Hey Folks!
Welcome to the first of many Electric interviews with some of the artists I have found to love! Every now and then I will be dropping 10 questions on an artist or band that has taken my fancy and relaying the answers back to you, my faithful readers!
First up we have the gorgeous Courtenay Green, otherwise known as See Green. Check out what she had to say right now!!
1. So come on, who are you and what the devil do you do?
I’m Courtenay Green, but I perform as See Green. Which also sort of refers to the band that accompanies me for live shows. I suppose I would describe the music as a hydra-headed monster with indie, pop, rock and other sub-genres represented. I write/arrange the songs and play a bunch of instruments, but for shows I sing and mainly play guitar.
2. Where and when did you first start playing music?
I started playing music at home in New York when I was about six. My brother was taking piano lessons and my parents both played guitar, and both of those activities seemed more fun than whatever I was doing at the time. Which probably involved My Little Ponies and a formidable Care Bear collection.
3. What is it about your music that makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd?
Recording it in 3D, for starters. Ok, I lie. But I do think my music is unusual in that it’s difficult for people to describe exactly what it sounds like. I borrow from a tremendous number of influences, spanning many decades, but I’m proud of the fact that like them or not, no one’s ever called my songs “derivative.” They’re sort of like a musical Rorschach test in that people hear what they want to hear in them, yet at the same time, they’re accessible, fun and put people in a good mood. Or at least I like to think that.
4. What song or songs are you most proud of?
This is probably a lame answer, but I’m proud of all of them, even if it’s in different ways.
5. Which bands or artists have influenced your own personal style?
I think the better question is which bands/artists HAVEN’T. I listen to and take bits and pieces from everything, whether it’s Bach or Traffic or The Hollies or Blondie or the Carter Family or The Buzzcocks or Broken Bells. Basically anything with a good melody and a sound I like. I guess I don’t borrow a whole lot from death metal. That I can say fairly definitively.
6. How is being a musician different than everyday life?
I’m not sure if I could separate “being a musician” from “everyday life.” It IS everyday life, since it’s what I do every day- for better or for worse.
7. Do you practice by yourself or do you like to have some other musicians around for feedback and support?
I’m very much a loner in that respect. I practice/write and do pretty much everything by myself, and only involve other people for live shows, rehearsals and recording. But there’s definitely feedback in rehearsals and at the studio. I’m not an autocrat, more like an oligarch who just happens to make most of the decisions for the group. Ok, maybe I’m an autocrat.
8. Other than the people you play with now, if you could get any musician, dead or alive, who would you entrust to be in your “Dream Band”?
I’m quite confident that Kenny G could rustle up some mean saxophone riffs for me.
9. Which musician could you spend a year with on a deserted island, knowing that what they could teach you would excel your music career tenfold?
I think Debbie Harry could teach me a thing or hundred about being generally awesome. That woman has presence. But if you’re talking strictly technical, I wouldn’t mind a year of guitar lessons from Pete Townshend.
10. Other than this interview, what is the stupidest thing you have ever agreed to do?
On a dare in high school, I agreed to put an entire jar of this Vaseline-like pomade in my hair. No matter how often I washed it, it looked like it was wet and greasy for nearly a month- a month that included my senior prom. Let’s just say that isn’t great for any 17-year-old girl’s stock.
So there you go, now you know just that little bit more about Courtenay and her wonderful music. Isn't she just a great young lass to let MonthlyIndieMixtapes delve into her amazing mind? I for one think she is!!
Thanks heaps Courtenay! And remember , you will always be the very first artist to feature on "The Electric 10!"
Check out See Green - Think Twice right here!!
Think Twice by See Green
