music mule.co.uk

So Girls made our ‘Album’ of 2009 and also played some of our favourite gigs of the year which you can check out in our reviews archive. We were lucky to meet Girls songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Christopher Owens in person during the Swn festival in Cardiff this year and we’re pleased to say he’s a real gent and shares some of our musical tastes which is always a plus! Here’s what Christopher had to say in response to our interview questions.

What is your favourite song to play live?
“Real Love” by John Lennon

What is your first memory of playing live?
Playing “Beautiful Dreamer” for my Mother, on my first little organ.

What does live music mean to you as a performer?
Art, heart, and soul.

And as a music fan?
Inspiration, life force, genius.

What was the last gig you played that sticks in your mind and why?
It was our last gig actually, in Santa Barbara, I always think that
our last gig is our best, and that the last song I’ve written is my
best.

Who was the last artist/band you shared a stage with that made you
think – “damn this is good!”?
“Smith Westerns” – they make me want to commit suicide.

What’s the best gig you’ve seen?
“The Smashing Pumpkins” opening for “The Rolling Stones” in Fort Worth
Texas in 1997.

Have you had any bizarre heckles, things thrown at you or the like?
No, people love us, thankfully.

You get to curate a festival stage. You’re playing on it and you get
to pick five other bands, three current and one past, who would they
be?
Ariel Pink, Holy Shit, Cass McCombs, Smith Westerns, Magic Kids.

What have you been listening to lately?
Ariel Pink, Holy Shit, Cass McCombs, Smith Westerns, Magic Kids.

Do you have any strange or guilty listening pleasures?
Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Dwight Yoakam, although i don’t
think it’s weird, just my friends make me feel weird for it.

In olden times people weren’t thought to be geniuses, they ‘had
geniuses’, it was a spirit that attached itself to you, animal or
otherwise that helped an artist create. What would your genius be?

Me at my best, either that or pain, otherwise Real Love.

Girls are back in London in February and play Scala as part of the NME Awards series of gigs as well as a handful of other UK gigs. Go see them!

Girls – Darling

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