With the release of their sophomore album, Red, on March 24th and lead single ‘Get Over It’ on March 17th (via Polydor), we caught up with Guillemots’ Aristabal Hawkes to pit our 20 Questions against her. Who’d have thought she’d be so open about their rider, has 6 toes and makes weird gurning noises before she goes on stage… You have us to thank…

1. Describe your sound in 3 words.
Illogical, phantasmagorical, multifaceted.
2. What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?
Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane. In Kanes record shop in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
3. What’s the best cure for a hangover?
Kuzu (japanese root powder), Umeboshi (japanese very salty plum) and Ginger stewed for 15mins to make a tea, no joke.
4. What’s on your rider?
Thus far it generally consists of a variety of beverages, corona, wine, JD, innocent smoothies, actimel, ale (for the saxes) and (organic when possible) humous, bread, peppers, onions, cheese, museli, kettle chips, fruit, avacados, mackerel and stuff……..(there you asked for it).
5. How do you get ready for a live show?
By pacing around randomly whooping, aaaaggghhhhhING, shaking my arms, jumping up and down and generally getting very nervous!!! (but that’s all gonna change…)
6. What’s your favourite song to play live?
It depends on the night, place, crowd, sound, venue etc…….but ‘Sao Paulo’ is pretty consistent.
7. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Having people to carry my bass around…..
8. Who would win in a fight, a stoat or a goat and why?
WHAT!? and WHY!?
9. What was the last album you bought?
Saul Williams by Saul Williams (seeing him tonight in fact….at cargo)…
10. If you could rid the world of one song - what would it be?
‘Shaddap You Face’ - Joe Dolce.
11. Who would play you in a film based upon your life?
Jessica Alba or Angelina Jolie. HA HA HA !
12. Dead or alive. What 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?
Hmmm….? I’d definately construct a band of all my favourite jazz-heads something along the lines of Coltrane, Mingus, Reggie Workman, Paul Chambers (gotta have three bass players), Art Blakey, Alice Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. And- Ottis Reading, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Gwen Stefani ….or Lauryn Hill…..(with the Fugees in their early days)…
13. If push comes to shove, what is your all-time favourite album?
I can’t make this decision would have to make a compilation cd……..
14. What’s your most memorable on the road story?
Can’t divulge this information, but it involves Fyfe in his Red suit!
15. If your life flashed before your eyes, what would be the highlights?
Being on my dad’s fishing boat off the West Coast of Canada in the middle of nowhere, watching killer whales, islands, ocean, sky and mountains drift by at 15knots……. being proposed to……. Driving through Africa, playing TOTP……..
16. What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and did you take notice?
To do a course called Being In Action….(www.concordinstitute.com) and Yes I did.
17. If you had to leave a body part to science, what would it be?
My left foot.
18. What’s the best book you’ve read and film you’ve seen in the last 6 months?
The Active Side Of Infinity - Carlos Castenada and Into The Wild directed by Sean Penn.
19. What three things could you not live without?
Music, Food, Love……..
20. Tell us a fact about yourself we probably don’t already know.
I have 6 toes on my left foot…… and struggle to find comfortable shoes, (another one of my guilty pleasures).

Links
Guillemots [myspace] [podcast]