Interview with JEN ANDUJAR and LEESA COYNE
Before we get into the interview, could you please give a brief introduction on who you are/where you are from?
Sure, this is Leesa from the band Naked on Roller Skates. We are from the Boston area and are about to put out our first EP.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
That’s a tough one. There are so many really. I worked in a record store for years growing up so I ended up getting into a bunch of different stuff. When I was younger it was Nirvana, REM and PJ Harvey. More recently it’s probably more like Van Morrison, Ryan Adams and Cat Power. People say they hear some Hole in there somewhere, which is probably accurate. I also have a giant sweet spot for Hair Bands, Classic Rock and generally soulful music.
How did you come up with the band name Naked on Roller Skates?
I say this post card that looked cool with “Naked on Roller Skates” on it. I guess it was a book by this guy Maxwell Bodenheim. I was just like, it's going to be a female fronted rock band and I am kind of a bombshell, Naked on Roller Skates, it's perfect. The other name I was toying around with was The Lost Cowboys but we just ain’t alt-country enough to have a name like that and honestly get away with it. Plus people who are Naked on Roller Skates just have more fun than people who are Lost Cowboys!!
Explain your song writing process.
I basically start everything thing out as stream of consciousness, playing and singing till I feel like it's working. Then I hammer away on it for a while trying to tweak what I have got. Make a Garage band recording of it. Send it to the band to get their feedback on it. Then they start writing their parts, and then we edit what we have from there. I played solo for a long time so the whole writing with a band thing is new to me. On this record I went into the studio with everything already complete so it has been a new process to write with other folks you are playing with on a regular basis. It pushes you to think outside the box a bit.
If you could tour with anyone, who would it be and why?
Right now. I would love to tour with REM, mainly cause I love Michael Stipe and I think they would be a blast to hang out with. Plus I love their music. Either them or Tom Petty cause he is just classic!
What is the funniest thing that has ever taken place at one of your gigs?
I have once played in a clothing store which is just kind of funny overall and I used to play at this coffee house. During a gig a homeless man started to impromptu dance through out the whole set, so that was kind of awesome! Nothing cool like being puked on, pooped on by some sort of sea bird, having your eyebrows burnt off or biting the head off a bat, but we are working on it!!
Do you have any rituals you do before you perform?
I like to have a few minutes to myself. Sometimes I do a total wardrobe switch, I have been know to do this in a public restroom or the kitchen basement of a venue. The kitchen is much more kind to the wardrobe switch than the public restroom. Don’t get in the way of the ladies and their sink!!! But it helps get me in the mindset that it's time to rock. I also try real hard not to get too wasted pre-set, that's always a good one keep in mind unless you have one of those Grace Slick moments on stage.
Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
I would love to see myself on tour somewhere. Having completed at least a few other records. AND I would love to see myself quitting my day job and really getting carried away with making music. But I try not to get too wrapped up in the thought of it but it's sure is nice to think about. As a rule of thumb it’s good to keep your expectations down to earth and take things as they come. Overall I think that leads to more of a general happiness about life.
You have a new EP coming out soon. Can you share any details on that? Are there any stories you would like to share about the process?
7 Songs, 3 Years, 5 Different Studios, 7 musicians
Having your first EP done and knowing you did it the way you wanted to, priceless!
What 5 CDs/albums do you feel are the most influential ever made?
Bruce Springsteen - Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. | Radiohead – The Bends
REM – Automatic For The People | Nirvana –Nevermind
PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love
Honorable Mention:
Def Leppard – Hysteria | Van Morrison – Van Morrison
Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction | Led Zeppelin - Zoso
Who in the band is the:
Biggest flirt? Travis, Kelly and Me (Three way tie)
Messiest? Kelly or Randy (Travis and myself are total neat freaks!)
Most likely to get lost in a new city? Randy
Most shy? Randy
Best dancer? Randy
Where can we learn more about you/buy your music?
All sorts of places:
http://www.facebook.com/norsrock
http://www.last.fm/music/Naked+On+Roller+Skates
http://www.reverbnation.com/nakedonrollerskates
http://www.myspace.com/nakedonrollerskates
http://www.sonicbids.com/nakedonrollerskates
http://www.ourstage.com/profile/nakedonrollerskates
Twitter = @norsrocks
Video = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cnfARQ31uc
Any last thoughts before we wrap this interview up?
This was fun thanks for having us ☺
If you were an animal what you be?
If Naked on Roller Skates were an animal what would we be?
I like to assign animal persona’s to people I meet.
(No this does not mean I am a fury, it’s more like I am a Native American.)
