Welcome to SIFF and the Battle of the Bands. It's great to have you here. MJ: Thanks! It’s great to be here. We don't know much about you so lets start with the basics. Who are you and where are you from? MJ: We are Pixelated Youth and we are from Bridgeport. I’m Mary Jane, or MJ. Lead vocals and lead guitar. Alaina: I’m Alaina. I play the drums. Knives: Knives A Go-go. Bass Cello/Violin/Vocals. Aspen: I’m Aspen. Back up guitar or bass guitar depends on the song.
I understand that the band formed while you were in college. What made you decide to start a band? How did it come about? Was this just some friends getting together for jam sessions and it went from there or was it something else? MJ: I was living in the dorms and roomed with Bree Jones. We became fast friends despite the fact we are opposites in a lot of ways. One thing we really connected on is a love of music. She was a pianist and even had lessons. I had always wanted to start a band and one night I was like we should do it. [I mighta been hitting the nectar I don’t know haha] But she agreed. Alaina: I lived in the room next to theirs. I think I overheard MJ on guitar one day. MJ: Yeah sorry about that, sometimes I’d play in my room. Alaina: I was very much into the drums. I wasn’t in any sort of music class and I wasn’t even in a major that supported that. But I was like we should jam. MJ: I told her about my idea and the three of us started jamming outside of class. It wasn’t long before I suggested we start playing some gigs at the local hangout. Alaina: Our next term we all decided we should live together and really give this a go. Bree and MJ are really good business wise I think. MJ: By the time we all graduated we were mildly known around campus.
I also understand that the band has changed members since it started. Sometimes that works out well for bands, other times not so much. Do you think the changes, since it also changed your style to some extent, helped or hurt the band?
MJ: Well Bree had met her husband, Armstrong, and was wanting to start a family. Long story short she decided she wanted to leave the band shortly after we released Space Octopus [our second album]. Our fame was on the rise at this point and I think she just wanted to lead a normal life with her family, you know? She didn’t want to end up having a child and having to deal with the paparazzi and such. Alaina: It was hard to see her go. We had been all three living together when she got married and moved out. Her and MJ were best friends. MJ: Yeah, it made me feel like the band was falling apart or something. I moved into my own high rise. Alaina: Me and MJ had a talk and we didn’t want the band to end nor did we want to just be a duo. So I suggested my friend Aspen join. MJ: Anyway we brought her and Knives into the band which I think has changed the dynamics, sure, but not in a bad way. Knives is super talented and creative and I think while the girls have lead to a change in our sound I think the fans are liking it. Aspen: Yeah its no longer the sisterhood of the traveling pants or whatever shit but I think we f*****g kick ass now and f**k if the fans don’t like it. MJ: I wouldn’t say thatKnives: I think the four of us balance things out well and so far it hasn’t hurt our fanbase. MJ: Really it’s our last album that is the most different so it has yet to be seen.
How did you come up with the name Pixelated Youth? MJ: We [Myself, Bree and Alaina] toyed around with using our initials to create a name. Alaina: We couldn’t think of anything really cool. MJ: I went through a bunch of words and I liked the idea of pixilation. You know when something is censored it’s pixilated? Sounded rock and roll to me. Alaina: And we are youthful! Aspen: We should be called Mary Jane and The Suffragettes. I’m kidding I’m kidding! I like the name of the band actually. I like to give MJ a hard time is all. We butt heads occasionally cause she doesn’t like my ‘partying’. She’s all mom business hat. Besides how boring would this interview be without me? MJ: Well this band is my baby. And for a while I was sort of co manger with Bree when we started out.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard of you before? Aspen: I’d say listen to the goddamn album. Haha MJ: in all seriousness though- Our first two albums are grunge rock I’d sayAspen: Why do we always have to fucking label things? I mean rock, and alternative and blah blah blah Knives: Crystalline Skull our third album which features both Aspen and my self is very raw. Lots of rock and electronic elements MJ: Our sound is evolving I guess. I don’t know its sort of like sometimes you make a sad album vs. a party album. Wolf Heart [our latest] is a lot more indie and mellow. Still keeping with the electronic element to certain songs Knives: I really love mellow electronic music. I like the mix of technology and nature. Yin and Yang.
There are rumors that you are planning a tour to support your CD, Wolf Heart. is that tour going to happen? MJ: Most definitely. We are able and willing to tour. I think our first stop I is Starlight Shores. Aspen: Personally I don’t give a shit as long as we get to play. Also my apartment is just as small as a tour bus. MJ: The tight quarters are going to be interesting for the four of us.
Tell us a bit about Wolf Heart. What was the inspiration behind it? MJ: A lot of this I wrote. I really feel a connection to like Native American tribes and I feel my spirit animal would be a wolf. My husband also is into them. He has a huge wolf tattoo on his back. He really inspired a lot of this album. I know I’ll look less rock and roll but its sort of inspired by him and how I feel about him. Aspen: barf What attracted you to SIFF and the Battle of the Bands? MJ: We joinedAspen: Cause MJ told us to. Alaina: She doesn’t mean that. MJ: -because we thought it would be good publicity and fun. What does the future hold for Pixelated Youth? MJ: I hope many more albums and touring! Knives: I’ll have to mediate on that. Alaina: As long as we stay together, I’m happy. I have some random questions here from the fans, but first I have to ask this, can any of you name three differences between N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys? Aspen: Who the f**k are those twats? MJ: This totally sounds like something Bree would have known. She’s very girly. Aspen: Boys in backstreets…this sounds like something pedo. Knives: [shrugs] PC or Mac? MJ: Mac all the way. Aspen: If I could even afford a damn computer… How would you react if you found fan fiction about the band on the internet? MJ: Aw that would be nice Aspen: Is it pornographic. That stuff’s usually pornographic. I’d give it a read. A little lez action I’m sure. Knives: Do they write fan fiction about bands?
Favorite Power Ranger? Aspen: I seriously don’t know where these questions are coming from… MJ: Red? Knives: Pink!
If you could be any animal what would it be and why? MJ: Haha obviously I would have to pick a wolf, they are just strong and powerful and beautiful. Aspen: Really? I see you more as a pussy… cat. I’ll be a cat how about that. Scratch that. I’m a snake. I like to slither around. Knives: Hmmm…dragon. Alaina: I’d probably be a dog. I like dogs. Man’s best friend. Loyal and simple. Aspen: You’d be my puppy. Newt, would you be a salamander? You can come hang in my terrarium. You like to drink? You should come out with me tonight and hit a dive bar.