Q: When I asked to interview you both for the blog, you mentioned that you are living in a remote village in Italy. What brought you out there? Is the seclusion conducive to working?
A: A long story involving immigration law (Kate being from England and myself from the United States), the profound unsuitability of England for habitation, and a misappropriation of Spanish words when speaking to Italian real estate agents led directly to the purchase of a ruin in the hills of Liguria.
It is secluded because, after completing the construction of the house back in the 1700s, the local property developer said, “Well, that was a very bad place to put a house. Let’s wait a couple of hundred years and sell it off to some passing foreigners who have no idea what they’re doing and think Italians understand Spanish. Meanwhile, no more houses here, that’s for sure.”
Seclusion is conducive to an unfortunate coming to terms with your basest musical tastes and for acquiring the charming habit of absentmindedly picking non-hair items from hair-covered-areas and chewing on them thoughtfully as if waiting for a pattern to emerge.
Q: What is it like being a collaborative duo? I’m curious how both you and Kate share in the creative process. Could you describe this?
A: We don’t really share in the creative process, per se. We more grab what we can of it and start running away from the other in a manner reminiscent of competing cartoon dogs with a string of sausages.
