Interviewing Ourselves
Over several months, each of us was asked to respond to 40 interview questions about how they experience music, what music they like, and what it's like being a plural musician. Here are some excerpts.
Child A | she | 4-8 y/o
What is it like for you being a music student?
"it's hard when i have to do something that big people do but im little. i wish i could do it by myself sometimes cuz then they know i'm me and maybe they treat me different? i wanna do music with kids like i be the kid cuz i like that"
Tell us about your playlist.
"i have such a good playlist! i have Raffi and Meet Me in St Louis and Moana songs. and i have Shugo [Tokumaru] and Ponyo and Mitchiri-Neko and i like Margaritaville. and My Favorite Things and Mr Sandman too."
"sometimes i get scared when someone listens to something bad and then i front and we have to turn it off."
What is it like when other systemmates are listening to music?
"i laugh sometimes and i smile cuz it sounds nice and i wait for my favorite part. sometimes i get distracted and then distract someone playing tho."
What's it like for you when we play instruments?
Ditto | they | ageless
Tell us about your playlist.
"gotta have that bounce. fast, loud, happy, fucking suberb.
a lot Adam and the Ants, Melanie cuz i like how she yammers."
What is your favorite sound or instrument to listen to?
"drums and snare also when ppl yell sing from the gut soul. all of them when they come together and go up and explode and twinkle around in their patterns"
What's it like for you when we make music?
"hYPE. get HYPE. more i feel in my body than my emotions.
i get shivers up my spine and arms and i feel all my muscles in my arms and my legs are so powerful and i can spin and place in just the right space"
Murphy | they | 22 y/o
How do you feel about representing us musicially?
When we perform/write/facilitate, I'm the only person being perceived. That can cause resentment in a system if people aren't getting credit. I was scared to do this album because of the stigma around being a system. But I represent us in every part of our life, so my fear can't hold back my systemmates' right to be heard. For some of them, this is the first time they've been known as themselves instead of as me (Murphy).
When and why do you listen to music?
I almost listen to music too much - while cooking, cleaning, outside, in the bathroom, while working even if it distracts me. Music gets me motivated or grounded, but I sometimes get overstimulated from it. In the past, music helped me pretend that nothing else was real, which is helpful, but it was hard getting out of that.
Lea | she | 25 y/o
What music you were listening to at the time of your formation?
I formed in early high school. My current playlist is a lot of the music I listened to then - Florence & the Machine, Gotye, and lots of folk. I had a beautiful walk to school with my iPod, so I have memories of fall colors & Joni Mitchell. I always put on ABBA when I'm cleaning.
When and why do you listen to music?
To me, music enhances moments - some of which are already amazing - and music just boosts it up even higher. It feels like flying and I often look at the sky when I listen to music. Listening to my playlist helps me to front more securely and for longer.
What is it like listening to music when you're not fully fronting?
I'm frequently coconscious so I often hear what my systemmates are listening to. Sometimes it feels like a little bonus - something not intended for me but I get to enjoy. But sometimes it's alienating if I'm confusing my own opinions on the music with someone else's.
How do you feel about Murphy representing us musically?
Some of us have skills that are separate from the skills our system collectively has. When I think about our musical journey, it's hard to know where Murphy ends and I begin. When we did recitals, some were me, some were Murphy, and some were both. I do wish I could be recognized for my singing, or for my clients to know me as me. But as 8 people, we're one musician, and we wouldn't be the musician we are if we weren't a system. Our varied preferences give us different advantages. I love singing, performance, & dance, whereas Murphy prefers accompanying, harmonizing, & arranging.
Pyra | she | 19 y/o
What's your all-time favorite song?
Whoever wrote this question knows it's a dumb question. No one has one favorite song. My favorite artists are Mother Mother, Pixies, K. Flay, and Billie Eilish.
How has music affected your identity & emotions?
Initially, I only felt like myself when listening to music. Music sikes me up to deal with shit. Gives me power. Gives me something to hone in on. Feels like I enter the sound. Sometimes my favorite music brings back trauma times, which sucks for the others witnessing, but I can manage it fine.
How do you make music?
I play our arrangements of songs I like on piano. I feel more focused than the others when I play. I don't have as much poor self esteem shit floating around. I've always wanted to play bass. Feels badass. Sometimes I play basslines on guitar. I sing passively. I don't try to sound good.
How do you feel about Murphy representing us musically?
I don't care because I don't consider myself a musician, but I do hate pretending to be Murphy in musical situations. Fronting on a day that we're doing a solo in class or working with kids? Fucking awful. That's part of why holding a job is hard.
Leona | she | ageless
Leona is quiet and struggles with communication.
We helped her to communicate what she wanted to share.
Leona says that music makes her slow down and feel like she's falling. Her favorite artists are Nicole Dollanganger, PhemieC, Lana Del Ray, Marika Hackman, Halsey, and Billie Eilish. Leona listens to music immediately when she fronts, and asks us to put on her playlist when she's nearby. She says that music simultaneously intensifies and dulls her trauma response. When asked if she considers herself a musician, Leona said she didn't think that making music was an option, and she's not sure if she's done it before. She likes reverb, echo, and guitar with effects. She writes poetry and pays attention to lyrics. Leona said she could possibly sing in a stairwell one day.
Child B | they | 6-11 y/o
What music or sounds do you like?
animal noises. birds, crows, frogs, lizards. string noises. 8 bit. video game music. Zelda, Pokemon, Mario. Yellow Submarine by the Beatles, Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz, Bring Me To Life by Evanescence, Move Along by All American Rejects. my favorite piano song to play is Folk Dance by Bela Bartok. i like reading poetry rhythmic.
How do you listen to music?
have to listen to it in my ears. not outside of ears or only in one earbud.
not outside. outside has noise already. it's bad when a car interrupts wind.
What would your band name be?
E A R T H W O R M
Briar | they | adult
Briar opted to not be interviewed.