A Gentlemanly Conversation With Catnaps

 I know it’s been a little while since I posted an interview, but it’s been a busy last couple of weeks.  However, we got a few more prospects lined up, and who knows what could happen in next few weeks?  Bringing the segment out of vacation is Catnaps, formally When I was 12.  I did a post on one of their previous albums here, and decided to try to catch up with them.  I got hold of the one and only Adrianne Gold, and she was kind enough to let us in on what inspires them, what they’ve been up to, and what we can look forward to in the future.

So first off the obvious question: what was with the name change?

I suppose it was time to grow up a little bit (never too much though, I'm way into peter pan).

How’d you guys form the band?

I've been writing since freshman year of high school. Since then it's been revolving members and revolving names, "At The Bake Sale", "Donnie Drywall and the Sheetrock", "Hattie and the Fox", etc. It all came together about 2 years ago. We are really starting to find a sound we adore as of our last EP for valentines day "Boys Drool" (http://catnaps.bandcamp.com/) and it's only gonna get tighter when we release our next EP!

I sometimes have trouble describing you guys, what genre would you describe yourselves as?

I think we were super TWEE, indie pop, umm cuddlexcore, I think just CUTE if "cute" was an actual genre (at this rate it might be))). However we've been writing a bunch of new songs and we've been way inspired by like 90s grunge/indie rock/late 80s stuff and we're excited to change it up a bit.

Where do you guys get your inspiration for your songs?

I've tried writing about politics but it's sooo boring. I think I'm going to write about boys forever. Sometimes girls though and sometimes flowers. 

What would you guys say your influences are?

As of late??? That Dog, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Breeders, The Amps, Joy Division, Built To Spill, Pavement, etc.

A lot of your songs center around relationships, is a lot of that from personal experience, or is it more derived?

Personal experience. tooooo personal sometimes. every boy knows when a song is about him!

I love it when you guys add some of the lesser-used instruments like toy piano, melodica, and accordion.  What inspires you guys to add them?

I think they just amplify our cuteness so we're actually about to start straying from that but our harmonies are gonna get cooler, don't you worry.

Are there any feelings you try to convey in your songs?

Hmmm I guess Pat Benatar knows what's upppp,,, basically we just wanna convey the fact that LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD and that like WE ARE YOUNG, HEARTACHE TO HEARTACHE, WE STAND.

How’d you guys come up with the “Why Don’t We Whisper” album art?

Easy! Our friends are super beautiful and Melissa Cell is a divine photographer. It's just about secrets and the things that people on the outside can't understand in someone's relationship, you know?

What is your favorite thing about being in a band?

This is going to sound cheesy but i love how much your band becomes your second family, like i couldn't live without these kids!

Any big news from you guys since your last album?

We're super stoked we're playing NYC Popfest (http://www.nycpopfest.org/) On may 18th at The Knitting Factory with long time favorite indie popsters SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and like i said we're wayyyy excited about the new EP we're working on!

Do you guys have a favorite place to play?

Probably Johnny Brenda's!!!! I cannot wait until I'm 21 I just want to go there all the time.

            Thanks again Adrianne for taking the time to talk with us.  You can check out their blog here, and also find both When I was 12, and Catnaps for download here.  I'll leave you guys with a song from the new album: Igloos Inside of Our Hearts

We also have interviews with guys like Wishes and Thieves and E-603, as well as many others to check out.