True Widow Interview: SXSW 2010

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, the True Widow trio display a knack for delivering languid, morphine-induced melodies dripping with haunting, heartfelt lyrics-- typical attributes of acts conducive to shoegaze noise-rock. At times heavy and menacing and at others a barely audible whisper, the slowcore band can sum up their easy, steady pace of sound with one word alone: "Stonegaze."

Now with a second album in the works, third-year SXSW veterans Dan "D.H." Phillips [guitar/vocals], Nikki Estill [bass/vocals] and Timothy "Slim" Starks [drums] spoke with Spinner about everything from wacky tour run-ins to their must-have SXSW essentials.

How did you guys form the band?

Slim: D.H. was looking to start a new project after moving back to Dallas from Boston. He was having trouble finding a drummer and asked if I would be willing to give it a shot, which surprised me since we both knew I had never played drums in a band before. Then it was just a matter of tracking Nikki down. She had us meet at a local karaoke bar, and we knew she was a keeper.

How would you describe your sound?

Slim: Stonegaze.

Who are your musical influences?

Slim: We're all over the place as far as influences go. We all have our own likes, as well as things we enjoy together. I guess the one thing that brings us all together is tone. We're suckers for great tones!

How did you choose your band name?

Slim: D.H. chose that, and we all thought it fit perfectly. A lot of people think our name is about a spider, but that's not the case. It actually refers to a widow that never remarries, like the notion of longing and loneliness that it stirs up.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Nikki: Coconut water and lipstick.

Slim: Ear plugs, Dr. Pepper and other people's kindness.

D.H.: Patience.

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

Slim: Exploding van windows!

Nikki: Being approached by Fairuza Balk in the bathroom after a show.

D.H.: Lemon bars.

What was the first CD (or cassette tape) you ever bought?

D.H.: Run-DMC.

Slim: Led Zeppelin's 'III.'

Nikki: 'True Blue' by Madonna.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Slim: Raquel Welch in 'One Million Years B.C.' and Jane Fonda in 'Barbarella.'
D.H.: Divine.
Nikki: I used to pretend Michael Jackson was my boyfriend when I was 5 years old. I must have known even then.

What's your guiltiest pleasure?

Nikki: Cheese fries and Miley Cyrus.

Slim: 'America's Best Dance Crew' and 'America's Next Top Model.'

D.H.: Television in general.


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