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Funk Gumbo Radio is greatly honored that the highly talented Kelsey Warren of the veteran indie rock group pILLOW tHEORY is doing our Funk Gumbo 5 Questions. pILLOW tHEORY’’s newly released EP is called MELTDOWN.

pILLOW tHEORY

BIO: pILLOW tHEORY is a NYC quartet, Kelsey Warren (vocals & ), Danos Ettrick (guitar), Joaquin C. De Baca (bass), Rich Kulsar (drums), who delivers a high- powered dynamic sound while successfully genre hopping under the modern rock umbrella (metal, punk, pop, free jazz). pILLOW tHEORY released their sophomore OUTPATIENCE, recorded by Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies, NIN). With Albini, they were able to manipulate their ever-changing moods to blend a sporadic yet cohesive sound. The album displays a delicate balance between heavy and light with change ups that may seem bizarre on paper, but work eloquently in sound. The band just released their new EP titled MELTDOWN, produced by Slim Willy of Ferrari Snowday (The Fray, Ninjasonik, LL Cool J) and Kelsey with additional mixing from sonic master Ron Saint Germain. And you can buy Meltdown on www.cdbabay.com. Also, look for pILLOW tHEORY on tour soon.

Funk Gumbo Radio •• Los Angeles, CA 90019 • Live 365.com Internet Network •• [email protected] •• http://www.funkgumbo.com

11 8-15-2011 - Written By: David L. $Money Train$ Watts & Howard Hobson – – Funk Gumbo Radio

Funk Gumbo 1: Describe the growth of the band from the first album 9 1/2 to Outpatience to your latest Meltdown EP. Describe the changes good or bad in the evolution of the group. pILLOW tHEORY: I wasn’t too comfortable recording the first album. Scott the drummer was at ease though haha, but I was still feeling things out and this “band” was forming at the same time. I always had a shy, cold feeling in big recording studios. The best part of that whole experience was Hillary Johnson who engineered and produced 9 ½. She opened me up to try new things, challenge myself and turn a cold environment a warm one. So I felt more confident and comfortable afterwards.

The Outpatience sessions were amazing. We were definitely more of a band with a sound. We were rehearsed, confident, amped and prepared. Steve pulled the best out the band and was an amazing coach figure for us. He makes the studio feel like home and it shows on that recording. Meltdown was the next phase and again, the band had a sound and wanted to explore further sonic journeys. It felt right and I think we created an amazing body of work. You grow as a band in a rehearsal space, and live shows after years of doing it. Well, you should I guess haha.

Funk Gumbo 2: Describe the writing process of pILLOW tHEORY. Is it more band or individual driven in crafting the following songs:

* Blipsters & Buppies * Stalker * Four Drinks pILLOW tHEORY: I pretty much write the songs at home or other surroundings, bring them into rehearsal and then we shape them as a band. “Blipsters” came to me after reading this article on “blipsters” or "black hipsters" in Brooklyn and I thought it was hysterical. It was just my take on the whole clique thing whether i t’s underground or mainstream. I’ve experienced acceptance and rejecti on in both!

Funk Gumbo Radio • Los Angeles, CA 90019 • Live 365.com Internet Network •• [email protected] •• http://www.funkgumbo.com

22 pILLOW tHEORY: “Stalker” was written about an experience I had and a friend had as well. That was definitely an example of my life in a song. Same with “Four Drinks” which is literally about me missing work due to drinking too much the previous night. Yes, I worked in the World Trade Center and drank heavily on September 10, 2001. I like to write about and explore life, people and situations I find interesting. Most pILLOW songs are about reality more so than fantasy.

Funk Gumbo 3: Starting with your first interest in music up until this very moment, what artists have influenced you? pILLOW tHEORY: is my all time master! Learned so much about performance, songwriting, production, and being a music chameleon just from his . of Nine Inch Nails kicked a new sonic wall down for me and definitely rubbed off in the best way. Huge influence and would be honored to work with him somehow one day. Grew up on lots of George Clinton, Earth Wind & Fire, , , The Cure, Smiths, Depeche Mode, Public Enemy, , , later Nirvana, Sonic Youth, , Stereolab, . Love , Al Green and Prince vocally but most of my favorite vocalists are female: Bjork, PJ Harvey, Cassandra Wilson. Oh, ! I can go on forever here. Too much influential music in my brain. Right now I’m listening to Deerhunter this very moment, Joni Mitchell earlier. Hmm, so far this year I’m feeling Bon Iver, Ume, the new . Fleet Foxes are nice. Adele of course, everyone loves her lol. Definitely looking forward to new Mastodon! Yes I have music schizophrenia.

Funk Gumbo Radio • Los Angeles, CA 90019 • Live 365.com Internet Network •• [email protected] •• http://www.funkgumbo.com

33 FUNK GUMBO 4: Has the election of President Barack Obama created a post-racial America that will allow Black Rock to become more acceptable to the mainstream in the present and future than it has been in the past? pILLOW tHEORY: I’m not sure if it will make it more acceptable but I hope that if anything it’s not such a strange thing for people to digest anymore (especially music “bigwigs”). We paved the way in rock and roll from the beginning, but that fact seems to be forgotten for whatever reason. Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix were all accepted and made history before I was born you know. One of the best things about Barack becoming president is the self esteem factor for minorities of all. So maybe more brothers and sisters will come out musically in world whether it’s accepted or not. That’s what I would like.

Funk Gumbo 5: Who would you like to perform with from the past, present or future? pILLOW tHEORY: Prince, NIN, Deftones, QOTSA, …so many

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44 pILLOW tHEORY www.pillowtheory.com

Funk Gumbo Radio • Los Angeles, CA 90019 • Live 365.com Internet Network •• [email protected] •• http://www.funkgumbo.com

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