It's impressive how quickly Phoebe Bridgers can set the scene.
We're referring of course to her ability to draw an audience into a song within the first couple seconds of it beginning. On Stranger in the Alps' highlight Motion Sickness, she wastes no time at all in stating, "I hate you for what you did, and I miss you like a little kid." That laconic need to get her point across with no delay whatsoever imbues the song with what seems to be hard fought closure. On this song, as well as the rest of the album, you get the real sense that Phoebe Bridgers is not fucking around here. These are intensely personal songs about intensely personal relationships.
In our email interview, she turned out to be much less solemn. In fact, she's actually pretty damn funny. In advance of her show at Barracuda with Noah Gunderson on November 4th, (as well an an intimate afternoon in-store performance at End of An Ear before the show), we spoke to Phoebe Bridgers about phone chargers growing on trees, a tumble she took at a foreign Whole Foods, getting kicked off a tour bus, and much more.
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Do512: What is your first memory of the Internet? Do you remember your screen name?
Phoebe Bridgers: My first memory of the Internet is watching Potter Puppet Pals. Those videos made me feel like the internet was specifically designed for me. My screen name was dwulfric. D for Dumbledore, and Wulfric, his middle name.
Tell us two truths and one lie, but don’t tell us which is which.
Phoebe Bridgers: I was born on a full moon, I've never eaten a pear, and one side of my brain is abnormally large.
Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels
Who or what is the main villain in your life story?
Phoebe Bridgers: The main villain in my life is entitlement. In myself, in the people I love, and in the people I hate.
What's the last thing you did for the first time? Did you enjoy it?
Phoebe Bridgers: I went to a Whole Foods in a different country for the first time. Would've been awesome had someone not shattered an olive oil bottle right in front of me and I had not slipped and fallen on my ass.
What smell reminds you of your childhood? Why?
Phoebe Bridgers: Chanel No. 5 always reminds me of being a kid. My grandmother wore it.
Paint us a picture of the dumbest way you’ve ever hurt yourself.
Phoebe Bridgers: The dumbest way I've ever hurt myself is when I tried to steam a dress while it was still on my body. I have a huge scar on my leg.
Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels
What do you wish grew on trees (other than money)?
Phoebe Bridgers: I wish phone chargers grew on trees. And Kinder Chocolate.
What is your favorite non-musical sound effect? Why?
Phoebe Bridgers: My favorite sound effect is crunching leaves, because at least in movies, I always imagine a guy in a studio walking on crumpled up paper, trying to sync up perfectly with what's on the screen.
Have you ever been fired from an embarrassing job? If not, what was your first job?
Phoebe Bridgers: I've never had a real job I could be fired from, but I did get kicked off someone's tour bus for not sleeping with them once.
If someone is writing your biography, what is this chapter called?
Phoebe Bridgers: This chapter of my biography is called, I'm Woke AF, It's Morning.
