The last time SuicideGirls interviewed Chantal Claret, her band Morningwood was one week away from releasing its self-titled debut on major label Capitol Records in 2006. Her excitement crackled through the phone line as she told Auren Suicide about how a New York girl who dropped out of film school to start a band suddenly found herself one of the most electric, captivating women in rock.
It has been a few whirlwind years of non-stop globetrotting and Morningwood is back. Now, with the release of a new Morningwood EP and full-length album on the way, SuicideGirls invited the self-proclaimed Mae West of rock and roll to come hang at SGHQ to chat about their highly anticipated EP, the hilarious and innovative video for Morningwoods new single Sugarbaby (complete with a puppet crafted in Chantals likeness), and what its like being one of David Lettermans favorite bands.
Check out the dirty version of the Sugarbaby video after the interview.
Erin Broadley: Congrats on the new Morningwood EP. How have things been going with the release?
Chantal Claret: Awesome! Its the most not-set-up EP ever released. All this stuff started picking up MTV got the video and started loving it. So when that all happened, the labels just like, Lets put this EP out so people can download it [since] all this stuff is happening. Its not supposed to be big numbers, big release; its supposed to be a slow build. But everybodys loving on it. Build some excitement for the full length, which were going to record pretty soon. The response is incredible. I think we have a great song and a great video that goes with it so people are super excited.
EB: It is a great video and James W. Wojtal Jr. from the Jim Hensen Studio made the puppet, right?
CC: Yeah, James W. Wojtal Jr. He used to work for Hensen and he also worked on the puppets for Avenue Q. hes amazing.
EB: Was it a dream to have a puppet made in your likeness?
CC: I did not know that I wanted a puppet of myself until I saw it. I put it on my fantasy list right then when I saw it and checked it right off.
EB: Did you get to keep it?
CC: Its totally sitting in my house. I open up the closet and Im like, Hi how are you? Kiss, kiss, kiss. When we went and did MTV, James [Mindless Self Indulgences Jimmy Urine, Clarets husband] was operating the puppet and none of them know MSI so it was like puppet guy! We live totally parallel; hes totally underground.
EB: Underground, sure, but every time Ive seen MSI its crowd hysteria and sold out beyond belief. They have people that follow them on tour.
CC: Yeah but they cant get arrested on MTV. Its crazy. So he came to MTV and they were like, Whos going to work the puppet? when we were filming and I was like, He will! So theyre like, Ok puppet guy! [Laughs] It was so funny. [Laughs] So awesome. Theres a picture of him on MTV but hes just on there as like puppet man. Were totally polar opposites of what our bands are good at he has cult following stuff and were in commercials and get the MTV treatment and radio stuff.
EB: Is it tough being in a relationship with someone whos also an entertainer?
CC: No, its great. We manage to see each other a lot more than we thought we would. I dont know what its going to be like when my band starts touring but, as of now, Ive been able to see him a lot, go out with him, its amazing. I wouldnt want it any other way. Ultimately were both going to have to find new professions when we want to have kids because we dont want to be touring. You dont want to go into labor on a tour bus. That is totally not my idea. Unless one of us is super successful and we can afford to live that way, you cant really do that. Were at some point going to have to look for new jobs where they can keep us together and at home, which will be a sad day for everyone, but a happy day for us.
EB: Lets talk about the making of the Sugarbaby video. Do you usually come up with the video concepts yourself? Because I know you went to film school.
CC: Yeah. Adam Neustadter, the guy we made our three videos with, we collaborate with him. We get so many treatments and theyre so shitty.
EB: New York Girls was hilarious. Those dogs
CC: [Laughs] Oh thank you! That one I did because I was so bored and restless, like, I just want dogs! Cute dogs, theres nothing more I love. I want dogs humping. And I want subtitles. With Adam its great to work with him because were so used to getting all these horrible treatments like, youre in a grey room ,in an abandoned house, playing with each other. I just saw a video like that the other day and it was the stupidest thing.
EB: Yeah, why are houses always crumbling around bands?
CC: Exactly. Its repulsive. With the Jetsetter video we came up with the treatment together. Nth Degree was his idea but we came up with all the album covers. Sugarbaby was definitely a brainchild of ours.
EB: Theyre all very creative videos.
CC: Its great having somebody you can work with, that you trust theyre going to take what you want and make it come to fruition, which is what his specialty is. Hes so great to collaborate with. After we come up with the idea, I can just sort of walk away and know its going to come out looking amazing. I hate performance videos. Its boring. You have an opportunity to introduce yourselves as people and characters.
EB: And bring out the personality!
CC: Exactly. Its like the Beatles; they were masters of that. A Hard Days Night is basically a glorified music video where theyre just running around and you get to know each one of them. To me, for most bands [the video] is a huge wasted opportunity. You have an opportunity to tell a story and endear yourselves to people and become a character. Bands dont seize that at all.
