THE RHONDA INTERVIEW!

 

PART 1 - "THE INTERVIEW"

 

1 - What is your earliest musical memory and what pushed you towards pursuing a career in the music business?

 

"My first musical memory is listening to my parents' records with the J.S. Bach cello suites – over and over again, sitting on the carpet and staring into the void. When I was sixteen I adored hard rock and since the guys wearing the leather trousers were the cool outsiders in school I decided I wanted to become a rock star - silly but true. I'm pretty sure my band mates would have very different stories to tell about themselves...many of them were into kind of vintage music quite early, but – you know – whatever daddy`s record shelf would bring..."

 

2 - Had you been involved in any other bands or musical ventures before Rhonda?

 

"Everyone of us has done the most different bands before we joined, from hard rock 'n' roll to acoustic songwriting to psychedelic garage to funk to badass country."

 

3 - How did Rhonda begin?

 

"Rhonda began in a Swiss hotel room where some members of rock group Trashmonkeys, e.g. Dennis and Milo, found out after a second bottle of good red wine they'd love to form a dirty sixties soul project once."

 

4 - Where did the name Rhonda come from?

 

"Our singer Milo always wished to name a pet dog that."

 

5 - How would you describe the sound of Rhonda?

 

"Dirty sixties soul."

 

6 - The lead track from your current EP, "Here We Go Again", is an upbeat number. What influenced this song and what is it about?

 

 "It's about woman/man situations in life you sometimes can't escape, even if you know it might be better to."

 

7 - Do you have any 'rituals' before you go on stage?

 

"Let me just say 'cuba libre' here."

 

8 - Any live dates coming up?

 

"Lots. We're joining the well established German alternative punk band Turbostaat for some shows, we're playing the 25th anniversary of legendary acid jazz label Unique Records and we'll be on stage with Japanese vintage funk group Osaka Monaurail in October. In addition we are going on a club tour of solo shows including Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden and Nürnberg.  Miles and miles to travel..."

 

9 - Any new songs in the pipeline?

 

"Always."

 

10 - When can fans expect the next official release?

 

"Right now we're preparing to record a full debut album which will certainly be released in 2014."

 

11 - Who would be your dream collaboration?

 

"Mine? Rick Rubin."

 

12 - Who would be in your dream super group?

 

"Rhonda."

 

PART 2 - "THE QUICKFIRE ROUND"

 

1 - Favourite Beatle?

 

"Ringo."

 

2 - Favourite band?

 

"The Zombies."

 

3 - Favourite new band?

 

"Ha, that was smart...Das Pop (from Belgium). Even though not brand new, but Noone would take their place yet."

 

4 - Favourite song?

 

"Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Jimmy Smith)."

 

5 - Favourite album?

 

"There are too many."

 

6 - Vinyl, CD or download?

 

"Vinyl man! What the..."

 

7 - Style icon?

 

"The one that got their own."

 

8 - Favourite clothing brand?

 

"Merc is classy, nevertheless no advertising intended here..."

 

9 - Favourite film?

 

"Dead Man by Jim Jarmusch."

 

10 - Favourite TV show?

 

"Got no TV. Speaking for itself."

 

11 - Who would play you in a film of your life?

 

"Flipper the dolphin."

 

12 - Favourite food?

 

"Breakfast, full English, please!"

 

13 - Football team?

 

"Fjordbarrl? What's that junk?"

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on Rhonda! Check out our previous feature on Charlotte Brimner!

Jan is a member of Hamburg-based RHONDA, together with Milo Milone, Dennis Rux, Offer Stock and Gunnar Riedel. Reach them at www.rhondamusic.de or www.facebook.com/rhonda.band

  

You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

AB Records