Austinist Interview: The Hipster Power Couple

Josh: Small town…suburbia. Where we hail from.

K: We hated it. And that was it. We just met, and hung out. And then I went to UNT for two years, and he went to Austin. Decided that wasn’t working.

J: We did a long distance thing for awhile—

K: For two years.

Austinist Jonathon: How was that for two years?

J: It was rough, yeah. It was just, you know, slingshotting between like, this is great, we’re on the rocks—

K: Let’s break up!

J: Yeah.

Austinist Allen: But it worked out!

K: It did. It was nice because we developed separate lives. Because we weren’t in each other spaces all the time, I could do my theatre thing, and he could do his music thing.

AJ: So you guys both got started when you were college?

K: Yeah…costuming and fashion in general is something I’ve wanted to do, I don’t know for how long. In high school. And then started out in fashion, decided it was a little too cut throat and wanted to go back to theatre…so I did.

AA: So how long have you guys actually been in Austin, together, doing your thing here?

J: I’ve been in Austin for about five years now.

K: And I just moved here from San Marcos in August.

AJ: So how is it now that you’re in the same spot?

J: Well, I live way up North right now, ‘cause that’s where I kinda ended up at the end of school.

AA: North, like, Hyde Park?

J: North like MoPac, 183—

General remorse from all involved.

AJ: What’s it like up there?

K: It’s not cool. Not cool.

J: Not very social. Actually, I pretty much bounce between her house and the band practice house and all that. Kinda just come home, get my stuff, and my bike.

AJ: So what have you guys got going on?

J: The Early Tapes is what I’m doing mostly. Besides being your prototype slacker in Austin.

AJ: How long have The Early Tapes been around?

J: The guitar player and I are, old, old buddies—

AA: Who’s the guitar player -- is that Paul?

J: Yeah. Nathan is the bass player.

K: He’s got tons of bands.

J: He’s in Peter and the Wolf—

AA: Oh, ok, that’s where I know him from.

J: What else is he doing right now?

K: Martin Crane.

J: Yeah, he plays with the Tonewheel Collective all the time…

AA: It’s such a great group.

J: He’s definitely our most outgoing, you know, Prom King member of the band.

K: Scenester for sure.

AJ: So what’s the band up to now?

J: We’re recording a record actually. Right after this I’m going to meet with Erik Wafford, and talk to him about recording our next thing.

AJ: Is he the guy that did your EP?

J: EP is home recorded, Nathan did that. We just had to get something out there. ‘Cause we were kind of suffering from not having anything really, tangible, EP or demo, or anything. The legs on that are probably worn out, and we’re ready to get something out there that’s a little higher quality. But we definitely enjoyed making that.

AA: So, Kendra, what about you?

K: I’m working with Yellow Tape Construction Co on their biggest and most bad-ass production ever. It’s called I Love My Dead Gay Son: The Musical! And we’re kind of doing just big and loud and – we have a huge cast and I’m really just trying to put together what I want and at on the least possible amount of money.

AA: So you’re designing the costumes?

K: Yes I am.

AA: And what else?

K: Is that all I’m doing?

J: Febreezing the costumes.

K: Yes, Fabreezing the costumes. Just generally in charge of how the actors look on stage. Hair, and make-up, and any kind of logistical thing that happens backstage.

AA: And did you put that together from scratch?

K: No. I can but for this because it’s modern, it’s more about borrowing from people and finding it from stores and putting it together how I want to.

AJ: So I know you’re into the fashion scene too – where does that come in when you’re doing costume design?

K: Well, I’m mostly attracted to projects that use my fashion abilities, and I have a tendency to take things that I find from fashion today and use it and re-interpret it and put it up there. And then actors are always like “hey I’m having this audition, and I don’t know what to wear!”

AA: You’re like a general consultant.

K: I would love to be.

AA: We’ll let ‘em know you’re available.

K: Please do.

AJ: What’s your take on the fashion scene – the growing fashion movement – that’s in Austin?

AA: IS there one? I know we have the Craft Mafia girls—

K: They’re awesome!

AA: I don’t know that we have any designers, per se.

K: I don’ t know of any that are doing designing as we think of it, like in New York. There’s definitely a scene – I should be…part of it –

AA: You should start it.

K: There you go, I am starting the scene!

AJ: So that’s what missing?

AA: The problem in Austin is that you can never flaunt it. It’s always a t-shirt and jeans kinda day.

K: You’re right – it’s a lot more laid back, and, you know, if I get dressed up and go out I tend to look like –

AA: Yeah, people are like, “what is she”—

K: “What is she dressed up for?” Yeah.

J: Just look at today.

We all laugh.

K: Hey!

AA: Caring boyfriend, I like that!

K: With theatre it’s the same thing, because the music is so huge, you tend to have a problem getting a scene for anything else.

AA: I think there’s only so many people in the city who would be willing to do any of this. And it really is a matter of getting people to understand that it’s all out there and available, and also saying that this is more compelling then going to a show at Emo’s. So you guys are both pretty entrenched in your art forms – is there any chance for collaboration between the two of you?

K: They’re playing at Yellow Tape’s Season Launch Party, it’s probably the first time that we’ve actually worked together.

