anika in london

She Keeps Bees

Not only should you listen to Sharon Van Etten’s wonderful, beautiful music, you should also listen to her musical tips. What a wise lady. She recommended the music of She Keeps Bees a while ago, and it was definitely worth investigating. She Keeps Bees is made up of Jessica Larrabee, who plays fuzzy guitar and has one of those stunning voices that makes it hard to stop listening, and Andy LaPlant on drums.

Jess kindly answered some questions.

Photo by Allison Green.

What was your first musical instrument and where did you get it?

Drums : ) My dad was a drummer… he taught me when I was about 14. I got to use his beautiful Rogers set.

Do you download music or buy hard copies? Or both?

We buy vinyl more but we also download music.

Favourite music venue to play and why?

Glasslands in Brooklyn – they give back to the community – they have music workshops with neighborhood kids – just all around awesome space – good hearted people

Last book read:

The Mystical Tarot by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Last movie watched:

Planet Earth

5 hopes for 2009:

*Peace |*Environmentally sustainable lifestyles |*More love |*More patience for each other |*More money devoted to the Arts/Music in the US – especially in public schools

Best moment on tour?

Every time we ate the wonderful food people made for us : )

If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be?

India and Japan

Favourite band/singer/album you discovered recently?

Oakland Blues record I found in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It has various west coast blues artists from 1948 – 1957

If you could get any two musicians to collaborate with each other, who would they be and why?

My dad and the late guitarist Danny Gatton- my dad was a badass drummer and should have been collaborating with people who fed his soul.

Prepare to be amazed: