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100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Fourteen: The Like Young

instigated by dave heaton

After the end of their previous band Wolfie, husband-and-wife musicians Joe and Amanda Ziemba struck out on their own with a down-to-basics approach to music, as the dynamic guitar-and-drums rock duo The Like Young. Their first two albums, Art Contest and So Serious (Parasol), were passionate and fiery, and still with their impeccable sense for melody. Their third, Last Secrets (Polyvinyl), is all that and so much more. They've expanded the scope of their songs to make them even more emotionally and musically powerful, taking the disappointments and hardships of life and turning them into glorious, infectious rock songs that are angry yet hopeful. It's an explosive, inspiring album, easily one of my favorites of 2006. Mp3s, videos, tourdates, and more can be found at the band's website.

(Please note that Joe and Amanda answered these questions separately, hence the overlap in an answer or two.)

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What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

Joe: Getting back into the swing of recording new demos together, alone and minus any outside worries.

Amanda: There are actually a lot of things about music that excite me right now, and it's a cool feeling because I haven't felt this way in a long time. I've definitely become re-inspired in the past two months after feeling close to the point of just giving it all up. I think a lot of musicians teeter on this line at some point and I must say that it's a terrible feeling. So, I'm definitely happy to say that I am once again excited and inspired. Things that excite me: playing along to backing tracks live (I've always missed hearing the keyboard parts in our live show), being able to tour the U.S. in support of Last Secrets, and on a more personal note; that Joe and I have finally come to the point where we are able to really share this band as a positive entity.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

Joe: I have a laundry list from the past two years, but I'm not going to share it. Nobody likes a bitcher. Besides, I think the worst is over. No more growing pains.

Amanda: I can't think of anything right now, so I guess that's a good thing.

What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects, etc).

Joe: Starting this fall, we'll be leaving our jobs again to tour full time. This time out, it's for real; giving up our apartment, placing most of our belongings in storage, and not giving up. We've got a really excellent support system in place with Polyvinyl and Aero Booking, which I'm very grateful for. We've always been pretty much on our own in the past, so this is a huge step for us. Planning ahead has been important this time in terms of finances and health insurance. That's where we faltered before. I think we'll be able to make it work this time. Regardless, I can't wait to get out there and play for people again.

As far as new music goes, we've started writing and recording demos for our next album. We're in a good place right now.

Amanda: Currently, we're working on writing and recording new demos, which has been a lot of fun. It's weird because this time around we're more serious about every new song turning out to be solid and usable for the next album, yet we're definitely more laid back about the whole process in general. Does that make sense? Somehow it's working, and we're really happy with the outcome so far. We'll also be playing various midwest shows this summer which will lead up to a full U.S. tour beginning in September. We've gone a little nutty again and will be literally packing up our lives to tour for an indefinite amount of time. Even though it's a little nerve racking, we're very excited to get on the road again.

What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?

Joe: We played at a North Carolina club that had an "Improv Comedy Night." Not surprisingly, we followed an amateur comedy troupe. The laughs did not flow. On the ride home, we saw a dead body under a sheet. The area around our hotel was swarming with cops. Best show ever!

Amanda: Oh man, what comes to mind first is this place in North Carolina. The club was totally fine, but before we played there was this improv show which seemed to go on forever without making anyone laugh. Lots of uncomfortable silence. Then, it was our turn to take the stage...folding chairs and all still set up in front. It was so awkward. I think there were MAYBE six people who stayed and sat in the chairs. I don't really remember how we played, but I'm sure it was pretty terrible. Oh yeah, and as we were driving into to town before the show, we witnessed what looked to be the aftermath of a homicide...bloody body and all. Needless to say, we were a bit creeped out. Gotta love life on the road.

In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?

Joe: Every change alters the way our music turns out. I think it mostly has to do with age, though. We've gotten more comfortable and confident as we've gotten older. Things seem to fit better. Geography can influence what pops out, but the core of the songs lie within whatever emotions I'm feeling at that time. A chunk of So Serious was written completely in hotels and in the van, so the process isn't reliant on where I'm living.

Amanda: Where we have lived and live does not affect my taste in music at all. However, our music has definitely been affected by where we have lived. I guess it obviously has to do with how comfortable your surroundings and the people that surround you make you feel.

When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?

Joe: Last week. We finished two, which were simmering for a month or so beforehand. They're our most collaborative songs to date. Also, the first I've written after a year long break from (serious) songwriting. I'm really happy with them and I feel liberated again. I haven't felt this fresh since we started the band.

Amanda: Hmmm...the last real song I wrote was "Freddy," which came out in 2002. I think it was originally written in 1999 though. Wow, that was a really long time ago! When I taught preschool this past year, I wrote lots of songs for a music enrichment class. A lot of them were kind of made up on the spot though, so that doesn't really count. I actually do plan on writing for our new album though, we'll see where it goes...don't worry though, they will not sound like nursery rhymes.

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?

Joe: I'm always obsessed with discovering music, but not necessarily "new" music. Our own creativity rarely enters the picture. It's like two completely distinct interests, that don't seem to affect one another. My interest in listening to music comes and goes in waves, but the well is never dry.

Amanda: More interested, most definitely. Inspiration is found that way.

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

Joe: I can't get enough of late 1950s/early 1960s pop-rock. I've been obsessed for the last five years. Everything from Buddy Holly to Joe Meek to The Chantels to the British Invasion to weird surf. I love all of it; obscurities, hits, french pop, girl groups, you name it. As long as the singing is on-key, I'll listen. The production aspects fascinate me, but I'm mostly drawn to the hooks and honesty.

With modern music, my interests lean towards similarly styled bands. Mostly rock music that I'd love to make myself. I don't purposefully seek out bands that much anymore (it gets boring), but I've really enjoyed the latest albums from Metric, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Kills.

Amanda: I've definitely been into newer music lately, (music that's a little bit of both -- different and similar to ours). I'm one of those people who can listen to a new album over and over again, week after week and still not hear it enough.

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?

Joe: I've been enamored with Francoise Hardy over the last year or so. Everything about her. She was (and still is) such a strong, unique female presence in terms of songwriting, personality, and smarts at a time when those traits weren't necessarily important to the public. Kind of like today. Her early-to-late 1960s music is a perfect mix of sadness, beautiful production, and catchy songs. I've never heard another musician like her. I can't pick a favorite, so I'd suggest anything from her first decade of output.

Amanda: Even though they are already pretty huge in Canada, more people should be listening to Metric. I still can't decide which of their two albums I like more. They're both so very good.

What's the saddest song you've ever heard?

Joe: "Beverly Hills" by Weezer. Sickeningly sad on all fronts.

Amanda: This is totally going to sound cheesy but I can't help but tell the truth, "Imagine" by John Lennon. The combination of the chords and lyrics is somewhat heart wrenching.

To check out the rest of the Q&As, click here.


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