Alexandra Robertson from Confront Magazine had the amazing opportunity to interview our favorite lead singer, Taylor Momsen. They discussed the tour, Taylor’s inspiration and of course, the upcoming album that is said to be released in March 2014.
CONFRONT: You’ve been on the road all fall and the tour is coming to an end. What is your favorite experience you had on the tour so far?
MOMSEN: Just playing every night. We took such a long break from not touring and we were ripping our hair out! We were excited to get back on the road and play some shows.
CONFRONT: Is there one city that you loved playing more than the other?
MOMSEN: All of them! I mean, New York is obviously one of them. It’s where I’m from and it feels like going home. Also Montreal, Paris, London and Japan was crazy. South American was insane but I could pretty much just list everywhere we’ve played. But it’s been awesome; we’ve had very few shows that haven’t gone well.
CONFRONT: When your performing, does your on stage performance personae different from everyday life?
MOMSEN: I’m not playing a character on stage. I am performing on stage but I am never playing a character. It’s just Taylor on stage, just singing the songs I wrote.
CONFRONT: What keeps you motivated when you’re on tour?
MOMSEN: I love playing music. I love doing it so much that there is nothing that I’d rather do. Any musician will tell you that playing is not the job, that’s the fun part! It’s the travel that’s the job and all the press that goes along with that.
CONFRONT: So what can we expect from your upcoming album?
MOMSEN: Well, it’s called “Going To Hell” and it’s coming out next March, finally! It’s very much ha band record. We have really developed a sound for all of us. This record is stripped down and honest, there is no production that goes into it. There are only two guitars, two bass drums. The difference will this album is that it really captures what we sound like live. It’s a very thoughtful record.
CONFRONT: What is the one thing you learned while recording “Light Me Up” that you would bring to the studio this time?
MOMSEN: I’ve been working in recording studios since I was little so I’ve had a lot of experience with them. Really the only thing I’ve learned is take less takes!
CONFRONT: Is there one song that you enjoy recording and playing live?
MOMSEN: All of them. We are having fun playing the new stuff on this tour like “Going To Hell”, which we play every night. We’re actually playing a song we haven’t released yet, it’s called “Sweet Things” and that’s a fun one for all of us.
CONFRONT: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
MOMSEN: Pretty much everywhere. That’s such a hard question because there is no answer to it. My joke is, if I knew where inspiration came from I’d move there! However, I can’t do that. So it really comes from life, the scene and observing the experiences you have.
CONFRONT: Did you have an idols growing up?
MOMSEN: I would say John Lennon, Robert Plant, The Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. Then I got really into Soundgarden and nirvana, all awesome artists that I looked up to. I think that if you don’t look up to John Lennon, you’re crazy!
CONFRONT: What are the top five songs on your IPod?
MOMSEN: Well, everything Beatles, I can’t just pick one. Right now I’m obsessed with Soundgarden’s “King Animal”, and more specifically the sound “Rowing”. I pick one song that then I listen to it at least a thousand times.
CONFRONT: Do you have a most embarrassing song on your IPod?
MOMSEN: I don’t think I have anything embarrassing on there. I could say the weirdest thing I have is probably the soundtrack from Buffy the Vampire Slayer because I am a big Buffy fan!
