Sleater-Kinney Interview

 

Hey there! Click the following photos to enlarge.


SK at the Rock n Roll Camp for Girls Benefit show in Portland, July 2002:
Corin and Misty MacElroy, who runs the Rock & Roll Camp for Girls.
Mother May I, R&RCFG campers who opened for Sleater-Kinney.
Lois Maffeo, Tina Herschelman, and Carrie.


SK at the Siren Festival, Coney Island NY, July 2002:
Nick of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Janet, and Jackie Farry.
Corin, Gail O'Hara, Carrie, and Rebecca Gates.
Carrie and Corin.
Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Janet.

 

all of these photos taken by Janet.

 

 
by Miranda July, August 2002
1. It is 8:35 pm on sunday August 4. I am realizing that it's too late to take a nap, and that I should have taken carrie up on her offer to go to the movies. Instead I will have to do work now. What were you guys doing at 8:35 pm on sunday August 4?
Janet:
 At 8:35 this evening, I was in my little studio, headphones on, listening to the minute volume changes on a song I was mixing. Over and over, up a little, down a little... it's enough to make you sick of any piece of music, regardless of how great it is. But at 8:35, I was just digging my teeth in. On an unrelated note, it's my big sister's birthday today. Leos! ... I'll tell ya.
Carrie:
 I was watching the 1952 British film "The Importance of Being Earnest" based on the Oscar Wilde play. It's in technicolor. Wilde's wit never ceases to amaze me.  I was eating a salad with ranch dressing which accompanied home made pizza. Too much garlic, not a success.
Corin:
 At 8:35 pm on sunday August 4 I had just managed to get Marshall in the bath after a somewhat stressful car ride up from my parent's house. But a bath always cheers the little guy up, so it is a joyful time, and baby shampoo makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.
2. Do you guys ever feel like you could make some of the clothes at Seaplane yourself? But then you realize that wearing a imaginary shirt of your own design = going around topless? What kind of clothing do you want to see more of at Seaplane?
Janet:
 Funny you should ask this question, cause I'm sitting here in one of my million Seaplane shirts. It's a black sweater sort of deal with off-white lace at the bottom half of the sleeves. I could never have made it myself because I can't sew worth a damn, and when people hint at the fact that they could have made the clothes at Seaplane, I say "BULLOCKS." I could never go around topless either. If I had my druthers, I'd find an unlimited supply of dark, short shirts made of a material that dries easy (I'm looking for things you can sweat in, rinse in the sink, and wear again the next night.) Hint, hint, Kate and Holly.
Carrie:
 No, I can't really sew. The truth is, I like the clothes at Seaplane that don't inspire the question "did you make that yourself?", which is only to say that I am picky and not into having the structure or process supercede the final product. I try not to go around topless or let my imagination become tantamount with delusion. I check to make sure I put on a real shirt every time I leave the house. I would like to see more pants at Seaplane.
Corin:
 I couldn't sew a Seaplane shirt if my life depended on it, honestly. I have tried desperately several times in my life to sew and I always end up with a wadded ball of fabric. I'd like to see more shirts that are simple, with short sleeves, feminine and not too long. Also not see thru.
3. This is a follow-up question: What item of clothing from Seaplane do you wear most often?
Janet:
 A new tank shirt by Kate that's got a pale lavender under part, and a flower type material over part of the top. It sounds like a Hawaiian nightmare, but really, it's quite pretty and it fits me alright. Of course, most Seaplane items you love and wear a lot, will most likely come apart... that's the only problem.
Carrie:
 I often wear a black and white striped sleeveless shirt that Kate designed. In fact I just wore it last night.
Corin:
 I actually have worn my white vinyl mini skirt from Seaplane the most. After having a baby, just fitting myself into a vinyl mini skirt is thrilling.
4. Do you think Koji is actually a really good Japanese restaurant, or is it just good "for Portland"?
Janet:
