Q&A With Teri Falini
By: Music Staff |
Saturday May 14, 2005 |
| "I started this thinking that I would just write one song. Only one, every guy I had ever been with was a musician/songwriter. I couldn't stop writing. I got carpel tunnel - from playing guitar so much cuz I had to learn how to play and sing at the same time." |
| Rocker Teri Falini took some time out of her day to sit down at her computer and respond to questions Static staffers submitted. Her album, Sun Under Me is filled with fast, angsty rock songs and is due out June 7th on National Recorder. Go to her website (www.terifalini.com) and reserve a copy now.
What's the last song that flat-out scared you? Teri Falini: The music from the old movie: War Of The Worlds. What was the worst show you ever played, and why? An unnamed venue we played in february. BAD SOUND MIX crushed us. No line check beforehand cuz the sound guy was late. I couldn't hear myself in the monitor. BAD. What will you do immediately after completing this interview? My daughter forgot her lunch. I'll be bringing it to her school. Coke or Pepsi? My bass player says that coke is better than sex. I bring it for him every rehearsal. Definetely Coke. What song are you most proud of on this album? Why? "Cut." It's about cutting. I know some kids that got caught up doing this. It really really bothered me. I couldn't understand it. while I was sleep deprived, I wrote "Cut." It just came out of me. While writing it, I totally understood, FELT, why kids cut. I knew how I wanted the song to sound. I asked 3 people to put keys on it - they all know how to play keyboard. It didn't sound like what I was hearing, so I bought a used Novation keyboard numbered the keys with masking tape and felt pen and wrote and played the 3 keyboard parts. I want to do more stuff where its just me. It feels so much more unlimiting. I often feel like I'm writing around the live show or what I know will sound good in the band room. What artists have you discovered in the last 6-12 months and how has their work influenced yours? Black box recorder, Os Mutantes. What can fans expect to get at one of your concerts that they couldn't necessarily get on your album? A good live show. Who/what were some motivators for getting you into the industry? My guitarist Mark Caputo has been my biggest motivator. I wrote my first song a year and a half ago and let him listen. I thought he was going to laugh. I was wrong. What direction do you feel you're headed in artistically? What's next? I never know what Im going to do next in life. It's a curse. Michael Jackson - pedophile or misunderstood eccentric? Pedophile. What would you like to come back as in a later life? A spiritual healer.  Scary as hell. I think I had stage fright worse than anyone. Have you ever stolen anything? I shop lifted as a kid once and got caught. My parents still don't know. Whose phone number would you most like? Sandra Bullock. My oldest daughter used to be obsessed with her. She used to have 1000's of pictures of her all over her room. She still loves her. Id love to have her number and phone her up and hand the phone to my daugher. What's your favorite sandwich? Peanut butter and jelly. As a kid, like 5-12 years old, what music did you listen to? Whatever was on the radio or what my mom was listening to. Who influenced (or dictated) what music you listened to when you were growing up (DJ, parents, siblings, classmates, captors, etc)? I had a couple of friends that were music heads and used to give me records. Name something non-musical (e.g. book, person, building, animal) that has inspired or influenced you? Nature. The peacefulness of it. Do you download music without paying for it? I don't even download music. I'm painfully non-technical. Can you read music? If yes, do you write your songs using musical notation? I have no idea what chords I'm playing. I have my own code for writing down my music. Im the only one that can understand it. Name a canonical, respected, revered artist whom you think is wildly overrated. I can't do that. Bad karma. What one thing must you have on tour with you...? My earplugs. My boyfriend snores like a madman. Favorite beverage...? Water and vodka martini's. Favorite recreational tour stop...? Any diner. Got any pets...? A maltese. 
What other artists are you currently listening to...?
The new Aimee Mann record. What's the best thing about being a musician...? Expressing myself. Writing music that I like. The challenge. I started this thinking that I would just write one song. Only one, every guy I had ever been with was a musician/songwriter. I couldn't stop writing. I got carpel tunnel - from playing guitar so much cuz I had to learn how to play and sing at the same time. I had never tried singing. I mean never. I don't know any other songs but my own. I had to learn to sing. I didn't really care what people thought of my music. Now that's its out there, im trying to maintain that same attitude - but its getting harder to maintain. Favorite fast food menu item...? Salt and vinegar chips. Addictive. If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing...? Dream job, etc. Painting and riding my bike around. If you could go back in time and give Elvis Presley one piece of advice, what would it be? Don't wear sequins! You look like Neal Diamond. Frank Sinatra: toupee or no toupee? Really good hair toupee for the time. What was the first song you learned to play? My first song, "Sun Under Me." What was your first rock and roll record? "Satisfation," single by the Stones. Do you have a day job? If so, what is it? I work in a big company selling stuff to lawyers. Prior to becoming a full-time musician, what did you do for a living? Sell stuff to lawyers, before that I briefly tried practicing law. Who is the best rock group/rap group/pop group/musical artist in the world right now (excluding yourself/your band)? PJ Harvey. |
