Silver Starling Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 11th 2010 11:39PM by Angie Rayfield
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The members of Silver Starling have merged a medley of musical experiences to form a unique sound that's almost impossible to place into a neat pigeon-hole. The five-piece band is made up Marcus Paquin, lead singer and main songwriter, drummer Liam O'Neill, and Paquin's wife Marika Anthony-Shaw, who plays violin, viola and keyboard. The band is rounded out by bassist Peter X, and Gab Lambert, who plays guitars and banjo.

On the heels of the release of their self-titled album, Silver Starling is touring, including a trip to SXSW. Marika Anthony-Shaw took time out to visit with Spinner.com.

How would you describe your sound?

Collard greens with wasabi?

How did your band form?

Well, there was a marriage involved. Literally and figuratively. Other than that, we've known each other for a long time and we liked playing together so it worked out.

What are your musical influences?

E. All of the above.

How did you come up with your band name?

We had another name but then it was kind of taken, so we chose Silver Starling, liked the songbird thing. It feels good.

What's your biggest vice?

Is it that I think about food as much as an adolescent boy thinks about sex?

What's in your festival survival kit?

Band-aids and wellies.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Kirk Cameron. Ever notice how I kind of married his lookalike?

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

'Toxic' by Britney Spears.

Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Beatles. Def.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

Nip slip. L.A. 10 a.m. Yowsa!

Was there an 'a-ha' moment when you realized you wanted to be a musician? A moment when you picked up a guitar and said, 'This is it?"

Isn't there always? We still get that, so I guess that's how it works.

So, is it sprinkles on your ice cream, or nuts and whipped cream?

Neither. Home-made caramel. Deelish.

Is there a question that you've always hoped someone would ask in an interview, but never does? And, of course, what's the answer to the question?

The question: would you like to stay at my coastal Spanish villa with a chef and massage therapist to write and record your next album? Answer: Si, señor!

Angie Rayfield is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.