Always be sure to drink your Ovaltine! It’s usually when you’re the most prepared things will go array, especially when you’re given the opportunity to interview a bandmate from one your fave bands. It’s tough to forget the weird and interesting topics you discuss such as Girl Scout Cookies and weird fan experiences, especially when your recorder decides not to work, yes, it’s inconvenient but like the late Freddie Mercury sings “The Show Must Go On!”
The awesome, scintillating band that I’m speaking of is Mini Mansions which is compromised of the ever so talented Michael Shuman, Tyler Parkford, and Zach Dawes. Together for almost 10 years, they had some memorable songs such as Vertigo, Death Is a Girl, and Freakout. If their faces seem extremely familiar it is because they have worked with well-known bands such as The Last Shadow Puppets, Queens of The Stone, and The Arctic Monkeys and continue to do some great work in and out of these bands.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Mini Mansions is a beautiful, dark psych-pop band that explores the gritty, classy, sleazy, and unimaginably interesting parts of life which transcend into their music. Their third full-length album A Guy Walks Into a Bar… out on July 26th, continues to explore these personal themes and give us sultry songs like “GummyBear” and “Hey Lover” featuring the rock goddess, Alison Mosshart from The Kills.
You always remember the first time you hear a song and fall in love with it, for me, it was the moment I heard Mini Mansions song, “Heart of Stone“, it was that moment where I tried to hold back some tears in public but it made me smile because for a moment it gave me comfort. I’m always grateful when a band has this much effect on you not only because these songs are engaging but because you can tell they’ve shared a part of themselves into their well-crafted songs just like “Midnight In Toyko” that demonstrates a powerful juxtaposition between the vulnerability of heartbreak within the lyrics but with super sleak and sensual vocals.
Interview Mini Mansions’ Michael Shuman (vocals/guitar)
So thank you for your music it really helps deal with the NYC transit with a smile. You guys just released a new song called “Bad Things (That Make You Feel Good)”, do you have any bad things that make you feel good? (Mine is Girl Scout Cookies and I devoured an entire box of Thin Mints once which at this point, I’m still not ashamed.)
Michael Shuman: The title is self-explanatory, you’re at a bar and you’re looking for someone, something like human connection, which we’ve all been through. We’re not saints so it can be pleasure induced.
What’s the strangest experience you’ve had with a fan?
There was someone that I had reconnected with someone from high school, Sarah, we were messaging back and forth and I had an odd feeling so I did some research through and I realized it wasn’t the person I was speaking to. She had gotten in touch with family members so it was a creepy and slight frightening experience.
What’s the toughest song you’ve ever written or worked on for any of your albums?
It has to be “Tears In Her Eyes” which is the last song from our upcoming album A Guy Walks Into A Bar…, it’s essentially a break-up song – it was a tough decision to put it on the album.
Your music videos are definitely one of a kind, do you collectively decide on how to approach the video or do you seek out directors who share your same vision?
Our videos are a huge part of what we do. On our last record, we did a video for every song on the record and tried for the b sides as well. They didn’t all make it out. Videos are important to us as they are another artistic extension of our songs. Sometimes we’ll have specific ideas/treatments for a video. But also we’ve sought out directors who were inspired by and let them come up with their own interpretations of the song. Either way we’re always very involved in the process down to the last edit.
Whenever you’re working on your songs, do you ever worry if a song is missing something or if a song is too overproduced? When do you say, okay – this is set?
I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I kinda never think it’s done. Deadlines usually help with this issue. Unfortunately, we’re just not the type of band that can knock out a whole record in a few days. Although we did do that on our first ep. But these last two records have had a more specific vision behind them and needed more time to get it right.
First albums you fell in love with?
Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles and Dookie by Green Day. I went out and got the songbook for a Hard Day’s Night and Dookie was really the first albums that got me into punk rock.
What’s the weirdest or funniest questions you’ve ever been asked in an interview?
We were doing an interview in Australia and the interviewer seemed like he was a fan but then it took a weird turn when he asked me a few questions about the Me Too movement and what was my political stance on another topic so I had to walk out of the interview.
If you had one message to give to your fans what would it be?
THANK YOU, for your support and coming to our shows. We are a bit of a baby band so we appreciate any and all of the support that we receive from our awesome fans.
If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing right now?
I actually didn’t do the whole normal school thing so I feel good that I’ve been able to do what I do as a musician but if I weren’t I would’ve definitely continued on my basketball profession.
You guys have been together for 10 years which is admirable, any lessons you’ve learned on the road?
It would have to be to treat people well, you’re traveling so much and you work with a lot of people. It’s a always a good feeling when you work well with people.
Be sure to catch Mini Mansions at Music Hall of Williamsburg on 5/30 – they will definitely become your next band crush and plus you will get to sing along to your heart’s content.
Also, huge thank you to Katie – I appreciate your help!!!!