These Go to 11: interviewing The Hermit Crabs

Here comes another These Go to 11 interview series! This time I'm extremely honoured and happy to have the questionnaire completed by a wonderful musician, Melanie Whittle from the adorable The Hermit Crabs and Baffin Island, two personal favourites that make each of their (too few) releases an indiepop celebration. Enjoy!

Queen of the Indiepop Hermits

Melanie Whittle 
The Hermit Crabs / Baffin Island

After California Snow Story was put on hold, where she played drums, Melanie Whittle formed The Hermit Crabs in 2003. The Glaswegian band (Scottland of course, couldn't be any other way?) have released three flawless EPs to date, all available at the infallible Matinée Records; the debut "Feel Good Factor" (2006), "Correspondence Course" (2008), "Time Relentless" (2012), and one full-length; "Saw You Dancing" (2007). But Mel indiepop talents can also be found on the loveliest transcontinental collaboration ever: Baffin Island, where she joins forces with "our man", Jeremy Jensen, and Jake Hite from The Very Most. Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest
Nena, "99 Red Balloons".

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)  

First: Madness at the age of 13. Last: Scottish proms in the park, Glasgow green

The "other" Michael

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Oo, er….Michael Bublé!?

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Precious to me: Signed copy of Scottish band Win album. Perhaps precious to other people: Signed "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" B&S CD, promo copy of ‘Jonathan David’ by B&S.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours) You told me everything by saying nothing (Bloodbuzzed's note: maybe from Tuxedomoon's "In a Manner of Speaking"?, thanks for that Knut!!)

The real "Deal".

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too) 
I’ve met Kim Deal but would like to meet her again, the guy from Magnetic Fields (Stephen Merrit), Joey Santiago from The Pixies.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Dead Kennedys’ album, "Frankenchrist"

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both)
I know it’s perhaps an indie cliche but I love Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar", it’s so good on so many levels. Also Wally Lamb's "She’s come undone" and Salinger's "Franny and Zooey". Film: John Cassavettes, "A woman under the influence".

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of

"Closet Fan" from "Saw Your Dancing".

10. What’s does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Oh dear, I don’t know, the eternal question. Alternative, shoe-gazing.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Musically Speaking? – playing a bit of everything in a covers band – weddings, barmitzvahs etc. Hopefully playing the violin to a decent standard.

Zillion thanks Mel!