EB: Well, I think the puppet thing is pretty good. Seeing a puppet doing lines of coke is hilarious. Watching a normal person do lines of coke, not so much.
CC: [Laughs] Well, originally the song is a really straight story and theres no way to get away from that unless it totally doesnt have anything to do with the song. I always like it when videos go with the song and tell the story or relate to it somehow. Since its such a straight song you need it to be story-based. Originally we were talking about having it be an actress but thats so clich. We were like, This is so boring, what do we want to do? Adam and I were talking and one of us said puppet and it was like, Bingo! Who doesnt want to see a puppet? Then we can do anything; we can be as straight as we want with the story and its still going to be funny. The more dramatic the puppet is, the funnier it is. Shes a sugar baby.
EB: The songs that are on the EP, are these old songs that were unfinished that you reworked or is it completely brand new material?
CC: These are all brand spankin new songs that weve been writing for the past year and a half. So we have a full record ready to be made but these are the first four that we decided to release. Theres no real theme to them except that theyre awesome. Awesomeness is the theme of this EP.
EB: Isnt that always your theme? [Laughs]
CC: Yeah, pretty much. We try and remain consistent. People say were a one trick pony of awesomeness. And thats fine with me. Ill be awesome til the day I die.
EB: Like, How do you describe your sound? You say, Awesome.
[Laughs] Yeah, thats what Im going to say from here on out. The new one that I came up with was, we like music that sounds like huge and that can be played in stadiums, and also in strip clubs. We try and fuse those together. I think weve done a good job.
EB: Stadium strip rock. What are some of the most pleasant experiences youve had with Morningwood fans?
CC: All of them are pretty pleasant. Most recently, we just played the Bust Magazine 15th anniversary party a couple days ago and Ive stopped making out with people for Take Off Your Clothes. My husband stopped making out with his fans. I stopped making out with boys, but Im still allowed to make out with girls. So it was the first time Ive had another set of lips touch mine since I got married.
EB: [Laughs] Just another day at the office
CC: It really is. Its pretty funny.
EB: But its not like youre the one taking off your shirt during that performance.
CC: No, and thats a common misnomer. Not once have I, ever. And that pisses me off so much in interviews when people are like, She gets naked on stage Not once have I ever gotten naked.
EB: Dont you think thats one of the biggest misconceptions about a persona thats sexual on stage or is flirty, especially a woman. Its so commonly misconstrued as meaning that if you give yourself to the public in that way then you must give it away all the time.
CC: Its interesting. Not to get philosophical about it, but for me its feminist in a way because youre having these two alternate female perceptions, like a man could never do what I do for Take Off Your Clothes on stage. He would be lambasted. Like, how dare he. But the fact that Im a woman doing it, it shows a strong woman and not a weak woman. Its a power thing and its interesting. Youre not degrading women because Im a woman doing it, and then in the same regard Im sort of worshipping these women. Afterwards Im like, Oh this is the most beautiful woman. Thank you so much for bringing her on stage. Its a really interesting dichotomy whats going on, on stage, which I love.
EB: You used to have an advice column in Alternative Press Magazine, you had a radio show, and then you and James did a YouTube Blogmitzvah advice series. What do you like about giving advice to people? How did you become an advice queen?
CC: I think its some Jewish Yenta shit going on because I dont even know. Ive always given advice to friends but its never been a conscious thing. But people just started e-mailing me all these questions. I guess the feel like they can talk to me when they dont know where to turn. I get questions once a week about like, Should I take the morning after pill? I just had unprotected sex. Its amazing. Obviously Im not necessarily always right or wrong but its my advice. Its what I can give. The fact that people like it and respect it and need somewhere to turn, I will happily do it as long as I can.
EB: What can we expect on the next record?
CC: Im so psyched. We dont have a title. Titles are always the hardest part for us; thats why our first one is self-titled. We liked Sugarbaby because its a great term and we wanted it to all go with the artwork that we were thinking. But if its not sticking out to you in your head then whats the point of forcing something? Thats like making something be a concept record when its not. Why? You could have just had it be a record.
EB: Whatever it is, youre going to have to live with it.
CC: Exactly. Peoples first impression of you is the title of the album. Its like naming a kid, you know. Thats hard to do. I want to call it the Immaculate Misconception of Morningwood.
EB: So you guys are playing David Letterman coming up?
CC: Yeah, September 24th. Apparently were one of his favorite bands! Thats amazing. Thats one of the coolest things Ive ever heard. He had us play his Halloween show a couple years ago when he could have had anybody. We got all dressed up. They wanted first dibs on us performing so were doing it on the 24th and Im happy to be going back.
