• Interviews

• All
• Music
• Cinema
• TV
• Comic Books

Feb 03, 2014 By Under the Radar Staff Web Exclusive

For Under the Radar‘s 11th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to the important issues of the last year, as well as some quirkier subjects. Check out our next print issue and digital issue for surveys from My Morning Jacket, Foals, Amanda Palmer, Local Natives, Wild Nothing, These New Puritans, Lanterns on the Lake, Xiu Xiu, and Summer Camp.

Here are answers from Ari Picker of Lost in the Trees. Lost in the Trees’ new album, Past Life, is due out February 18 on ANTI-.

Top Album of 2013

Kanye West: Yeezus

Lots and lots of podcasts: Diane Rehm, Snap Judgment, Radiolab, Here’s the Thing.

New discoveries:

Karen Dalton: In My Own Time
Peter Gabriel: So

What was the highlight of 2013, either for you personally or for the band?

We recorded the new Lost in the Trees record with Nicolas Vernhes. I scored lots of music for theater this year, something new and fun, and I built a little 12x12 cabin on our land.

What was the low point of 2013 for you?

Not enough free time.

What are your hopes and plans for 2014?

Have fun with the release of our new album, go to Hawaii, buy a chainsaw.

What are your thoughts on the passing of Lou Reed? Did his music influence you at all and in what way?

I love Lou Reed. His music has been the soundtrack to a lot of our dinner parties.

What are your thoughts on the U.S. government shutdown and the debt ceiling debate?

Blah. I’m more concerned about the state of [North Carolina] politics at the moment, which have gone down the toilet.

What are your thoughts on Obamacare, now that it’s being implemented?

I’m all for healthcare reform. The rollout has sucked, but I really hate how the focus of the conversation is about a website rather than the bill itself.

What is your opinion on the extensive government spying on the world’s Internet/phone usage? Is Edward Snowden a patriot or traitor?

Both. It’s probably going to help and hurt our country.

What are your thoughts on music streaming services such as Spotify and Rdio? Are they good or bad for musicians?

I have Spotify and now I finally have all those Beach Boys albums I never could afford! I don’t think Spotify will break anyone’s career, but it could make one. I don’t know… too many other things to worry about.

Who was the first person to break your heart? Whose heart did you first break?

Wow, you’re really digging deep here. I think it was Rachel, or maybe Tess? It was 6th grade, and that was a long, long time ago.

What was your most embarrassing moment in high school?

I’m pretty sure all of high school was an embarrassment for me. However, I did split the crotch of my pants during a performance of Grease in front of the whole school.

Do bad reviews bother you and which negative review has affected you the most?

I think a poorly-written good review makes me cringe the most.

What moment in history do you most wish you could’ve witnessed in person?

Radiohead recording Kid A.

What is your favorite word and why?

“Silence.”

What was the first R-rated (17+) movie you remember seeing and how old were you?

I saw KIDS on my first date. A really bad idea.

www.lostinthetrees.com