Interview with Chantal Claret of Morningwood

"We do have breasts and vaginas and we do make loud music, but I think the comparison ends there"

September 22, 2008, 11:33 PM

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RV: So how you doing?
CC: I’m excellent – I’m sitting in a car while my husband (Jimmy Urine of Mindless Self Indulgence) picks up my laundry.

RV: Tell me a little bit about your release on August 12th, the Sugarbaby EP!
CC: We decided to try to get something out as quickly as possible, so we’ve been waiting to record these songs for quite a little bit and this was the fastest way to get music out there because we’ve been waiting for SO LONG! So we made a video for it and all that Jazz and now it’s out.

RV: So is that why you release an EP before the record?
CC: Yah – I mean a record, there’s so much behind it that it take a lot of set-up time with recording. We’ve been just waiting so long that this is really just the fastest way to do it – release the EP and get something out there.

RV: When do you think the a record will be coming out?
CC: The Record is being recorded now and I’m going to New York in a day to do my vocals. Then, probably sometime early next year… hopefully.

RV: What can we expect from that record sound-wise?
CC: Supreme Awesomeness. It’s gonna be, probably louder. A little more eclectic and dancier if that’s even possible. I think it’s a little less hard-rock and a little less entertaining.

RV: Well all of your music is entertaining…
CC: Well thank you! If it all of it is entertaining than this is going to be mindblowingly entertaining… It’s going to be like “prime-time music” like prime time television but for music.

RV: So not to get to far into influences, but you yourself get compared a lot to everyone from Courtney Love to Peaches to Joan Jett – who influences you, who are some of your inspirations?
CC: I think those influences are pretty paltry. People say “hey look she has breasts! Look breasts and guitars it’s gotta sound like this…” I recognize that similarity that we do have breasts and vaginas and we do make loud music, but I think the comparison ends there. I have no fault with any of those people that they compare us to and I respect all of them, but in that regard I don’t really model ourselves after that. I think our influences are a little more old-school and probably male based. If we’re talking about rock it’s probably like the Cramps and Freddie Mercury and things like that. If we’re talking about women it’s probably like the Nina Simone and Bette Midler and Tina Turner and things like that. Music wise it’s probably girl groups like the Exciters and the Sharels and, etc. so it’s a little more eclectic than people would expect than “hey you guys sound like Heart because you have lady-parts.”

RV: You guys seem like a band knows how to have a good time…
CC: That’s a façade that we built…We look like we’re having a good time but it’s a big lie.

RV: Well what do you do on the road to keep from getting board?
CC: Playing shows. That’s about it. That’s why you make a show as entertaining for yourself as possible and if the audience happens to be entertained as well, that’s great. There’s really not much else you can do on the road to keep from getting bored. I get really into television – I can just watch hours and hours of 24. I just try to save up all of the series and watch them while we’re on the road. I have watched a full 48 hours of 24. I would call it a talent… not a vice.

RV: Your shows are reported to get pretty crazy. What’s the wildest thing that’s happened to you personally?
CC: I would have to say, meeting Gene Simmons in Japan right before he’s supposed to go on-stage. About 3 minutes before he’s supposed to go on stage, he’s about 7 feet tall in full KISS make-up about to go on stage. He came over and proceeded to hit on my breasts and make a plethora of really uncomfortable Jew jokes, because we’re both Jews and that was really surreal and amazing.

RV: So when guys get naked…. Or almost naked on stage with you, do you prefer boxers or briefs?
CC: Neither – I am equal opportunist. If you got it show it. For them not for me. I’m pretty modest and I have virginal eyes and ears – but not hands or mouth or anything else, just eyes and ears. I easily blush.

RV: Do you have any feelings or comments about your label-mate Katy Perry, who is stylistically similar to things you’ve been doing for quite a while, but has now blown up with gimmicks like “I Kissed a Girl” etc.?
CC: I met her, she was very, very sweet. She has great style and she’s very cute. There’s the other aspect of it that’s mind-boggling ‘cause she’s super-religious and her parents are preachers and she’s sending out this message of homo-sexuality and her parents are really against it, then she’s back-peddling and says “I Don’t believe in homosexuality.” It’s a little misleading I believe. I’m all about homosexuality and bisexuality if you really believe it and you should rock that, I support it. But I’m not a really big fan of girls kissing girls to turn guys on or even saying they’re going to kiss girls to turn guys on, I think that’s pretty cliché and cheesy. I do like her, I think she’s got a great style.

RV: What are your future touring plans?
CC: We’re working on a tour, I can’t really say who it’s with or where it is, but for the end of the year we’re working a tour with some lovely ladies.

RV: OK – so basically everyone should keep their eyes on your Myspace and website.
CC: Exactly and as soon as it’s confirmed I’ll make a blog, and post the dates and all the exciting things that go along with that. We’re in dire need of a tour.

RV: Anything else you want to say to our readers?
CC: Just make sure to pick up our EP – it’s ONLY available on iTunes and check out the dirty version of our new video for Sugarbaby.

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