The new digital Morningwood EP is available now via Capitol Records. Get it here. And for more information on the band go to www.morningwoodrocks.com
"Sugarbaby" Video:
It has been a few whirlwind years of non-stop globetrotting and Morningwood is back. Now, with the release of a new Morningwood EP and full-length album on the way, SuicideGirls invited the self-proclaimed Mae West of rock and roll to come hang at SGHQ to chat about their highly anticipated EP, the hilarious and innovative video for Morningwoods new single Sugarbaby (complete with a puppet crafted in Chantals likeness), and what its like being one of David Lettermans favorite bands.
Check out the dirty version of the Sugarbaby video after the interview.
Erin Broadley: Congrats on the new Morningwood EP. How have things been going with the release?
Chantal Claret: Awesome! Its the most not-set-up EP ever released. All this stuff started picking up MTV got the video and started loving it. So when that all happened, the labels just like, Lets put this EP out so people can download it [since] all this stuff is happening. Its not supposed to be big numbers, big release; its supposed to be a slow build. But everybodys loving on it. Build some excitement for the full length, which were going to record pretty soon. The response is incredible. I think we have a great song and a great video that goes with it so people are super excited.
EB: It is a great video and James W. Wojtal Jr. from the Jim Hensen Studio made the puppet, right?
CC: Yeah, James W. Wojtal Jr. He used to work for Hensen and he also worked on the puppets for Avenue Q. hes amazing.
EB: Was it a dream to have a puppet made in your likeness?
CC: I did not know that I wanted a puppet of myself until I saw it. I put it on my fantasy list right then when I saw it and checked it right off.
EB: Did you get to keep it?
CC: Its totally sitting in my house. I open up the closet and Im like, Hi how are you? Kiss, kiss, kiss. When we went and did MTV, James [Mindless Self Indulgences Jimmy Urine, Clarets husband] was operating the puppet and none of them know MSI so it was like puppet guy! We live totally parallel; hes totally underground.
EB: Underground, sure, but every time Ive seen MSI its crowd hysteria and sold out beyond belief. They have people that follow them on tour.
CC: Yeah but they cant get arrested on MTV. Its crazy. So he came to MTV and they were like, Whos going to work the puppet? when we were filming and I was like, He will! So theyre like, Ok puppet guy! [Laughs] It was so funny. [Laughs] So awesome. Theres a picture of him on MTV but hes just on there as like puppet man. Were totally polar opposites of what our bands are good at he has cult following stuff and were in commercials and get the MTV treatment and radio stuff.
EB: Is it tough being in a relationship with someone whos also an entertainer?
CC: No, its great. We manage to see each other a lot more than we thought we would. I dont know what its going to be like when my band starts touring but, as of now, Ive been able to see him a lot, go out with him, its amazing. I wouldnt want it any other way. Ultimately were both going to have to find new professions when we want to have kids because we dont want to be touring. You dont want to go into labor on a tour bus. That is totally not my idea. Unless one of us is super successful and we can afford to live that way, you cant really do that. Were at some point going to have to look for new jobs where they can keep us together and at home, which will be a sad day for everyone, but a happy day for us.
EB: Lets talk about the making of the Sugarbaby video. Do you usually come up with the video concepts yourself? Because I know you went to film school.
CC: Yeah. Adam Neustadter, the guy we made our three videos with, we collaborate with him. We get so many treatments and theyre so shitty.
EB: New York Girls was hilarious. Those dogs
CC: [Laughs] Oh thank you! That one I did because I was so bored and restless, like, I just want dogs! Cute dogs, theres nothing more I love. I want dogs humping. And I want subtitles. With Adam its great to work with him because were so used to getting all these horrible treatments like, youre in a grey room ,in an abandoned house, playing with each other. I just saw a video like that the other day and it was the stupidest thing.
EB: Yeah, why are houses always crumbling around bands?
CC: Exactly. Its repulsive. With the Jetsetter video we came up with the treatment together. Nth Degree was his idea but we came up with all the album covers. Sugarbaby was definitely a brainchild of ours.
EB: Theyre all very creative videos.
CC: Its great having somebody you can work with, that you trust theyre going to take what you want and make it come to fruition, which is what his specialty is. Hes so great to collaborate with. After we come up with the idea, I can just sort of walk away and know its going to come out looking amazing. I hate performance videos. Its boring. You have an opportunity to introduce yourselves as people and characters.
EB: And bring out the personality!
CC: Exactly. Its like the Beatles; they were masters of that. A Hard Days Night is basically a glorified music video where theyre just running around and you get to know each one of them. To me, for most bands [the video] is a huge wasted opportunity. You have an opportunity to tell a story and endear yourselves to people and become a character. Bands dont seize that at all.
EB: Well, I think the puppet thing is pretty good. Seeing a puppet doing lines of coke is hilarious. Watching a normal person do lines of coke, not so much.
