. Sometimes what you leave out is just as important as what you put in.

Kids MGMT – Makes me want to dance every time.

Golden Brown STRANGLERS – Linda always makes me the best mixed CDs. In the last one she re-visited this brilliant song. Thanks Linda.

Now before you go, I really didn’t want to say anything about this, but the guilt is eating me and decaying is not a great feeling. Oh god, here it goes… last year around February, I saw Crystal Castles & Justice in the alley behind the club you were playing at and they were looking all suspicious & on that same day 10 shirts (worth of 150$) were stolen from you… I’m just saying. I mean what could they be doing there at that time?

Miska: Whow.

Whow.

Fuck. I can’t believe you didn’t bring this up before.

...Sam, please get me my rubber gloves and for gods sake wear the raincoat this time.

END.

Here are a few sneak peeks from the videoshoot courtesy of Back Yard Blog:



& here's a not-so-new-anymore awesome should-be-officialy-released remix by dCup that i'v been rocking to lately!

DL: Teenagersintokyo - Very Vampyr (dCup remix)

Official Website/MySpace - Photo by. Jefske