A few weeks ago we got the opportunity to talk to Chantel Claret of the band Morningwood. After the jump, find out about their newly released album, how much she loves rollercoasters and what she spent all of high school doing.
How did you come up with the band name?
The band name it was the first phone conversation that Pedro and I had after we had met and two days later he called me and we came up with name Morningwood three hours later.
Do you have any funny experiences from high school?
Well in high school I never made out with one person I went to school with. I only made out with like older guys. I spent most of my high school years sleeping and pretty much every teacher knew where they could find me if I was missing a class. I was sleeping on the couch because I was promoting music when I was like fifteen so I would be out until four in the morning and I would be incredibly hung over and tired the next day.
Who are your main musical influences?
My main musical influences are probably Nina Simone, The Cramps, The Zombies. Any sort of sixties girl groups. I do like The Beatles. There are so many. I like Mozart. I like really bad nineties hip hop and Disney musicals. I have an eclectic taste.
You and Pedro met once and then you decided to write music, was it an instant connection sort of thing?
Yes, I mean, we became fast friends. Then we kind of went to the opposite and were like “eh.. . I don’t know” but yeah we’ve been together eight years so. When I met him I was like a baby, I was nineteen years old and I thought “music? That’s awesome!” and I’ve grown into what I’d like to think of as a woman. I mean I’m married now and he’s gotten older and we’ve developed and our relationship has definitely changed. It’s more work now but it’s definitely more fulfilling.
What do you like to do on your free time?
On my free time I like to swim and play video games and eat sushi and shoot guns and go hiking oddly enough. I also watch a lot of television and spend a lot of time on the internet. I like to make videos too, like stupid v-logs and stuff like that.
You’re playing with The White Tie Affair today. Are you excited, nervous, what’s running through your mind?
I’ve never heard their music but they seem like they should be nice guys so we’ll see. I’m more excited for the event itself because roller coasters and gays are pretty much my two favorite things so put them all together and it should be amazing.
What are your plans for the rest of the year? Anything the fans can look forward to?
Yeah! We’re going on tour starting November 9th with Jet and Papa Roach and Kill Hannah. It’s a crazy combination. It should be fun, it’s all over the US. And obviously our record is coming out October 27th and we should be doing some sort of late night lounge and talk shows and all other sort s of fun stuff. Oh and we have a new website being unveiled this week.
If you could tour with any three bands, dead or alive, which would they be?
I would say The Cramps, Tag Team and Beyonce. That would be a fucking crazy ass show.
Do you think it’s more difficult being in the band when it’s just the two of you? Do you ever get sick of each other?
Yes, we get sick of each other and it’s definitely hard being a twosome especially because Pedro and I are complete opposites. If I say yes he’ll say no. So it’s hard because we always need a tie breaker but in the same regard we both have the best interest in mind eventually. You would think with two people in the group you would get to resolutions faster but no, not at all.
So the new album comes out October 27th. How’s the recording process and are you happy with the final outcome?
I’m ecstatic. I absolutely love the outcome. You know we’ve been working on this record for three years now. We finished recording it last October or December and we just got it mixed recently. So this entire process has been excruciatingly long so to have a final copy with the album artwork and everything and mastered is one of the more fulfilling things that have ever happened. We really believe that the songs are awesome and deserve to be heard. That’s most of the reason why we’re still together because we believe in what we’ve created. It really needs the chance to be enjoyed.
