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Feb 06, 2013 Web Exclusive By Under the Radar Staff

For Under the Radar‘s 10th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2012.

Pick up the print version of the Best of 2012 issue to read responses from the following artists: Alt-J, Fred Armisen, Bear in Heaven, Camera Obscura, Chad Valley, Charli XCX, Choir of Young Believers, Clinic, CSS, Dan Deacon, Desaparecidos, Django Django, Efterklang, Egyptian Hip Hop, El Perro Del Mar, Grimes, Halls, Richard Hawley, Hercules and Love Affair, Ladytron, Liars, Lord Huron, Lower Dens, Mount Eerie, My Morning Jacket, The Mynabirds, The New Pornographers, of Montreal, Peaking Lights, Porcelain Raft, Laetitia Sadier, Tame Impala, and Tegan and Sara.

Then download the digital version of the Best of 2012 issue to read all those surveys, as well as bonus responses from the following artists: !!!, Clare and the Reasons, Codeine, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Esben and the Witch, The Fresh & Onlys, Get People, Islands, Kwes, Lost in the Trees, NZCA/LINES, OFF!, Plants and Animals, Still Corners, Violens, Xiu Xiu, Young Dreams, and Zambri.

We are also posting additional web-exclusive artist survey interviews to the website. Here are responses from Jonathan Bates of Big Black Delta.

What was the highlight of 2012 for either you personally or for the band?

Getting to tour all over the U.S. with my friends in M83 and Jane’s Addiction. Big Black Delta doesn’t even really have a record out and to be able to connect with so many people was a blessing. I also learned how to speak Cantonese. One of these statements is true.

What was the low point of 2012 for you?

Losing a close friend to drugs and the loss of my first pet of 12 years.

What are your hopes and plans for 2013?

To make more music and meet as many musicians and artists as possible. Possibly a moustache.

To what extent did the poor world economy affect your ability to make a reasonable living as an artist in 2012?

I make music for a living. Being broke is nothing new over here.

What are your thoughts on the 2012 U.S. presidential election?

That we’ve all been through enough, and one more tit’s opinion on it is totally not needed, my good sir/madam.

Steve Albini criticized Amanda Palmer for recruiting musicians to play in her backing band for free. Was he right to do this and was Palmer right to change her mind and pay her musicians?

It’s not my place to judge another’s artist process, but if I was making enough money on show guarantees, I would definitely pay my musicians. Check out my demo, bro.

What pop culture phenomenon from 2012 would you most like to erase from your memory?

If you thought I was gonna say “Gangnam Style,” then you are sadly mis-fucking-taken. And a racist.

Were you affected by Hurricane Sandy? Do you think that climate change was partly responsible for the hurricane?

Not really. Growing up in Miami, and going through Hurricane Andrew, hurricanes seem like business as usual to me.

Tell us about the most memorable fan encounter you had this year.

There was this one show where I asked for a herbal refreshment from stage, and some folks kindly tossed up what they had.

What were some of the rejected names for your band?

Whitesnake. It was taken.

Tell us about your first kiss.

Party in middle school. Stone Temple Pilots were playing. I touched one of her chests.

Would you survive a zombie apocalypse? Explain.

What kind of zombies? Are we talking slow moving, grunty zombies? Or are we talking the fast running, World War Z zombies? Either way, we’re outta Twinkies.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given about the music industry and who gave it to you?

At a random LA house party, some drunk, random dude walks up to me and thinks he recognizes me. He places his hand on my shoulder, leans in and mutters: “Whhhhhhhut evur happint to you…wurnt yousuppozz to be something?” It wasn’t advice, but it sure was enlightening.

Arrested Development is returning. Which other canceled TV show would you like to see return?

Party Down. El Chapulin Colorado.

The music industry has gone through massive changes in the last decade, mainly due to the Internet. What changes do you predict will happen to the music industry in the next decade?

Projections. Forecasts. PowerPoint presentations. Profit and losses. Expense accounts. DOBIS.

www.bigblackdelta.com