Eli Janney plays keyboards and bass in NYC-based band Girls Against Boys. Their new album, You Can't Fight What You Can't See, is out now on Jade Tree.
Current fixations:
Hmmm, currently addicted to playing with my one-year-old boy named Ryall, trying to understand how he sees the world is the best way to understand things. Also into concentrated coffee.
Mind-altering work of art:
Photographs of Phillip Lorca diCorcia. Mostly set in NYC, these photographs of normal people on the streets are beautiful reminders that everybody is a star, baby!
Most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
Playing in a tent at the Reading Festival for 8,000 rabid, and I mean RABID fans. Much better than the main stage a year later, because you could feel the heat coming off of them as the pogo'd like mad.
What has been your career high and low?
High: proudly finishing our latest album (six albums in ten years) despite mad corporations, disgruntled babies, torrential rain and freezing cold basically the best efforts of nature and man to stop us.
Low: Three years of not making a record by the above forces.
What should everyone shut up about?
How tough they are.
I would drop everything to play a benefit for:
Any need of my friends.
What trait do you like and dislike most about yourself?
like my ever-growing love of making music, despite going through the major label grinder. I dislike my laziness and distractibility (focus!).
What would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed, and have you?
Not knowing how to please yourself and let yourself go in the moment for both cases.
When I think of Canada I think:
Donuts? No, gorgeous women.
What is your vital daily ritual?
Taking a moment to breathe and look at the sky.
How do you spoil yourself?
Walking slowly.
What was your most memorable day job?
Girls Against Boys.
If I wasn't playing music I would be:
Some other type of whore.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing my family.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Speaking any language (I only speak American).
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Almost anything, but mostly rhythmic music and movies.
Music and sex: Is there a difference? Why?
When they are great, they both make me smile for days.
Strangest brush with celebrity:
Listening to Ed Norton tell me how his love with Courtney Love would last forever (I didn't know who he was and thought he was insane).
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
Any major religious figure (Jesus, Allah, etc) I would feed them questions, of course!
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
Visiting more.
Current fixations:
Hmmm, currently addicted to playing with my one-year-old boy named Ryall, trying to understand how he sees the world is the best way to understand things. Also into concentrated coffee.
Mind-altering work of art:
Photographs of Phillip Lorca diCorcia. Mostly set in NYC, these photographs of normal people on the streets are beautiful reminders that everybody is a star, baby!
Most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
Playing in a tent at the Reading Festival for 8,000 rabid, and I mean RABID fans. Much better than the main stage a year later, because you could feel the heat coming off of them as the pogo'd like mad.
What has been your career high and low?
High: proudly finishing our latest album (six albums in ten years) despite mad corporations, disgruntled babies, torrential rain and freezing cold basically the best efforts of nature and man to stop us.
Low: Three years of not making a record by the above forces.
What should everyone shut up about?
How tough they are.
I would drop everything to play a benefit for:
Any need of my friends.
What trait do you like and dislike most about yourself?
like my ever-growing love of making music, despite going through the major label grinder. I dislike my laziness and distractibility (focus!).
What would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed, and have you?
Not knowing how to please yourself and let yourself go in the moment for both cases.
When I think of Canada I think:
Donuts? No, gorgeous women.
What is your vital daily ritual?
Taking a moment to breathe and look at the sky.
How do you spoil yourself?
Walking slowly.
What was your most memorable day job?
Girls Against Boys.
If I wasn't playing music I would be:
Some other type of whore.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing my family.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Speaking any language (I only speak American).
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Almost anything, but mostly rhythmic music and movies.
Music and sex: Is there a difference? Why?
When they are great, they both make me smile for days.
Strangest brush with celebrity:
Listening to Ed Norton tell me how his love with Courtney Love would last forever (I didn't know who he was and thought he was insane).
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
Any major religious figure (Jesus, Allah, etc) I would feed them questions, of course!
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
Visiting more.
