SPARKLY FIN

Ten Questions for Emily Lange, Purring Engine of Sparkly Fin

You enjoy icebreakers. What song plays in your head when you meet somebody awkward and new?

Awkard and new is always exciting. The song is definitely “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright.

What happens on your end of the recording process?

Upon receipt of an instrumental from Joseph, I loop it for as long as I can stand. I loop it until I’m inspired or until the thoughts in my head fit the rhythm of the music. Sometimes, I don’t loop at all and the entire thing is improv. Those songs are kind of obvious cause they ramble in a diary-ish, Flight-of-the-Conchords kind of way for example Heatdish was one of them and other less somber ones like Snally Teet and Leafcracker. But, to be honest, I don’t read music and don’t really count the beats or bars the way I ought to, so if I think an instrumental is complex I diagram it on paper so I know where the “chorus” is and where the “verse” is and that diagram usually turns out looking kinda cool. It’s like a sound study and I’m Richter’s daughter.

You’ve got lyrics about being raised in California and attending school at Pratt. What are your other sources of lyrical inspiration?

Hehe! Well well, what’s a pop band if they don’t have love songs? A lot of my songs are about unrequitted love. It’s a nice place for me to let my emotions become way overdramatic, like “I’ve been spreading diseases of my fantasies” eww, c’mon- but I really did feel like my thoughts of love/unrequitted love were unhealthily contagious at the time… if that makes sense. Also, I’ve been doing a lot of freelance design since I graduated last May so a few of the songs off the album are about odd jobs like having to create 14 underwater costumes in a month- L’amour des Escargots, for myself and other artists/designers/livingbeings- Cheer Up, and for all us broke people- MoneyMoneyMoney.

If you could convert vintage Lisa Frank artwork into a three course meal, what would it taste like?

Oh you know it, Lisa Frank and her sea creatures gotta be represented by Smoked Salmon and then capers, cream and spinach to top it, maybe on an everything bagel from Bergen (Myrtle Ave.) with a glass of cran-orange juice and to be really gross and tasty, Calbee Shrimp-flavored Chips. I checked and they are sold on Amazon.

Favorite Airline?

It used to be Jet Blue and even though their prices have sky-rocketed I’m going to say that’s my final answer cause their design and ads are cute… and in that case Virgin Air as well.

Which of your cinematic impressions could top my impersonation of Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York?

Hahahaha uhhh well people get it when I go “Shawiiing! Adyadyadyadya- She’s a babe!” so, my Wayne Campbell from Wayne’s World might just possibly top your Bill the Butcher, but I doubt it. :)

What sounds make you happy?

The thousands of crickets I hear from my the creek outside my dad’s backyard on a summer’s night or even the accompanying high-pitched coyote sounds. The clicking of a taxi cab receipt printer. Andes mountains flute music (not played in Times Square).

Can you recall any hilarious Sparkly Fin moments?

Am I really gonna answer this? I think I am. We were figuring out what songs to put on the album ‘High Pive’ and we had a strong agreement that Heatdish ought to be on there. We were discussing on AIM how it was a great song especially to listen to in the winter or when your falling asleep and I accidentally wrote “Everyone needs a warm dong to sleep with.”

During childhood, was your penchant for Sailor Moon connected to your appreciation for the black female vocalists of the early to mid 90’s?

Why are we exposing this… I’ll say yes. Maybe this will explain, but I sure won’t.

Alright, thanks for playing along. What else would it say on the back of your muy thai trading card?

me: whats my muy thai trading card?