Minimalist pop from Texas, Shiny Around The Edges are some of our good pals.

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?

Michael & Jen – Music is such a part of our lives that it is really never turned off in our relationship.  We were both big music fans before we ever started to play together.

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

Michael & Jen – We’ve been playing together so long that this isn’t really an issue.  Romance is separate from the music.

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?

Michael & Jen – If we talked about our household chores in rehearsal, the rest of the band would beat us to death.

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

Michael & Jen – Absolutely.  It’s our favorite thing to do.

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

Michael & Jen – No... only makes it better.

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

Michael & Jen – No, we don’t write songs about our relationship.

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?

Michael & Jen – It’s pretty much a “don’t ask, don’t tell” philosophy with our families concerning our musical lives at this late stage in the game.

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?

Michael & Jen – The relationship.  Sure.

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

Michael & Jen – Our rider always stipulates various and sundry performance enhancers for the five of us.

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

Michael & Jen – Any musical gift is awesome... except for a Stratocaster or a Kenny G compact disc.

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?”

Michael & Jen – Can you say... “Partridge Family?”

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

Michael & Jen – Yes, more so Jen.

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?

Michael & Jen – Our shows are always awesome displays of sonic annihilation...  fill in the blanks however you wish.

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?

Michael & Jen – No... all is equal in Shiny.

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

Michael & Jen – No.  Shiny is all... the Alpha to the Omega... Shiny is everything... the universe is Shiny.

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

Michael & Jen – Pimpin’ ain’t easy, but somebody’s got to do it.

QRD – Any advice for other musician couples?

Michael & Jen – For the love of God, buy a station wagon or a minivan.

Official Shiny Around The Edges Website