SAVAS is like a cross between the B-52’s & The Ramones, really fun & energetic rock music.  Chrissy & Brian play keyboards & guitar (respectively) & are also in another band together called Planet Cock & do DJ work together as well.  Brian McKenzie also is the man behind Electric Bird Noise.

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? 

Chrissy – For Brian & I, it is just a natural thing.  We do have a certain mode that we go into when rehearsing, touring, etc.; but it’s not something that we consciously do.  We make up songs about our cats sometimes, but that’s just goofing around.

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

Chrissy – We had a strong connection before we started seeing each other, which helped us to collaborate within both Planet Cock & SAVAS.  I can’t say that there’s been much musical change in direct correlation to our relationship; we’ve continued to work together just as we did before.  There wasn’t ever this strong shift in dynamics or anything like that.

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? 

Chrissy – This has never really been an issue for us.  I don’t know, the whole notion just seems kind of silly.

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

Chrissy – You’re working on another level with someone who you already have a spiritual connection to & also sharing something that you are both passionate about ? sure it does.

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

Chrissy – No.

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

Chrissy – Neither Brian or I are lyricists, so no.

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? 

Chrissy – We’re both lucky to have extremely supportive families ? I think they are more happy to see us happy than anything. 

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? 

Chrissy – Musical collaboration came first.  I can’t really imagine my life without Brian, much less some musical project. 

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

Chrissy – I guess it depends what it is -- the best gifts are always thoughtful; this applies to music related ones as well.  My melodica was a gift & that was really nice.  I can’t say I’d want to get something like patch cords, ha-ha.

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?” 

Chrissy – We don’t rely on music as a main source of income, so that helps.  Also, we’re not exactly in a rush to start a family or anything like that ? we’ll cross that road when we get there.

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

Chrissy – I can’t exactly play the guitar, so no.  On a similar note though, Brian frequently has me listen to recording projects he’s working on & we bounce around ideas/opinions.

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? 

Chrissy – There’s a definite energy exchange when you play a show ? between you & the band members ? between you & the crowd ? so when you have a good show (or a bad show) everyone feels it.  I think that everyone within the band has their moments of connectivity, including Brian & I. 

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? 

Chrissy – Like in a Sonny & Cher/Ike & Tina kind of way???  Ha-ha.  I don’t know that this really applies to us.  Brian is much more active musically than I am & has been involved in our local music scene for #! years.  Recognition is not an issue.

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

Chrissy – The secret is common sense & respect.  If you’re in a serious, secure relationship this should come naturally.

Something About Vampires And Sluts on MySpace

Other QRD interviews with Brian McKenzie:
Electric Bird Noise Interview (October 2007)