5 Questions with My Brightest Diamond

Wow, we are still wiping the sleep out of our eyes after one long, but incredible night at the Pabst Theater. My Brightest Diamond and Sufjan put on one hell of a bill. Check back here later for a review and photos, but until then check out the interview with My Brightest Diamond’s very own Shara Worden for your 5 Questions with Muzzle of Bees feature.

You’ve been touring with Sufjan Stevens for awhile now on this tour. Any performances or cities that stand out at this point of the tour?

Playing the Ryman in Nashville was incredible. It’s such a historical place. At first I was really afraid of the ghosts, the amazing artists who have played on that stage, but then I realized that history just smiles on you and is happy that music is still being made there. It’s a little bit weird cause it’s part museum, part music venue, but that somehow feels good too.

What music keeps you guys company on the road? Any band(s) or albums you care to recommend?

I just bought the new Justin Timberlake album and we’ve been having dance offs in the tour bus. I bought PJ Harvey’s new dvd for inspiration, Prince’s Purple Rain, because though I have the entire album memorized, I only had the cassette tape! So I decided it was time for me to own my very own cd. And I also picked up the new DJ Shadow album. We are putting out a remix album this winter of Bring Me The Workhorse, so I’ve been wanting to listen to a lot of electronic music to.

You’re about to head back to New York for a few shows before heading to the West Coast. Since you’ve been away for a bit are there any restaurants/places you are looking forward to being at while you are home?

New York is the only place I can find my favorite Japanese dessert, mochi’s!!! Even there, I have to go to the right grocery store to get them and I have several rules of limitation concerning mochi, since I’m slightly addicted. For one, I can’t go out of my way to buy one. Mochi can only be purchased if I “happen” to pass the right grocery store. Anyway, I hope to “happen” to pass one of those shops when I’m home!

The Internet has dramatically altered the way band’s can reach an audience. With things like blogs/myspace/etc, what are your thoughts on the power of the internet in terms of helping your music reach a larger audience?

Me and the internet are cool with each other. I have found some really great artists through my space and am super stoked about the possibilities of connecting with people, of moving beyond commerce and marketing, but as a way of discovering each other. The aspect that I cannot yet reconcile is that I think there is a certain assumption, a sense of entitlement about music, and while its vastly important for us to play records for our friends, it’s also important for artists to be self sustaining. Record sales and internet downloads are the way we survive and continue to make music. So I hope that as things do become continually more accessible, a sense of responsibility develops at the same rate as our bandwidth capacity.

You’ve been a part of Sufjan’s band on previous tours and this one as well. If you had to choose one song of his to play with your group, which song would you choose? Any song of yours that you’d like to hear his take on?

I am a big fan of Sufjan’s work. I think “Demetrius” off of A Sun Came feels very MBD, and I love Sufjan’s new song “Sister Winter” from the Christmas EP. On the flip side, I think “We were Sparkling” would fit Sufjan’s vibe and voice. It reminds me of him sometimes.