The Mynks are...
Emily - Vocals
KG - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Nikki - Guitar/Vocals
Mick - Drums
Kurt - Bass
The Mynks Interview
TCZ: Tell us about the Mynks. What's the story behind forming the band and tagging it The Mynks?
EM: Nikki hitched a ride with me to see The Cult play a show in upstate NY and we started talking about how she used to play guitar in a band and I told her that I had sung in bands before, too. We really bonded and started hanging out on a regular basis, just partying, you know? Then one night we ran into KG at a club in Manhattan. KG and Nikki used to play in a band called Cherry Red. They hadn't seen each other in years. A few drinks later, we were talking about how we were all ready to get into a new music project and KG already had the name which we adopted instantly!
TCZ: Can you tell us a little about what influenced you to pursue a music career?
N7: I never considered myself "normal". I never dreamed of getting married, having 2.5 kids and a white picket fence. That thought nauseates me! Rock and roll is the only thing I feel I can relate to. So it was never a question. It chose me!
KG: I became obsessed with music in high school and started buying records like crazy. In college I had my own radio show which showcased the best in new alternative music (i.e. my record collection). I lived in Boston then and I wrote for a few fanzines and saw every band I possibly could. I moved to NY and worked for a recording studio (actually, so did Nikki!) and found myself itching to give it a try. Then I met Brad Whitford (see sharing with fans) and the rest is history! :) (Thanks, Brad.)
Em: I love music. It is my passion and it is my therapy. Without it there would be a really big void in my life. I've been playing and singing my whole life and I'm not about to stop now!
TCZ: Based in NYC you have a wide variety of venues to perform at. Is there any particular venue you prefer?
KG: There's a lot of great places in NY, but CBGB's is awesome because it's historic and the sound is just terrific! You can't beat the vibe of that room. The graffiti alone is worth the trip. (I think I'm mentioned somewhere)
N7: One of our favorite places to play these days is a bar on the upper east side called American Trash. They don't have a stage and it's not usually a music venue but the people there are really friendly and enthusiastic and there's no attitude. Everyone has a great time when we play there. It's like having a party.
TCZ: Currently The Mynks are unsigned. Do you plan on taking the indie route and finding a label along those lines or maybe even self releasing?
N7: I don't think any band intends to go indie. I think most bands want to get signed by a major but in reality the whole indie thing often works out better these days. It's different now than it was 10 or 15 years ago.
EM: I have friends who were signed to a major label but are now on an indie label and are doing much better financially and creatively. They're so much happier!
KG: Once we have our new recordings we'll put our feelers out and see what happens. But I really think that the indie option gives you more freedom and control. Besides, I've seen too many bands get crushed by the whole major label experience. I know it's ultimately all about money, but I think some of the indie labels actually care about the music, too.
TCZ: As a band firmly connected to your rock roots with a poppy edge, would you describe your sound as punk pop or just powerpop?
KG: Definitely powerpop and hopefully that will be clear on our new recordings. Our current arrangements and rhythm section are very different now.
N7: Some people think we're punk pop, but we think of ourselves as powerpop.
EM: Powerpop!
TCZ: Currently you have released three tracks Stars, Never Know, and New York all with a lot of guitar parts. Who wrote the guitar layers?
N7: KG usually brings a basic chord structure and melody in to rehearsals. It's a democracy so we come up with our own parts and we usually base them on what the other one is playing. Of course, if there's something either of us hates we'll mention it. We know each other's style and strengths very well so it's usually pretty easy.
KG:Yeah, we played together for years in a band before so we just naturally leave each other space and try to complement one another. I call Nikki the human chord decoder -she's got great ears! We're both huge fans of dual guitar bands so we really try to make the most of our situation. We want to do more dual leads!! (Actually, we play a cool dual lead in our version of Alice Cooper's ("Caught in a Dream.")
TCZ: The bass lead ins seem almost subtle, is that intentional in the composing or just Kurt's style?
KG: Well, we had a different rhythm section playing on those songs. Kurt and Mick, our current bass player and drummer, have yet to record with us. Our bass player back then was Kevin Gerber and the parts are a combination of what we wanted the songs to sound like and his own unique style - but he never played the same thing twice!
N7: The songs are a bit different now. Kurt's style is very different from Kevin's. So we've really been developing our sound with our new rhythm section.
Em: Mick and Kurt are really tight together! It's a whole new thing.
TCZ: You list an interesting array of artists as influences on your site. NY Dolls, KISS, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith - all well respected bands who have made their mark in the music industry not just through gritty ball crunching music, but also through their incredible stage performance. How would you describe your own stage presence and do you feel that your influences contribute to that?
N7: People always tell us that we have a lot of energy on stage. One person even told Em that she thought she moved like a female Mick Jagger!
KG: We aren't as theatrical as the bands we list as influences (although Nikki and I used to be!) but we still like to crank it up and have a great time! As far as I�m concerned, there's no better feeling than having a guitar in your hands and hearing that sound coming out of the amp! It just makes me happy --and I think people can sense that.
TCZ: Any plans for an EP or full length in the coming months?
KG: We�re hoping to record an EP this winter. And if we have enough time and/or funds we'll do a full length record. We're just feeling out different recording studios right now. (So whichever one get us more excited)
TCZ: Can fans purchase or download your music anywhere?
EM: No, but we're working on a new recording that will be available soon. So just hang on!
Note: You can listen to The Mynks on Myspace
TCZ: What is the one thing The Mynks want fans to know about them today?
N7: That we're not riot grrls!!
EM: That we pride ourselves on well-crafted music. And that women can play guitar!!
KG: That we're better than we ever been. Oh, and that I'm not a natural blonde, sorry.
TCZ: Is there anything we haven't hit on that you would like to share?
N7: We're a guitar-driven rock band and we'd like to see people be more open to that. I'm sick of hearing, "you're pretty good for girls!"
EM: You ain't seen nothin' yet!!!
KG: I wish people didn't expect us to be either riot grrls or maudlin and folky. Not that there's anything wrong with that I love those kinds of bands, too. But that's not what we want to be. Sometimes I get the feeling that some people are disappointed that we aren't puking on stage, screaming our lungs out and banging our heads. Or else they're bummed that we aren't playing acoustics and gently singing in our head voices. I love rock and I love pop � and I'd like us to straddle both! (um, you know what I mean)