cute interview

state your name please----I’m Jeff and I play guitar in the band Cute Is What We Aim For.
Contessa- So you know what I though was cool is that on your website there was this photo journal, like converse sitting in a pile with mud splattered on them n’ stuff…
Jeff-Yeah, I know what your talking about, that’s what I really like is the personal stuff. Same with band DVD’s, I like when they show the band behind stage, and tour photos, it really creates personal memories between the band and the fans.
Contessa-it did! I was looking at those photos and when I saw the one with a glass of champagne in front of a computer screen, with the words-
Jeff-Oh, you are a sell out?
Contessa-yep, is that to make fun of the idea of bands becoming sell outs or?
Jeff-It was actually us writing the song lyrics right then, Shaant just took a pic as he was writing the words on his laptop.
Contessa- ohh, makes sense. So, I’ve heard you boys say things like you totally want to be yourselves – have fun but be deep and intelligent at the same time… how have you managed to accomplish this goal so far?

Jeff-Within the music itself is how I’ve managed to accomplish it. I just love hanging out with these people (the band mates) and being goofy so that’s what makes it fun, it’s defiantly been fun so far. (laughs)
Contessa-Yeah, I like how you said so far, (laughs) but I’m sure it will stay fun! So when recording at Salad Days Studios, there was tons of pressure (not fun) for the band, even with having your recent online success and recording Eps before.
Jeff-Yeah, there was! The label kept saying we need more songs, more songs, and we just thought when we got to the studio it would be like one-big-fast-song. But we pulled it together and after a week of pre-prep we got the album done and recorded it!
Contessa-That’s quite a small time frame!
Jeff-It was basically noon-to nine at night everyday, we just sat down and worked on it and the ideas kept coming to us. The pressure shows in the lyrics, yeah definitely wouldn’t want to go through with that again, whew…
Contessa-but that’s how you got to where you are right now so…
Jeff-that’s true, no regrets.
Contessa-Good! So, I'm gonna let you talk about what you want to talk about, anything at all, puppies, kittens, how the Grench stole Christmas?
Jeff- Um, I don’t know?! (raises eyebrow and gives a debonair smile) We just want to be that band where kids have fun at our shows because there is such a difference from listing to the album, made in a studio, to shows-you get to really feel the energy when it’s live. We take away the barriers-we hate-barriers, we want to be as close to the crowd as possible. Oh yeah, I’ve actually never read or seen the Grench.
Contessa- awwa, you should, it’s a good read.
Jeff-I know, I should, maybe tomorrow I have the day off for it.
Contessa-Your going to stay in SF? There’s a new mall with a good food court close to here.
Jeff-Yeah, probably do some shopping or something. That’s what we usually do is go to malls n’stuff.
Contessa-Well hit up the Haight too, it’s good thrift store shopping.
Jeff-Yeah, I hear good things about that place too.
(Shannt walks by and messes Jeff’s hair up)
Contessa- Awwa, he’s gonna have to redo is hair now.
Shannt-Na, Jeff doesn’t care, give him more credit than that!
Contessa-Oh, well should I let you go, so you can do some Yoga before the show?
Jeff-I don’t really do anything before the show, I just want to get out there and play…
Contessa- Well have fun and thanks again soo much !
Jeff- Thank you, this was nice.