Boy do we have something special for you today! I’m putting my normal music drivel on hold for this week, because as you can already guess by the title of this post, I have had the opportunity to interview an extremely talented musician who goes by the name of Nicole Atkins. If you don’t already know her you are in for a treat. Along with this interview, Nicole has provided us with a song off of her new EP, entitled Nicole Atkins Digs Other People’s Songs. The song is a cover of “Under the Milky Way”, which was originally done by an Australian band called The Church. So here is the interview, I hope you enjoy:

Middle Distance Runner: To me, your music seems very dramatic and emotional. How important is emotion to you in the music you make?

Nicole Atkins: Extremely important. It’s really the biggest reason I write songs. To try to work through different emotions in life. Also, I like my songs to feel like mini movies. I try to not just sing about a situation or a place but also try to get (to) the listener about what it feels like to be in it or there.

MDR: When did you realize that being a musician is what you wanted to do with your life?

NA: When I was in art college and realized that I had way more songs and gigs than paintings.

MDR: If you could have any other job besides being a musician what would it be?

NA: Maybe an illustrator for science or medical journals, or an owner of a music venue.

MDR: Who has been the most influential person in your career as musician?

NA: Probably most of my family. They have always been really supportive and have all of these great tragic yet humorously dark stories that make good fodder for songs.

MDR: If you could sing a duet with anyone dead or alive who would it be?

NA: Definitely Roy Orbison or Edith Piaf

MDR: I love your song “Neptune City”. What is it about?

NA: The first half is about my mom’s little brother Dom that passed away when he was little. Its about him looking down on his funeral procession and realizing he can’t go home again. Then the second half is about me. I just moved back to Neptune City after living in NYC and was frustrated by being there and just saying that maybe if I could just learn to appreciate how pretty the river is and shit that I could love it there again.

MDR: Who is funnier in person? David Letterman or Conan O’Brien?

NA: They were both pretty damn funny! Draw!

MDR: What was it like to perform on those shows?

NA: It was really awesome. Super fun. We met so many cool people too, like Dennis Hopper and Slash. Playing on shows like that definitely makes you take a step back and just say “wow, how did i get here?!”

MDR: I hear you are a big fan of David Lynch. What is your favourite of his films?

NA: I always switch between Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive. He is the master of the haunt.

MDR: What is your favourite city to play in?

NA: Austin, Texas for sure. Great people, music scene and food. Can’t beat it.

MDR: Do you have any superstitions or rituals you perform before playing a show?

NA: A little warming up and a little Jameson.

MDR: What was the most memorable show that you have played?

NA: Off the top of my head it would be our set at Bonnaroo. It was the second time we ever played a festival and had a pretty good slot. Just having a bigger stage and a bigger crowd I had so much fun playing I almost cried. A couple times during the set I just couldn’t stop laughing too it was just such intense fun.

MDR: Finally, Are you a fan of any of the artists that have contributed to the Yellow Bird Project?

NA: I am! Big fan of The National, Devendra, The Shins and The New Pornographers. I actually just sang backup on Carl Newman’s new solo record that comes out this month.

So there you have it, Nicole Atkins has great taste in music! I just want to thank Nicole again for doing this, we loved her answers. You should all go out to see her play live. She has a few upcoming dates…take a look:

11/05/2008 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live

11/07/2008 - Washington, D.C. - The Rock and Roll Hotel

11/08/2008 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theater

11/13/2008 - Cambridge, MA - T.T. The Bears

11/14/2008 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

11/26/2008 - Ashbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony

And here is that delightful little cover that I promised you:

Nicole Atkins - Under The Milky Way

Until next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner

We appeared today on the Teenage Cancer Trust website, after they’ve announced that we’ve reached a donation level of £2500 (equivalent to $4468.5). Whoop Whoop!!!

To know a little bit more about the Teenage Cancer Trust, here is a synopsis from their website:

‘Each day in the UK, 6 teenagers will find out they have cancer – that is over 2,000 diagnoses a year. Many of these patients will be treated in hospital wards with either very young children or the elderly. Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) is working to make life better for these young people by providing specially designed wards in NHS Hospitals, which are boosting survival rates.

While medical facilities on the units are second-to-none, the units are also funky and vibrant – equipped with computers, TVs, music equipment, game consoles and facilities for parents to stay close by overnight. They are places where both friends and family can feel comfortable and relaxed and patients can enjoy the fellowship and support of people their own age’.

