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Feb 13, 2013 By Under the Radar Staff Hunters

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 Isabel Almeida and Derek Watson of Hunters.

Top 7 Albums of 2012

In no order:

Gza: Liquid Swords (Reissue)
The Men: Open Your Heart
Nicki Minaj: Beez in the Trap 12”
Cannibal Corpse: Torture
2 Chainz: Crack 12”
Sleep: Dopesmoker (Reissue)
METZ: METZ

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

Isabel Almeida: Moving and getting a van. It’s like having a mobile home. I love hanging out and sleeping in it.
Derek Watson: The highlight is always playing shows and hanging out.

What was the low point of 2012 for you?

Derek: Not having a piss jug in the van while being stuck in heavy traffic?

What are your hopes and plans for 2013?

Derek: I hope someone finds a way for trashy food like nachos, pizza, instant ramen, and cheese fries to be good for you.

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

Derek: It didn’t affect us that much. We still have day jobs, but who doesn’t in NY?
Isabel: The type of people who buy records will always find a way to buy a record they want, even if they are broke. People still wanna have fun and go see shows with their friends.

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

Isabel: I can’t vote, but I’m happy.
Derek: I can, thumbs up.

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?

Isabel: Sure. People should get compensated for their time and work. Especially if she’s making money.

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

Derek: None really, but I think Honey Boo Boo and her mom would make an awesome Master Blaster from Mad Max for Halloween.

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

Isabel: Yeah, I think it’s related. Fortunately enough, we were not affected. We lost power for a couple hours and that’s it. I know people who were affected, and it was/is a really hard place to be.

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

Derek: A guy in Chicago tripping on LSD with the opposite sides of his face and head shaved, talking at us in depth about green jelly.

What were some of the rejected names for your band?

Derek: Genital Hospital.
Isabel: Thin Twin. We ended up using it for a song title.

Tell us about your first kiss.

Isabel: I was so nervous at first. We started kissing and I got bored in the middle. I started making up games about how we had to kiss. Like, “OK, now let’s kiss like if we were 80 years old and had no teeth.” I don’t think he was that into that.

Would you survive a zombie apocalypse? Explain.

Derek: Yes! I’m well prepared, I think I’ve seen 98% of zombie movies ever made. The main rule: If you see someone get bitten, shoot them in the head without hesitation… even if it’s your friend.
Isabel: Running away all the time would get pretty frustrating. I would probably give up at some point.

Did you watch this year’s Olympics? What was your favorite event and which event would you be best at?

Derek: Rhythmic gymnastics is pretty crazy. As for an event, I think I would be an excellent judge, or person who lights the torch.
Isabel: I like watching gymnastics and the high diving.

Finish this sentence: 2012 will be known as the year that _________.

Isabel: Colorado legalized marijuana.

What is the first thing you do when you get home from being on tour?

Derek: Play with our cat Raffles.
Isabel: Take a shower and sleep forever.

What is biggest thing you got away with as a child?

Derek: Way too many things to list. I was criminally insane.

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?

Isabel: I’m obsessed with American Horror Story.

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