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Artist Interviews
Q&A: The Coathangers
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 15 June 2011
With no formal training, all-girl Atlanta four-piece The Coathangers started out with only semi-serious ambitions as a band, playing local parties and mastering their instruments on a strictly need-to-know basis. They released an eponymous debut album in 2007, touring with such musical peers as Mika Miko, Fucked Up, The Strange Boys and Jay Reatard in the interim between this and second full-lengther ‘Scramble’ in 2009.
Latest LP ‘Larceny & Old Lace’, due out on 20 Jun via Suicide Squeeze, was the quartet’s first experience recording in a proper studio. The prolific sessions spent making the album saw the group produce some of their most polished work to date, without sacrificing any of the rambunctious energy of their live shows. Anxious to gather ever more answers to our Same Six Questions, we sought out drummer Stephanie Luke for her contribution to the SSQ archive.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
At first we just wanted to make music together, but none of us had ever played an instrument, so we stole a drum kit from a guy who owed me money, gathered some used gear, and set up shop in Julia [Kugel, guitar/vocals] and Candice’s [Jones, keyboard/vocals] apartment, then we started really writing songs we thought were decent and it kind of grew organically from there.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Saying it’s a “concept album” sounds cheesy, but it kind of is. A lot of the songs are about friends and family that have passed and others are more like stories about both life and death.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
We basically just play around with a riff or a beat or a melody that someone brings to practice, and just fuck around with it until something sticks.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
There’s too many to name! Jeez… Gang Of Four, Bikini Kill, The White Stripes, Circle Jerks, Johnny Cash, Fugazi, to name a few. It’s all across the board really.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
You’re welcome… ha!
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
To tour nonstop and, of course, world domination…
MORE>> myspace.com/fuckthecoathangers
