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QRD #36 - Valentine's Special - February 2008
about this issue
xo #3 - first time
Brian Hearts Katherine
complaints about humans - part 3
Valentine's Interviews with:
Abiku
All in the Golden Afternoon
The Backsliders
Book of Shadows
California Oranges
Dramady
Grappling Hook
Here Comes Everybody
List of Likes
Low 
Lycia
My Glass Beside Yours
Myotis
Northern Valentine
Paris Luna
Rolla
Rollerball
Something About Vampires&Sluts
Shiny Around the Edges
Silk Stocking
The Wades
Windy & Carl
The Winter Sounds
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Valentine's Interview with The Backsliders
February 2008

The Backsliders are blues band based in Texas.

QRD – How do you turn music mode on & off in your relationship with each other?  Or do you find yourself pretty constantly collaborating on music even if it’s songs about cooking? 

Kim – We don’t & we’ve never written about cooking... yet.

Chris – We collaborate in all aspects of our life, there is no line between the personal & the musical.

QRD – How has your music changed by having someone you’re romantically involved with working with you? 

Kim – The object knows who he is.

Chris – It is the best thing that happened to me.  I mean, talk about having things in common.

QRD – How do you keep things professional rather than getting personal in the band?  Like not letting being upset that someone’s not doing their house chores spill into band practice?

Kim – We are not professional & the band must put up with the fact that I do not do housework.

Chris – My wife does not do housework because she is hot.

QRD – Do you think working musically together increases the strength of your relationship?

Kim – Yes.

Chris – It sure makes for a lot of togetherness.

QRD – Do you think the music ever suffers because of your relationship? 

Kim – Nope.

Chris – How could it?  We write & rehearse together constantly.

QRD – Being in a romantic couple, do you try to curb lyrical content to or away from things in your relationship?

Kim – To.

Chris – There is no separation between our art & our life.

QRD – A lot of families kind of look down on musicians as immature, do you find that going out with another musician has eased relationships with your parents or in-laws? 

Kim – It’s up to them - they don’t really have a choice.

Chris – Our families gave up on any dream of us quitting music a long time ago.

QRD – Which came first the musical collaboration or the relationship & do you feel that at this point that you could have one without the other? 

Kim – We met in a band so music was first & no.

Chris – We met playing music & I don’t think I could live without either now.

QRD – How do things work with band members besides the two of you to get the same level of connectivity while playing your music? 

Kim – Work with good players.

Chris – I think they do, we respect certain boundaries.  No french kissing or fist fights at rehearsal.

QRD – Do you find music related gifts to be romantic or more like giving someone an appliance? 

Kim – Both.

Chris – The most romantic gift is the gift of song.  I wrote the lyrics for “Wedding Day” from our new album as a proclamation of my love for her.  Everybody is a sucker for that shit.

QRD – The musician life style has an inherent lack of financial security & healthcare.  Do you find yourself thinking, “How can we start a family & continue our musical careers?” 

Kim – We’ll find a way.

Chris – We already have three kids so it is a little late for that.

QRD – Do you ever switch off instruments to give each other ideas? 

Kim – No.

Chris – No.

QRD – A lot of people say they feel most spiritually connected to another person is when they’re on stage & the set is working.  Is this what you find & how does this energy flow into your romantic relationship? 

Kim – Good show, good night.  Bad show, oh well.…

Chris – Yeah, a good show makes us hot, is that what you wanted to hear?  A bad show gets a little Sid & Nancy.

QRD – Some couples start to get seen as a unit with one member as dominant.  Do you ever want to get one of you more recognition? 

Kim – Chris is dominant so I stand center stage.

Chris – Kim is the star.

QRD – Do you feel a need to have separate projects where you just work on your own? 

Kim – No.

Chris – No.

QRD – Musicians often run into fans with crushes, is their a secret to recognizing when something is getting inappropriate instead of being band promoting? 

Kim – It’s no secret.  So far, no problems.

Chris – I assume every one who talks to her wants to try & fuck her, but I trust my wife & give her space.

QRD – Any advice for other musician couples? 

Kim – Hell no - good luck!

Chris – Keep it pro, get a good sitter, & keep it clean.

Links:
Official The Backsliders Website
The Backsliders on MySpace

Other QRD interviews with THe BAcksliders:
Father's Day Interview with Chris Bonner of THe BAcksliders