 Koji has crashed. Especially the eastside Koji. The service sucks more than ever, and the food doesn't make the insult any better. There's a new sushi joint on SE 40th and Hawthorne that totally rules, but it's really crowded after only having been open a few months.
Carrie:
 Koji is not a really good Japanese restaurant,  it's not even that good for Portland. There is a new Japanese restaurant across from Jamison Square that is better. (See Janet's answer as well).  My opinion of Koji has also been tainted by an experience I had wherein the woman sitting next to me kept regurgitating her food. It's been hard to go back since this incident.
Corin:
 Well, I know, deep down, that it's not really a good Japanese restaurant. But I'm a small town girl and I still eat there and think I'm living it up.
5. In one sentence describe a pattern that you find yourself getting in to in relationships with other people.
Janet:
 Surrender, but don't give yourself away.
Carrie:
 I get into a pattern that consists of two consecutive right curves, followed by a straight line, followed by three segments, followed by an intersecting line, at which point I make a choice to go up or down, then I am faced with infinity or imminent termination, i choose the latter, then i start again.
Corin:
 "You've never been a waste of my time, it's never been a drag, so take a deep breath and count back from ten, and maybe you'll be alright." (Liz Phair)
6. How often do you wash your hair? You can lie if you want. But before you do: think of all the girls out there who might have the same hair reality as you; they might need a mentor. Or a Minotaur. I think that's a mythical ox with human legs.
Janet:
 Well I could write a paragraph about my hair, but I won't. I don't wash it very often, maybe once every week and a half. It's a huge ordeal when I do, so as long as it's not smelly or greasy, I'll get lazy and leave it be.
Carrie:
 Once every four days. My hair looks bad on the first day I wash it and bad on the day when I realize that I should have washed it but it's already too late. Days two and three are the best.
Corin:
 I wash my hair almost every day, which is a drag, but now it's shorter so I just wash it, no more blow drying or fixing, which I don't have time for anymore!
7. Sort of a follow-up question: Do you think my hair looks better kind of shorter, or more big and kind of medium-length?
Janet:
 I don't remember you having big, medium length hair. You mean like a Tina Turner kind of look? Cause I think you'd look hot strutting around in a leather miniskirt and an exploding, spiky wig
Carrie:
 Shorter. When has your hair been big? Oh, I guess it was bigger (aka puffier) a few years ago when it was in the shape of a dandelion. Your hair looks good right now. I also liked it that one time when you hadn't washed if for nearly a week and you had the "wet look".
Corin:
 Shorter, definitely, but I'm fond of all your hair looks. I love your natural soft curls, very pretty.
8. Feelings, comments or questions about Jake Gylenhal (however you spell that), star of Donnie Darko, Lovely and Amazing, etc? My own feeling is sexual in nature, but i fear that he is a hollywood type and that he and I would not be able to take it to the next level.
Janet:
 He's too young. His head is quite large. He's an actor. Need I say more?
Carrie:
 I love Jake Gylenhaal. I can't put my finger on it. He has usurped Tobey Maguire for me. I like his sister Maggie too. I have a feeling you are asking this question because you can't help talking about Jake, it is involuntary at this point like a form of Tourettes. I have come to accept that Jake is a part of your life. If you get together with him please call me immediately.
Corin:
 Okay, he's a hottie, but do you like him enough to see "Boy in the Bubble?"
9. This is a fill in the blank: "I ___ ____ _____ that car; _____ ______ _____!"
Janet:
 Is this one of the exercises from your and Carrie's acting workshop?
Carrie:
 I prefer flowers over that car; but thanks anyway!
Corin:
 I loathe and despise that car, it smells bad!
10. Sleater Kinney has always moved me because your native sound is so emotional and victorious at the same time. It's like victory and having feelings become synonymous. I'm having trouble phrasing this as a question. Do you like snow? No, nevermind snow. I love the new record. I guess this is really more of a closing statement.
Janet:
 thanks Miranda. Good work.
Carrie:
 Thanks Miranda.
Corin:
 Thank you Miranda!
 

 

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