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Jan 24, 2012 By Under the Radar Staff Web Exclusive

For Under the Radar’s 9th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2011. Pick up a copy of Under the Radar’s Best of 2011 Issue for Artist Survey responses from !!!, Acid House Kings, The Antlers, Art Brut, Beirut, Blonde Redhead, Camera Obscura, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., The Dears, Rose Elinor Dougall, The Drums, The Duke Spirit, Elbow, EMA, The Horrors, I Break Horses, Islands, Little Dragon, My Brightest Diamond, Nada Surf, Marissa Nadler, of Montreal, Okkervil River, Peter Bjorn and John, The Rapture, The Rosebuds, SBTRKT, S.C.U.M, and Vivian Girls.

There are even more survey responses in the digital version of the issue and we are also posting more surveys on our website. Here’s a survey from Malachai.

Gee
Scott Hendy
Malachai

Top 10 Albums of 2011

Gee:

1. PJ Harvey: Let England Shake—A superb record from start to finish from a fine lass from the South West of England. Finally, a worthy winner of the Mercury Prize.
2. Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost—The track “Vomit” from this album is timeless and pushes all of my buttons.
3. Madlib: Medicine Show (Vols. 1–14)—Every one’s a winner. Madlib is GOD.
4. Dirty Beaches: Badlands—27 minutes of inspiration and fantastic music. ;)
5. Katalyst: Deep Impressions—A friend from Sydney’s third album. It’s a corker.
6. The Stepkids: The Stepkids—From the Stones Throw L.A. stable. Jazzy rocky stoned vibes from the West Coast. We like.
7. Massive Attack vs. Burial: “Four Walls”—Produced by Burial. Not an LP but wish that the standard of this track follows through to [Massive Attack’s] next installment—this track is utterly superb.
8. Cocaine 80s: The Pursuit EP—You should investigate this just for the title. “Anywhere But Here,” the last track, is killer.
9. Gruff Rhys: Hotel Shampoo—Look no further than “Shark Ridden Waters.”
10. Jakou: Stephnew—A friend told me about this in NYC. It’s a mix tape using all Charles Stepney tracks who was an amazing producer from the Chess/Cadet label from the ’60s through the ’70s. They also do cool little re-edits in there. A very nice listen.

What was the highlight of 2011 for you and/or your band?

Gee: In terms of Malachai I think “Snowflake” being included in FIFA 11 got us a lot of positive exposure. I personally have moved somewhere nearer the shops.
Scott Hendy: I think Return To The Ugly Side being released. The development of Malachai leading us up the path to the next installment.

What was the low point of 2011 for you?

Gee: I consign the low points to the ether, they are gone. Thing is, I’m closer to the shops. YEYY.

What are your hopes and plans for 2012?

Gee: I hope for an advancement of our species. All calendars point to something significant happening (or at least within a 40-year radius of this date), and I hope it does: a little enlightenment wouldn’t hurt right now.

What are your thoughts on the Occupy Wall Street protests? Do you stand with them? Are they accomplishing anything?

Gee: I hope it and the current visible global push for change see some improvements for their efforts. It can either go one of two ways. It’s become about liberty, and come its conclusion we’ll see if we still have any. While we have the current means of communication, I think it’s just far too complicated to restrain, and I hope we don’t lose that as a result. Freedom and a reasonable quality of life is our birthright. The answer is if, in 10 years’ time, I can still post up a picture of me slapping a wet table tennis paddle on an aged bearded sailor’s nut sack.

Several stages collapsed in 2011. Are you worried about festival safety? What else can be done to make stages and festivals safer?

Gee: I didn’t know there was a problem. Is this a threat or a tip-off? Is this about Charlie? I’ve told you already I never met the guy.

Has it become less financially viable to survive as an independent band this year?

Gee: For sure—my PRS [for Music] checks are so small I have to ask a small child to open them.

Which song do you wish was being played in the delivery room while you were being born?

Gee: If the songs are actually from my perspective, then I’d say “Standing in the Shadows of Love.”

What’s been the best day of your life so far and what’s been the worst?

Gee: I think they’re all to come.

Who has better taste in music, your mom or your dad?

Gee: Me, without question. Theirs was/is only a shallow interest. The only experience that ever stayed with me regarding my family and music was an old uncle had a nest of LPs from The Black and White Minstrel Show that drew me back time and again, each time even more mortified and confused.

What’s the smartest decision you’ve ever made in your life?

Gee: To see life beyond The Black and White Minstrel Show.

What would be the title of your autobiography?

Gee: Haha. Operation Nosedive.

If you could guest star on any TV show, which one would it be and why?

Gee: The O’Reilly Factor—so I can call [Bill O’Reilly] a racist vile dicksplash of a man—or Yo Gabba Gabba!

If you had to pick only one song to wake to on your clock radio for the rest of your life, which song would you pick?

Gee: Something by Jedward. They’re English, so you won’t have heard of them, but trust me—they’re bigger than The Beatles.

If you heard that the world was ending who would be the first person you’d call?

Gee: Our manager. He deals with all that stuff.

Is there a record that could define your teenage years?

Gee: Tiffany: “I Think We’re Alone Now.”

What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told?

Gee: That one about Tiffany (winks).

Is America’s political system broken? How can we fix it?

Gee: Like anything, if it’s beyond repair, trash it and find a new one or something like it that does the job better. Something that fits the times and the needs. It’s an amazing country and deserves good representation.

What is your favorite part about being a working musician? What’s your least favorite?

Gee: Best part is the doing, the worst part is the waiting.

Which song would you like to hear on your deathbed?

Gee: Whatever it is, I want to go during sound check.

In 2011, what was the best movie you saw, book you read, comic book you read, video game you played, and/or TV show you watched?

Gee: That Scorsese George Harrison flick [George Harrison: Living in the Material World], played a lot of Red Dead Redemption, Limbo, I don’t have a TV.

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