AJ: You guys need a stage show!

K: But they’re very good at that. They don’t really need a whole lotta help. I put my two cents in every now and then, but they’re already very theatrical.

J: Livin’ in Austin, you know, the music scene and everything else is so casual, the second you do something that’s very intentional, it’s a faux paw.

AA: It seems like if you’re doing a musical, it just seems to lend itself for having a band actually there playing—

K: Well we do have a band.

AJ: Just not…The Early Tapes.

J: Next time. We’ll have to write a rock opera.

AJ: Yeah!

J: We wouldn’t have to pay the costume designer!

AJ: Speaking of that, is there any chance of making a living for either of you, as a musician or as a costumer? Is that even a goal in Austin?

J: Well, yeah, it’s a goal.

K: I tend to not think like that, because if I think “where do I wanna be in five years?” it doesn’t work. I’m taking it one step at a time, and seeing where it takes me, because I don’t really know where I can be in five years – does that make sense? I don’t know if I want to do theatre, or if I want to go into fashion, or if I’m even going to stay in Austin. Just seein’ what falls in my lap.

J: It is such an open ended thing that each of us are doing. It would be great to make a living off of it—

K: I’m waiting for him to get rich.

J: Yeah, we’re both sitting here waiting for something to materialize that would pay our rent, it’s hasn’t happened yet, but I’m sure it exists.

AJ: That’s not a bad way to go – fly by the seat of your pants.

AA: It seems to be the Austin philosophy.

K: We’re in a good place then.

AA: Have you seen the city change that much since you got here?

J: Over the five years I’ve definitely had nameless people tell me all that’s ruining Austin – have fun watching the apocalypse, or whatever. So far, all I’ve seen is stinky dreadlocks and bell bottoms have turned into tight pants with the boots on the outside.

K: I don’t really mind it. I guess I haven’t been here long enough to care.

J: I definitely see the transition between less-organized and lower-rent to more developed, more planned, and much more controlled kind of place.

K: As long as there’s still the places that are low rent, we’ll still be here.

AA: Which increasingly gets pushed outside of the city limits.

K: We’ll keep moving.

AA: So Josh, I saw on your website that you guys went down to Mexico recently for a tour?

J: Yeah. It just goes to show, never pre-judge. Somebody sent us an email, or whatever you call it on Myspace – a message – saying “hey, Happy Fi records is going to have a festival in Monterey (Ed note: Monterey, Mexico -- not CA), I want you to meet with my friend that lives in Austin, and he’ll tell you all about it. He’ll drive you there, and it’ll be awesome!”

AA: Is it like a time-share thing that they were inviting you out there for?

J: I was a little suspicious but then I met up the guy at The Hole In the Wall and he seemed cool, and it all came to pass. They drove us down there, and we crashed there for free, we saw the city and played this festival. Compared to the Austin standards it was very well organized and planned. The equipment was rented, the drumset didn’t have to be changed between bands, and security, and wristbands…

AA: Wow.

K: And they actually met some awesome Mexican hipsters who came and hung out with us last weekend. We showed them around Austin.

AA: How were you guys received in Mexico?

J: It’s funny ‘cause I had all these stereotypes before I went down there, but they all spoke English, and were wearing David Bowie shirts. Faux hawks and everything.

AJ: What did they think of the music?

J: It was good. I thought we played well, we enjoyed it, we had lots of people talk to us afterwards. We scored a place to stay from it.

AA: Did you talk to anyone about Austin, or about Texas? I mean, people must have impressions of the city.

J: Actually, just as I had no idea what went on in Monterey before I went there, when I tell people about Austin, they don’t have a clue. It’s the language barrier or something.

K: We were shopping on South Congress and they were totally like “this is different then I thought it would be!”

AJ: Even Americans think that. If you don’t live in the Southwest, you think of the whole of Texas as this weird place with guns.

AA: When I first got to Austin I was amazed to see trees!

K: And hills!

J: We’re urbane, evolved human beings…we eat food.

AA: And the alcohol is so plentiful here. You don’t have to be all there, all of the time.

AJ: That’s the best part, I think. You only have to be about 70% on your game at any given time.

J: If you’re all there you’re probably pushing too hard for something. Getting things done. That makes me very suspicious of you.

AA: So what is it that you guys do when you’re not working in theatre, or music?

J: Ride my bike. I’m working on a biker gang. Ridin’ to Barton Springs, jumpin’ in, drinkin’ a beer or two. Ridin’ around some more. Eatin’ some fish tacos downtown.

AA: Where do you eat fish tacos?

J: I went to Wahoos the other day.

AA: So what are some of your favorite places to it in the city?

J: Oh, you should say this one.

K: Huh?

J: You know.

K: What is it? I guess we rotate depending on what side of town we’re on.

J: But you know this one…

K: Oh, oh, Juan in a Million on the East side. We are huge fans. It’s the best breakfast taco you’ll get in the city. It’s huge, and cheap, and Juan is very nice. The Don Juan Taco is the thing to get. It’s my favorite.

AA: We’ve got an editor who has a real problem with breakfast tacos. (To AJ, your dutiful transcriber) Don’t put that in the interview.

Our fingers are tired, so that's the end of part one. Check back next week for our second installment!