These Questions Go To Eleven: Chin Chin

April 2, 2009 - 5:43pm — Katie Camosy

Each week ZIO asks a different musician the same 11 questions via email. Visit Zoom In Music every Wednesday for a new installment or subscribe to the RSS feed.

This week, we have all of Chin Chin doing the Q&A, with extra commentary courtesy of lead singer Wilder Zoby. The band started out with the intention to improvise back-up music for MCs at a monthly Brooklyn party. But soon their unique party blend of R&B and electro led them to put their own band center stage. The Chin Chin self-titled album (their third release) came out last year on Definitive Jux.

1. What music was played in your home while you were growing up?

Phillip Glass, Chuck Mangione, Earth Wind and Fire, The Crusaders, Stevie Nicks, the soundtrack to Cat People, Thriller, "One Night In Bangkok".

2. Who is the best artist we have probably never heard?

Everybody should know about The Moments. They were a vocal group out of New Jersey who really capture the Jersey soul sound. They were on a very important Jersey label called All Platinum. Their harmonies and musicianship are unmatched and yet also have just the right amount of sloppiness in their recordings to give an extra groovy sound. Two of my favorite records of theirs are "My Thing" and "Live at The Black Miss America Pageant".

Also, Mort Garson is worth knowing about. He was an arranger who worked in the 50's and 60's with Doris Day and the like. But the stuff to look for are his records from the late 60's and 70's when he started to get psychedelic. I'm particularly fond of his record "Plantasia" which is a synthesized companion to helping your plants grow.

3. What record did you used to love, but now can't stand?

Dingle Barry Brown & His Fly Rhyme Sayers, that shit is so dated!

4. What song do you want played at your funeral?

The theme song to "Night of the Living Dead" cause I ain't going anywhere.

5. What is your favorite b-side?

Prince was always pretty strong with b-sides i.e. "17 Days", "Erotic City"or "She's Always In My Hair". He always made sure to put a song on the b-side of the single that wasn't on any record.

6. Which medium do you prefer: vinyl, cd, or download?

No question, vinyl. I was never into baseball cards or comics but I guess I found my collection obsession in records.

7. Which artist would your fans be surprised to find out you like?

I don't think it should be a suprise to anyone that listens to us that we are pretty much into everything. Is it a suprise that I like to listen to recordings of nature sounds?

8. What musician would you choose to cover one of your songs?

I would love to hear a Duke Ellington arrangement of our tunes. Also Martin Denny might do a nice job. He was big in the tiki scene; basically lounge music with bird calls in it.

9. Who is the most overrated artist?

Mozart, totally overrated, what did he ever do anyway?

10. What musician or band do you wish you’d seen play live in their prime?

That's a lengthy one. I'll go for the obvious; Jimi, Sly, Miles, Coltrane, John Lee.

11. What non-musical influences do you have?

Getting up in the morning.