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Yes, Tarzan.
Lyrical and dreamlike, playful and sublime, PANDORA’S BOX
Nu Shooz
Since the ‘80s Day and Smith have both had unique and varied experiences. Day has been performing and recording jazz, and created “Brain Chemistry For Lovers”, a combination concert, cabaret and science lecture that explores the neuroscience of Romantic Love. Smith has been a composer and arranger - scoring indie films and hundreds of commercials.
NU SHOOZ
How do you describe your music to people, John?
We call it Psychefunkalassical. Equal parts Astor Piazolla, Max Steiner, Hendrix/Coltrane/CharlieParker, Debussy, Morton Feldman, the Meters, Booker T and the MG's, The Monkeys and the Strawberry Alarm Clock. But I get bored listening to people listing their influences. My Coltrane is not necessarily your Coltrane.
Tell me about how you originally got into your craft.
I wanted to be a doctor from about age seven. I was going to be a pathologist and sit in a lab with a microscope. That's kind of what I ended up doing. But instead of specimens, I'm slicing up music. Anyway, in tenth grade I walked into the school library and this kid said, 'Hey you. Listen to this.' It was Hendrix playing 'Message to Love
What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Lately I've been trying to imagine my perfect day. It would begin with coffee and brioche, maybe at the Hotel Nikko in Paris. No, they don't have a balcony. I'd read the papers and write a few pages of my book. Then a bike ride in the sun. Then write a few pages of music. Lunch about three followed by afternoon nap. Then I'm ready to rage all night. I move from one thing to the other all day...music, art, literature. It's my secret process. (How do you spell ADD?)
What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
Music is crowded now. There are so many things vying for people's attention, that I think it's rewired our collective conscious. Our attention spans are shorter. So what's the John Smith contrarian response? Make my work longer and more challenging.
When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
Doctor, Scientist, International Spy, War Hero, and maybe Soul Singer. When I think about our new record, Pandora's Box
In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
The Shooz made their first big impact in the clubs in Portland, Oregon. There was a whole community of people our age who came to see us and basically conducted their mating rituals there. We were all the same age, at various places in our twenties, and we were searching for our tribes. The tribe made the whole thing possible, and it's why we're still here talking about it 30 years later.
What other artists out there do you love?
I grew up in Los Angeles during the peak of the Soul Music era, 1965-70, and was very deep into that though I don't listen to that stuff anymore. An animator friend of mine got me thinking about film scoring starting in the mid-70's. I like Max Steiner
What does your future hold?
We have a video being produced by one of the directors at Laika, the company that created the animated movie Coraline.
In a few years someone is going to arrive at my door with one of those giant checks. Then I'm going to Bali. Forever.