Joseph Vargas, composer & backbone of Sparkly Fin.
1. Who was your hero in 2nd grade?
I’m going to stretch the time frame a little bit and say that Uncle Jay and Jurassic Park were my collective hero. Uncle Jay helped shape my sense of humor and he was competent enough to deal with my childish antics. Jurassic Park solidified my interest in documentaries and all the wonders of our world.
2. Describe the perfect setting that you imagine Sparkly Fin performing in.
The trip involves layovers in Manila and Dubai. We’d finally arrive at Heathrow and have issues with my synthesizer at customs. That would prompt a performance on the baggage claim conveyor. To be completely perfect, the BBC cameras would have to be rolling. And for whatever reason, everyone I love would already be there stranded by snowfall.
3. What is the greatest performance/show you’ve ever been to? When? Where? With whom did you attend? And how was their version of ‘Reckoner’?
Haha. Who knows me? I must first mention that I loved Supergrass, Broken Social Scene, Grizzly Bear, and Tom Petty live. The award goes to the 2003 Field Day Festival (Giants Stadium with A+B). Blur opened and handed out ponchos in the freezing rain. I missed Elliot Smith due to parking issues and Beck couldn’t perform because he slipped backstage. The skies appropriately cleared for Radiohead. It was a very Hail to the Thief heavy set so ‘Reckoner’ was still being incubated. I’d even say the performance was prolific. Radiohead were completely committed to giving the audience happy loins.
4. Besides music, what do you do to pass the time?
I’m constantly trying to improve my culinary skills. I love learning about cooking techniques and ingredients. Cooking is a sensory delight so I like to take my time in the kitchen. Experimentation with food is quite rewarding. Burnt or nicked digits are totally worth a delicious meal. Weather permitting, I’ll play tennis until I can’t feel my ankles. When I’m willing to fester, the BBC is my programming of choice. I enjoy building things, preferably repurposing old items. I learn languages and employ them however I please. My friends are readers and I use them as filters to suggest material that is worth my time.
5. Who has been your greatest musical influence?
I grew up listening to Motown. I grew up with everybody singing to me. I was raised near pianos and guitars. I’m reluctant to list the video for Madonna’s “Take a Bow.” Thom Yorke ruined my vocal cords when I was 15.
6. What’s your favorite meal EVER?
Cool. Ask a writer to pick his favorite letter. A salad from my favorite sushi bar immediately comes to mind. It has crab meat, spicy roe, cucumber and the magic sauce. It’s really paradise for your mouth.
7. What are your favorite places to frequent in Baltimore?
Brewer’s Art is a new favorite. Their in-house beers are smooth and delicious.
8. What were you doing before you started answering this questionnaire? Have you heard the song by the Rutles called ‘Questionnaire’? Your sparkly teammate hums it from time to time.
I was using Google Analytics to confirm our Lithuanian love. I haven’t heard that song but you also hum “Teenage Love Affair.”
9. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Loud breathing and chair kicks during movies. Also, mouth smacking during food consumption.
10. Tell us about a recurring dream you had in your childhood and what you think it may have meant. If that’s too personal, tell us what obscure tribe/culture you would adopt an emaciated child from. If that’s too weird, tell us about your favorite Sparkly Fin moment.
I was 10 years old when I dreamt about a human-sized pancake chasing me with a knife and fork. It probably permeated my sleep because I was conditioned to believe that milk with pancakes and syrup is a lethal combination. My mother once gave me bad milk with that breakfast and I never wanted to combine them again. I do have a reoccurring dream where I am pedalling a bicycle but the neat part is that when I wake up, my legs are still kicking. I think it’d be cool to adopt an inuit child only thru ages 3 and 6. Favorite Sparkly Fin moment may have been the “Paper Planes” recording session.
