Diandra Interviews Alaska Reid: Music Is A Big Bunny

For Alaska Reid, music is life. It is what she has been doing, professionally, since childhood, which is why it has been as definitive to her as any other relationship. Sure, music may not incarnate, but, in our interview, we discuss how music has brought her to life.

Diandra: Having done music since 14, what has changed about you as an artist, and what are certain things you discovered about yourself through music?

Alaska: Hmm… well… I’ve become more confident in just doing the kind of music that feels right and letting my lyrics and vocals be in the forefront. There was a period in my music life, when I was doing “the band where I was letting my voice get drowned out” and kind of feeling weird when it wasn’t. I’d play these random house shows where all you could hear were cymbals and my guitar, and so I’d just push the fuzz even harder because I knew no one was going to hear my voice anyway. I’ve abandoned that mindset now and, instead, I try to arrange stuff around my vocals because that’s always been the true core of my sound. I discovered too that I’ll eventually be fully capable, when it comes to production, instead of always having to rely on someone else to record anything.

Diandra: You say Big Bunny is a diary of sorts. What are the themes and behaviors you confront and exalt in this EP about yourself?

Alaska: I adventure through my songwriting; in my songs perhaps more than in my real life… especially these days. I kind of kick myself in some songs for being weak in a relationships or blind to my own best interests, which I guess is only human.

Diandra: Name 3 things things this EP taught you to love about yourself and be grateful for.
Alaska:
1) getting stuff done
2) realizing that I’ve been doing this for so long, with so many ups and downs, that it is cool, either way, that I released something that is close to my heart
3) I’m grateful for all the people that aided the making of this EP in any way

Diandra: What does a “Big Bunny” symbolize to you?

Alaska: To me it documents a particular period in my life, and a lot of the trials and adventures of being a young woman between two very different geographical locations.

Diandra: If you could turn your favorite album into a movie, which would it be, why, and what would be the premise/ concept and potential cast?

Alaska: All Shook Down by the Replacements— I’d definitely just try and convince the band to be in the movie. Additionally, I’d just cast a bunch of unknown people; I think that process would be quite fun. All of Westerberg’s songs are like little movies anyway, so I’d probably follow his narrative lead. I’d make it romantic, fun stuff like that.

Diandra: If you could turn your favorite movie into a concept album, which would it be and why? What would be its perspective?

Alaska: I love Robert Altman’s Nashville. I also love that movie An Officer and a Gentleman. An entire album of songs from Debra Winger’s character’s point of view would be pretty cool.

Diandra; What is the best piece of advice Lyle Lovett has given you in terms of songwriting?

Alaska: He basically told me (I’m paraphrasing here) to protect my songs no matter what, because when you’re a songwriter that’s all you have. I think he was trying to say, “Don’t let that protective feeling go away.”

Diandra: What is your favorite childhood memory with music?

Alaska: Listening to Dinosaur Jr. with my dad in this old beat up Ford we had, nicknamed “The Exploder”. Usually there were old Dairy Queen cone paper wrappers flying around by the massive CD collection we kept on the floor.

Diandra: If you could manifest your past as a literal ghost, what would be its personality and the biggest thing it always reminds you of?

Alaska: Well that’s tricky… It would probably be a wolf or a snowshoe hare and it would only dwell on the good stuff.

Diandra: Moving from Montana to LA, what would be one place in the world you would love to travel to and make an album? Why?

Alaska: I’d love to go to the Netherlands and the areas surrounding because I’ve recently been studying a lot of art from there from the 15th – 17th centuries. Also, I would love to travel around Japan because I have a some friends there that I would love to see.

Diandra: If songs are like tiny love stories, which of your songs, do you feel, emanates your favorite love story?

Alaska: City Sadness. I’m optimistic in that one and also quite happy.

Diandra: How has music helped you see what you need in a partner? What are 3 things you desire?

Alaska: Well, music is all I really know at this point in time. I’ve always been pretty involved in it, so it is important to me that someone would understand the intricacies of the whole thing. Kindness, intelligence, and optimism I guess.

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