• Interviews

• All
• Music
• Cinema
• TV
• Comic Books

Feb 28, 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, Tegan and Sara, Telekinesis, and Sharon Van Etten.

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 bonus answers to the website. These are from artists whose surveys are in the print magazine, but are extra answers that didn’t fit in the issue. Here are bonus answers from Sharon Van Etten and pick up the Best of 2012 issue to read the rest of their answers.

What are your hopes and plans for 2013?

To write a lot and play with my band (for fun!) and start working on a new record.

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

The better man won.

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

Beiber.

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

I was on tour when Sandy hit. My boyfriend’s apartment lost power in the East Village and he stayed at my house when I was gone. My family’s deck had a tree crash on it, but as far as friends and family-they were all OK. Very lucky. I believe in global warming. Things are going to get worse.

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?

On one hand, if someone wants to do it, I have no right to say it’s wrong. Although I am sure Amanda Palmer isn’t hurting financially. I am not one to judge. Although I don’t make much money, I pay my band. And when I can, I will pay them more. Being a touring musician is a really hard job.

Would you survive a zombie apocalypse?

No. I am a terrible runner.

What artist or band deserves far more acclaim than what he/she/they are currently receiving?

Lower Dens.

In 2012, what was the best movie you saw, book you read, comic book you read, video game you played, and/or TV show you watched?

Movie: In the Soup (old Buscemi movie). Book: Up and Down with the Rolling Stones by Tony Sanchez. TV Show: Boardwalk Empire.

(http://www.sharonvanetten.com)