The momentous tri-city electronic band, Salem, needs little introduction. On the heels of a delirious weekend spent igniting crowds left and right in New York City with their melancholic juke anthems (at both The Knitting Factory and the gilded underground venue China Chalet), I took some prescriptive cues from duo vocalists John Holland and Heather Marlatt via mobile phone, just as real-time news trickled in about Michael Jackson’s death on Twitter.
Can you recommend…
…three new bands? John Holland: DJ Nate, Lord Infamous, Remy Ma Heather Marlatt: DJ Young Red, DJ Zay
…three old bands? John Holland: Clara Rockmore, Pearl, Nina Simone Heather Marlatt: Corrupted, Sleep, Earth
…a record label? Heather Marlatt: Our label, Merok Records.
…a website? Heather Marlatt:AIDS-3D.com John Holland: Heather’s Flickr
…a film? John Holland:Three Women Heather Marlatt:Paris, Texas or anything by Wim Wenders
…a book? John Holland:Short Stories by Flannery O’Connor Heather Marlatt:The Book of the Hopi by Frank Waters
…something on YouTube? Heather Marlatt: A video Jack made.
…a radio show? John Holland: I don’t listen to the radio. Heather Marlatt: Hearing Voices on NPR.
…something to do on a day off? John Holland: Go to the ocean. Heather Marlatt: Go to the lake.
…a song everyone should hear? John Holland: “Superstar” by The Carpenters. Heather Marlatt: Prelude No. 4 in E Minor by Chopin.
…how to cope with the incredible loss of Michael Jackson? Heather Marlatt: I think he is happier now.
