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November 4, 1999
Carrie Brownstein
By Gerry Belsha
Carrie Brownstein is this era's new guitar hero. Listen to her work with the world's greatest rock & roll band, Sleater-Kinney, and you will hear her stake her claim as the new Gunslinger in town with a guitar attack that could have been spawned by a cross-generational breeding of Pete Townsend and Mick Jones. Check This Out! recently spoke with Brownstein concerning Sleater-Kinney, politics, style, songwriting and living up to fan expectations.
Check This Out!: Do you think that music, any art for that matter, can be a moving force for a person or for a community. Do you and Sleater-Kinney try to provide some type of inspiration for people? Or do you even think that is an obligation of musicians? How does politics enter into the equation?
Carrie Brownstein: I definitely think that music or art can be a moving force for an individual or a community. Whether it is merely a tool of inspiration or a source of enlightenment and information, there is power in art. Sleater-Kinney sets out to inspire people by way of providing a contrast to the cold technologies that we often mistakingly substitute for comfort and consistency. Music is rooted in a very social and community based historical context, and we are interested in using it as a way of bringing people together and connecting with one another. In this way it is a political tool.
Carrie Brownstein - Pete Townsend. Separated at birth?"The tests came back inconclusive" - Carrie Brownstein Brownstein photo by Mary_Jane10
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Get Up With Sleater-Kinney!CTO: Do you think music can be instrumental in making any type of meaningful political changes?
CB: Sometimes. It is very difficult to work within popular culture because you run into boundaries that restrict you from embodying contradictions and the way people consume pop culture (blindly) is not always conducive to political change. However, even though you might have to simplify a very complex idea into an almost sloganistic refrain, there are messages that can get across. Mostly, we try to be political in the choices we make, like working with an independent label, playing benefits, keeping our ticket prices low, etc. We try to address issues in some of our songs, though we don't limit ourselves to those topics.
CTO: Can it be somewhat overwhelming when you see how much some fans put into following and loving Sleater-Kinney? How do you deal with that type of reaction? Do you think it is a major problem when sometimes fans project their own views on what a band should be. Do you find yourself hampered by that?
CB: There is no way to deal with that reaction except to be grateful. In terms of people projecting their own views, that is inevitable. Sometimes it is frustrating trying to get people to understand that we are who we are, whether or not that makes them happy. Sleater-Kinney is Sleater-Kinney is Sleater-Kinney.
CTO: Along the same lines, do you find it frustrating dealing with the mentality that a lot of the followers and fans of independent bands seem to have? Fans seem to try to distance themselves from a band just because they had their video played on MTV twice, at 2 a.m. Fans seem to have a big backlash against Indie bands when they get any type of popularity. To me it looks like you are just trying to make a living. Do you find yourself at odds with that type of thinking and those types of fans?
CB: I can't be bothered by that kind of criticism but I do understand feeling possessive of something and not wanting the entire world to know about it; there is that fear that some of the importance will be lost in the process of expanding.
CTO: Are you able to make a living wage through your music?
CB: Thankfully and luckily, yes.
CTO: How can you relate to your fans on a one-to-one basis? or is that even possible?
CB: I talk to people after the shows. I am always interested in what people's cities are like and what kinds of lives they lead within those places. I try to use our music, especially our live shows, to create an intimate atmosphere, in hopes that that will be a better way of relating to the people.
CTO: Carrie Brownstein - Pete Townsend. Separated at birth?
CB: The tests came back inconclusive.
CTO: How do you go about writing songs. Do you three (Corin, Janet and you) come into practice with songs already pretty much written, or is it a more collaborative effort. Has the process changed at all over the years?
CB: Mostly Corin and I write together and then bring something into Janet. Sometimes I'll write music and Corin will sing over it, sometimes we'll each write a part to a song, it all depends. Janet is great at arranging and giving us suggestions as to what parts we should shorten or make longer. It hasn't changed too much over the years. The addition of Janet was the biggest change.
CTO: Looking back now at The Hot Rock, what do you think about it? What are the things you are most proud of on it and are you disappointed with anything?
CB: I am most proud of the musical puzzle that we created. I think that we pushed ourselves on this record; some of the compositions are a structure that houses two songs. The recording process was too laborious, that is my only complaint
CTO: Why do you think that fans seem to be more at ease with you compared to Corin? People seem to be afraid of Corin. Is it her on stage persona?
CB: I'm not sure why. Corin is literally the nicest and most thoughtful person I know. I think it is the way she sings and how she doesn't say too much between songs; it leaves people wondering. She is also a very private person. I'm the meaner one, more people should steer clear of me.
CTO: Has Sleater-Kinney thought much of recording a cover? As far as I know "More than a feeling" is the only cover song you have recorded.
CB: I want to cover a Led Zeppelin song.
CTO: How do you react when critics label Sleater-Kinney "the greatest rock&roll band in the world." I haven't seen that phrase used since the days of the Clash. Oh, by the way, have you ever thought of covering a Clash song?
CB: I love the Clash but I don't know if we'll do one of their songs. I can't really think about "the greatest band in the world" thing. There are so many great bands.
CTO: How do you picture Sleater-Kinney's next album being different from this one?
CB: ROCK N' ROLL
CTO: How do the side projects that you are involved in help your relationship with Sleater-Kinney, does it hurt the relationship in any way? Do each provide a different kind of satisfaction?
CB: They help to inspire us and to think about songwriting from a different perspective. They are very fun and that is the best part.
CTO: What is on your turntable or in your cd player now?
CB: Satie
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