1: How did you decide on the name, “Odd Snakes"?
Shonda: Dan and I started this band as a side-project for compositions that didn’t fit with the other band we were in at the time- most of which were atmospheric and moody. We are also total weirdos and I have a personal connection to snakes and the ancient symbolism surrounding them.
2: What inspires you to create?
Dan: A total inability not to.
Shonda: I think that goes for all of us, honestly. Also travel, exposure to cultures divergent to one’s own, reading, being in nature, and seeing live music- we are so lucky to be in NYC, which is inspiring in and of itself.
Julie: The dualities of life itself…the beauty/mortality and love/heartbreak.
3: What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in a creative profession?
Julie: If you feel it in your bones, do it. Whatever you want to pursue…imagining it is the first step. Once you see it for yourself, all you have to do is follow through. Put in the work, believe in yourself and everything will fall into place.
Dan: Also don’t think that you have to be a certain way to be creative, your way of working is just fine.
PJ: Practice.
4: Do you feel open minded about what you listen to? Do you step out of your comfort zone?
Julie: I’m pretty open to listening to anything, as long as it sounds good to me, I’ll definitely listen to recommendations no matter what the genre is!
Shonda: I’ll listen to anything and everything that sparks me, if has the magic.
5: What outlets do you find out about music from? (Record stores, magazines, samplers, etc.)
Julie: Definitely record stores in LA and NY. We all listen to BBC6 Radio as well, where we discover a lot of the new music we’re interested in!
Dan: All of that, and we also have a subscription to Mojo- it’s been my bible for the last 20 years.
6: What is your favorite format to listen to music on? (CD, Vinyl, etc.)
Julie: Vinyl—a thousand percent or live music!
PJ: What Jules said.
Shonda and Dan: We listen to vinyl and BBC 6 streaming everyday. We still have our extensive CD collections though, minus all of the cases.
7: What band/artist do you think everyone should listen to?
Julie: Band-Adultk Life Artist-Hayley Williams
Shonda: and Roland S. Howard
PJ: Neu
8: What motivates you to check out a new artist?
Shonda: We are constantly looking for new artists to listen to, and there is so much phenomenal new music being created these days. It isn’t difficult to find a string of new people and bands if you start with one that turns you on.
Dan: Constant curiosity to hear new sounds and ideas.
9: Who was the first band/artist that became your favorite band?
Julie: The Smashing Pumpkins/U2/Joy Division
Dan: Jimi Hendrix Experience
Shonda: Janis Joplin/ David Bowie /The Cure
PJ: The Doors
10: What was the inspiration for your song “Himalaya”?
Dan: It was one of my favorite rides at the broken down amusement park where I lived when I was very young. You never knew if it was going to catch fire or roll off down the beach, I guess that was part of the charm.
Shonda: The lyrics of the song are about surviving the trials and tribulations of your life- childhood or otherwise- and knowing that you are still worthy of self acceptance and love.
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