CC: [Laughs] Well, originally the song is a really straight story and theres no way to get away from that unless it totally doesnt have anything to do with the song. I always like it when videos go with the song and tell the story or relate to it somehow. Since its such a straight song you need it to be story-based. Originally we were talking about having it be an actress but thats so clich. We were like, This is so boring, what do we want to do? Adam and I were talking and one of us said puppet and it was like, Bingo! Who doesnt want to see a puppet? Then we can do anything; we can be as straight as we want with the story and its still going to be funny. The more dramatic the puppet is, the funnier it is. Shes a sugar baby.
EB: The songs that are on the EP, are these old songs that were unfinished that you reworked or is it completely brand new material?
CC: These are all brand spankin new songs that weve been writing for the past year and a half. So we have a full record ready to be made but these are the first four that we decided to release. Theres no real theme to them except that theyre awesome. Awesomeness is the theme of this EP.
EB: Isnt that always your theme? [Laughs]
CC: Yeah, pretty much. We try and remain consistent. People say were a one trick pony of awesomeness. And thats fine with me. Ill be awesome til the day I die.
EB: Like, How do you describe your sound? You say, Awesome.
[Laughs] Yeah, thats what Im going to say from here on out. The new one that I came up with was, we like music that sounds like huge and that can be played in stadiums, and also in strip clubs. We try and fuse those together. I think weve done a good job.
EB: Stadium strip rock. What are some of the most pleasant experiences youve had with Morningwood fans?
CC: All of them are pretty pleasant. Most recently, we just played the Bust Magazine 15th anniversary party a couple days ago and Ive stopped making out with people for Take Off Your Clothes. My husband stopped making out with his fans. I stopped making out with boys, but Im still allowed to make out with girls. So it was the first time Ive had another set of lips touch mine since I got married.
EB: [Laughs] Just another day at the office
CC: It really is. Its pretty funny.
EB: But its not like youre the one taking off your shirt during that performance.
CC: No, and thats a common misnomer. Not once have I, ever. And that pisses me off so much in interviews when people are like, She gets naked on stage Not once have I ever gotten naked.
EB: Dont you think thats one of the biggest misconceptions about a persona thats sexual on stage or is flirty, especially a woman. Its so commonly misconstrued as meaning that if you give yourself to the public in that way then you must give it away all the time.
CC: Its interesting. Not to get philosophical about it, but for me its feminist in a way because youre having these two alternate female perceptions, like a man could never do what I do for Take Off Your Clothes on stage. He would be lambasted. Like, how dare he. But the fact that Im a woman doing it, it shows a strong woman and not a weak woman. Its a power thing and its interesting. Youre not degrading women because Im a woman doing it, and then in the same regard Im sort of worshipping these women. Afterwards Im like, Oh this is the most beautiful woman. Thank you so much for bringing her on stage. Its a really interesting dichotomy whats going on, on stage, which I love.
EB: You used to have an advice column in Alternative Press Magazine, you had a radio show, and then you and James did a YouTube Blogmitzvah advice series. What do you like about giving advice to people? How did you become an advice queen?
CC: I think its some Jewish Yenta shit going on because I dont even know. Ive always given advice to friends but its never been a conscious thing. But people just started e-mailing me all these questions. I guess the feel like they can talk to me when they dont know where to turn. I get questions once a week about like, Should I take the morning after pill? I just had unprotected sex. Its amazing. Obviously Im not necessarily always right or wrong but its my advice. Its what I can give. The fact that people like it and respect it and need somewhere to turn, I will happily do it as long as I can.
EB: What can we expect on the next record?
CC: Im so psyched. We dont have a title. Titles are always the hardest part for us; thats why our first one is self-titled. We liked Sugarbaby because its a great term and we wanted it to all go with the artwork that we were thinking. But if its not sticking out to you in your head then whats the point of forcing something? Thats like making something be a concept record when its not. Why? You could have just had it be a record.
EB: Whatever it is, youre going to have to live with it.
CC: Exactly. Peoples first impression of you is the title of the album. Its like naming a kid, you know. Thats hard to do. I want to call it the Immaculate Misconception of Morningwood.
EB: So you guys are playing David Letterman coming up?
CC: Yeah, September 24th. Apparently were one of his favorite bands! Thats amazing. Thats one of the coolest things Ive ever heard. He had us play his Halloween show a couple years ago when he could have had anybody. We got all dressed up. They wanted first dibs on us performing so were doing it on the 24th and Im happy to be going back.
The new digital Morningwood EP is available now via Capitol Records. Get it here. And for more information on the band go to www.morningwoodrocks.com
"Sugarbaby" Video:
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
auren:
i love chantal!!!!! 
perfectdenial:
I love this band so much.