Interview Piney Gir

is a busy woman, even by our workaholic standards (ahem, right - Ed). Not content with being possibly our favourite US gone UK popster, she’s been in more bands than we can comprehend, including the bleedin’ fantastic Scha La Las. With a CV like that, it’s about time we caught up, really.

What got you interested in creating music?
When I was 4 my parents made me do my scales on the piano, I’ve done music ever since. I wrote my first song at the age of 9, it’s just something I do and I’m blessed that it comes quite naturally. I count my lucky stars for that.

Why did you move from Kansas to London?
I had a degree in music and didn’t know what to do with my life. Like what good is a music degree in the ‘job market’ right? All my friends from university seemed to move to New York, L.A., Chicago… I wanted to go somewhere different, I wanted to explore the big wide world, I speak English best of all, so I chose London.

Tell us about the Schla La Las.
We’re all friends, we write rock ‘n’ roll music, we wear adorable matching outfits, we have SO MUCH FUN!

You were involved with the ‘PS I LOVE YOU’ exhibit in London earlier in the year, how did that come about?
The amazing John Paul and his lovely friend Peter invited me to make a piece for the show and I really wanted to make a shiny cartoon-like cake, but the ingredients would be manure and dirt, a complete contrast to what it looks like, it would be full of filth: look delish but smell and taste disgusting. And so that is what I did, and then I covered it in sweet marzipan and planted little fimo trees on it. It was darling but smelled up the house when I baked it.

What have you got planned for the rest of the year?
I’ve got my Piney Gir Country Roadshow album ‘Hold Yer Horses’ due for release in August. I am finishing up my audio book, which is AMAZING! I’m so proud of that. I have a limited edition vinyl single coming out on Sounds Experience in August (I think). I am currently in the studio working on my next electronic album, we’re about 4 songs in at the mo. Chugging away with the live shows, having a great time with it all… I have a Christmas song which I’d like to record, but considering how slowly the cogs in this bizz seem to move I better get it recorded now!

Finally, tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
Horror films give me nightmares.