Go ahead and buy a Devendra Banhart, or Wolfmother t-shirt, and support this great cause. And, to know exactly where your money is going, here is a list of things that we’re able to provide these patients with, all with the help of your donations:

£1,000 An entire collection of computer games, books, CDs, DVDs for a unit
£1,000 A Music centre or flat screen TV for the chill-out zone
£1,000 A Sofa Bed for the Parents Room so family can stay overnight
£1,000 Sponsor 2 teenagers to attend ‘Find Your Sense of Tumour Conference
£800  A Computer
£500  A Pool Table
£500 Fridge, microwave, cutlery, crockery, and glassware for parent’s room so family and teenagers can prepare their own food
£100  Computer Desk
£100  Duvets and Pillows for a patient’s bedroom
£100  Microwave

To read today’s article on YBP from the TCT website, click here.

It all started on a fateful rainy day in Montreal. It was the summer of 2006, and YBP had just launched itself at the Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal. We were there to sell t-shirts, and to unleash YBP onto the people of our home town, but we were also there two support two of our YBP contributors who were performing that weekend - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and Joseph Arthur. In the background, we heard a sound that was all too familiar; the genius indie folk ballads of The Magic Numbers. At the time they already had huge success and big respect in the UK, but they were only just beginning to pave their way into North America with a cross country tour in support of The Flaming Lips.  

After their set, sibling pair Romeo (Guitar, Lead Vocals) & Michele (Bass) Stodart decided to take a walk around Park Jean Drapeau, to meet the people and enjoy a cheeky beverage. We lured them into our booth, explained our concept, and told them that we would love for them to be be a part of our  project as well. Well, Romeo bought three t-shirts - can you guess which ones..? They then told us that they would definitely be in touch. Well, here we are now presenting to you this amazing design, created by their brother, Mark Stodart, who is a very talented visual artist. Their design is printed onto a black organic cotton American Apparel tee, with silver ink. It’s available in all sizes (men & women).

A special thanks goes out to Michele, for helping us get this together. The Magic Numbers have chosen to donate all of the profits from the sale of this t-shirt to the AIDS Society - a cause which Michele explained is really important to the band.

The banner on the front page of our website was drawn for us by Andy J. Miller. To see it properly - in full size - click here.

>> To buy this fabulous t-shirt, click here.

Oh, and P.S. If you’re interested in knowing which YBP shirts Romeo bought from our booth, the answer is: King Creosote, Devendra Banhart, and Stars.

 >> MP3: The Magic Numbers - Goodnight

Another response to the question we asked.

I just bought my first ybp tshirt about a month ago and was thrilled when i finally got it in the mail. Wearing this shirt means that i will get asked a lot of questions… What’s on the front? Who is Devendra Banhart? what the hell is the Yellow Bird Project? I feel confident in answering these questions since I adore Devendra’s artwork and love explaining that the cost of this shirt went directly to charity, there was no profit made. buying shirts from the ybp is guilt-free since i choose to shop responsibly and love giving back whenever i can… Especially if the reward is a ybp tshirt! thank you for your wonderful artists and wide veriety of screen-print tshirts. The Yellow Bird Project is the most refreshing idea i have heard of in a long time.

Erin (Proud Owner of a Devendra Tee)

Good Day Yellow Birds,

The Polaris Music Prize list of nominees has been rounded down to 10 finalists! I don’t know why I get so excited about this Prize but I really love it. I guess it’s like the Oscars, but for Canadian music. In case you didn’t know, the Polaris Music Prize is awarded annually to the best Canadian album, based purely on artistic merit, and not taking into account album sales or radio play. The winner is awarded 20,000 Canadian dollars. This is the third year of the award. The first one went to Final Fantasy’s He Poos Clouds and last year’s prize went to Patrick Watson’s (or as i call him, P-Wat) Close to Paradise. Two great albums if you ask me. This year, the long list, which contained the likes of Tegan & Sara, Born Ruffians, Islands, the New Pornographers, Hayden and the Acorn, has been rounded down to a list of just 10. There is now only one yellow bird artist remaining in the running!

The nominees for outstanding performance in the land of snow and ice are:

Black Mountain - In The Future (Vancouver, BC)
http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain

Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling (London, ON)
http://www.myspace.com/basiamyspace

Caribou - Andorra (Dundas, ON)
http://www.myspace.com/cariboumanitoba

Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers (Ottawa, ON)
http://www.myspace.com/kathleenedwards

Holy Fuck - LP (Toronto, ON)
http://www.myspace.com/holyfuck

Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue (Montreal, QC)
http://www.myspace.com/plantsandanimals

Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War (Montreal, QC)
http://www.myspace.com/stars

Shad - The Old Prince (London, ON)
http://www.myspace.com/shad

Two Hours Traffic - Little Jabs (Charlottetown, PE)
http://www.myspace.com/twohourstraffic

The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour (Winnipeg, MB)
http://www.myspace.com/theweakerthans

I’m rooting for Basia, Plants & Animals, Caribou or Stars. Who do you think is gonna take it?

On a side note…

Have you seen what Devendra Banhart and Natalie Portman (or as I call them Natavendra) have been up to?

Wild!

Untill next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner