Best Coast
Best Coast aka Bethany Cosentino

For those Southern Californian readers of Apes on Tape, Bethany Cosentino and the lo-fi beach gems of Best Coast have probably found a comfortable home on your sonic rotation over the past five months since Crazy For You was released. If you’ve not yet given it a listen (iTunes link below), I could ramble on about the Beach Boys meets Courtney Love (in the Best of ways) sound, but you’re better off just giving the tight 31 minute album a portion of your day.

Either way, I was fortunate enough to grab a short interview with Bethany before  her Halloween set at Spokane, Washington’s Stage 54 venue [full show review here]. Check out what Bethany had to say on her decision to pursue music, her recent success, Wavves’ Nathan Williams and Prop 19:

Apes on Tape: I know your Dad is a very active musician. How much did he influence you to start playing? Or was it your own personal interest?

Bethany Cosentino: I was kind of born into it. I started performing super early on. My dad, well both my parents, were like, “if you want to do it, then just do it’. They were super supportive. I think growing up around my dad and seeing him play music probably influenced me to start. But I was never forced into it. I made the decision myself. They weren’t show parents. [laughs]

AOT: Were they hesitant when you left school [in New York]?

BC: No they were always like, “why do you even want to go to school? You could just play music if you wanted to”. And then when I decided that that’s what I wanted to do, they were cool with it. That’s the awesome thing about my family; they’re super supportive of everything I’ve ever done.

AOT: Very cool, indeed. Best Coast started after you returned from New York. Do you ever think about what would’ve happened if you didn’t leave? Or think you still would’ve made music, albeit a different style?

BC: I don’t think so. I was really in a creative dry spot when I lived there, as far as music went. I knew I wanted to play music again, but I didn’t feel inspired there. And as soon as I moved back to California, it was like a rush of creativity washed over me and I started writing almost instantly. I don’t know, if I was still in New York I’d probably still be in school and bummed out.

AOT: Seasonal Affective disorder?

BC: Yeah, yeah.

AOT: When did you realize that just writing songs for yourself was going to turn into career, something you could really do?

BC: I never really thought about it, it kind of just happened. We started this band and started playing shows, then all of a sudden we were touring and signing to a label. Everything just happened really quickly, and then I just realized, “this is my job now”.

AOT: Not a bad job to have

BC: No, not a bad job. [laughs]

AOT: I read you’ve learned not to read blogs, let all the bullshit and things not related to music go by. Did all that bullshit with Hipster Runoff  blow away?

BC: I don’t go on the Internet anymore. I don’t pay attention. If you let that shit bother you, it’s just stupid because it’s just fake. It’s just a fake world. The Internet is not real. I just quit it altogether. I check my email and I go on eBay. [laughs]

AOT: What do you get on eBay?

BC: Clothes and shoes and a bunch of bullshit. I just look for stupid stuff and I buy it. [laughs]

AOT: Did Nathan influence how Crazy for You ultimately ended up, production and overall sound wise?  Were you listening to his stuff at all at the same time?

BC: No. We were actually recording our records at the same time and weren’t really talking about. Just doing it.

AOT: Are you writing any new songs, any thoughts on a new record? Or are you just focused on the tour right now?

BC: Yeah, were touring a lot so it’s difficult to find time to record and stuff. But we’re definitely thinking about it. And we have a 7’ coming out, I’m not sure exactly when. But it’s a split with this band called Jeff the Brotherhood. There’s a new song on that we’ve been attempting to play live, but we’re still kind of figuring out how to play it. But I’m writing a lot and thinking about another record. But I just don’t know exactly when it will happen. I’m stoked to record again though, I’d rather record than tour.

AOT: And you said another few weeks on this tour?

BC: Yeah I think we have another week ad then we go back to LA. And then we play a few shows, were home for a few days and then leave for another tour.

AOT: Is that in the US?

BC: No, it’s in Europe.

AOT: Oh, bummer. [laughs] Did you vote yet?

BC: No, I didn’t. I forgot to file for my absentee ballot because I haven’t been home. But I wanted to vote on all the weed laws.

AOT: Yeah I wanted to ask you about Prop 19. Are you in favor of it?

BC: Yeah.

AOT: I know some people aren’t in favor of the commercialization and what not.

BC: California is so broke anyways, it’s like “say yes!” [laughs]

Purchase Crazy For You on iTunes Crazy for You - Best Coast

7 thoughts on “Yes on 19 | An interview with Best Coast

  1. Interesting, I didn't know there was some controversy with Hipster Runoff… must be a sensitive topic for Bethany to go off on the Internet like that!

    We posted some nice pics of Best Coast when the band played Vancouver last week: http://bit.ly/9AT8hF

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