News

Alana Skyring of The Grates takes our challenges!

ARTISTdirect plays "Either/Or" and "If You're Forced To" with Alana Skyring of The Grates! *(Editor's Warning: This piece is very heavy on Aussie references and we needed coaching from our favorite pal from down under to come up with briliant questions like: "Ketchup or Tomato (pronounced to-MAH-to) Sauce?" ...so Aussie...and so obscure...that Alana didn't get it either. Thanks PJ!)

EITHER/OR

AD: Beer or Wine?
AS: Beer, definitely. And preferably Coopers. Just as long as it's not Leffe, or any other fermented bouquet - that stuff tastes like Out The Door!

AD: Fosters or VB (Victoria Bitter)?
AS: Fosters. You know what? - English people think all Aussies swill Fosters - but it's only true in England, cos it tastes better than at home!

AD: On the Rocks or Straight-Up?
AS: On The Rocks. It takes me longer to drink alcohol than it does coffee.

AD: Pizza or Meat Pies?
AS: Pizza. Especially if it's Chicago-style. FACT: Alana is the only Grate that likes pineapple in such context.

AD: Ketchup or Tomato Sauce?
AS: Aren't they the same thing?? (*Editor's Note: PJ is right.. it's a bit different, click here) At least it's not miscellaneous brown sauce.

AD: Seinfeld or The Simpsons?
AS: The Simpsons, for real. When I was in yr 7 my best friend had most of the proper rubber figurines, and i was jealous, so i played along with the Maggie I sewed myself - out of blue-and-white spotted fabric...

AD: Kylie or Dannii?
AS: I'm gonna say Kylie. Guilty pleasure.

AD: Hot or Cold?
AS: Cold, cos you can at least regulate yourself otherwise with clothes. But I'm talking about the *Australian* version of "hot" here.. American summers are only a low simmer!

AD: Sunrise or Sunset?
AS: The only thing 'Sunrise' triggers in me is memories of early airport struggles, so 'Sunset' it is.

AD: Beatles or Stones?
AS: Beatles! "Come on its such a joy.."!

AD: Blondie or The Pretenders?
AS: Blondie

AD: INXS or Men At Work?
AS: Men At Work, cos every time i think of INXS now J.D. Fortune's image pops into my head. "Don't worry - You were just BEING HUMAN; and that's ok, cos we're all in this world together and we're all just HUMAN BEINGS"; or some hilarity like that..

AD: AC/DC or Air Supply?
AS: AC/DC

AD: The Triffids or The Go-Betweens?
AS: The Go-Betweens

AD: Pixies or Pavement?
AS: The Pixies

AD: Recording or Performing?
AS: Two totally different ballparks. Both have so many great points. For us, now that the album is finished, we're focusing on touring/performing, which is an adventure. Both teach you alot about yourself and each-other.

IF YOU'RE FORCED TO:
no one likes to answer these questions... but if you were forced to...

AD: classify your music in a genre, what would it be?
AS: erm... ah.. 'garage pop'?

AD: tell us your influences, who would they be?
AS: We realised in the studio that this answer would have to be a list of movies. Snow White, 10 Things I Hate About You, Grease.. The only band sound we've ever agreed upon liking from the start has been Weezer's Pinkerton, i think..

AD: cover a song by Bon Jovi, which one?
AS: "Blaze of Glory"

AD: order food from Wendy's, what do you order?
AS: 1/4 lb Deluxe Double Stack

AD: live in one city forever, which city?
AS: Seattle

AD: drink only one beer, which beer?
AS: Coopers Red

AD: play only one venue, which one?
AS: Rics Cafe

AD: pick a favorite song on your new record, which one?
AS: Inside/Outside

AD: pick a cover song that could've appeared on the record, which song?
AS: "Soldier Girl" by The Polyphonic Spree

AD: pick your dream band to open for (past or present), who would it be?
AS: The Flaming Lips

Thanks to Alana Skyring (who has coolest name ever) for playing. The Grates new album, Gravity Won't Get You High (great album title too), is available now in the ARTISTdirect Store!