Brett and rennie sparks handsome family interview
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September is a big month for The Handsome Family. The musical husband-and-wife team also known as Brett and Rennie Sparks is releasing its 10th album, “Unseen,” nationwide and, in Chicago, they’re conducting a songwriting workshop and performing at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Sept. 18. If that’s not enough, the female half of the band is exhibiting her paintings of sea creatures in “Underwater Vines” thanks to Aron Packer Projects.
With so much going on, I had to go to the source to see what makes Ms. Sparks tick, and paint.
Janet Arvia: “Underwater Vines” is your first official exhibition in a gallery, yet you’ve been selling portraits online for some time. What is your process when patrons commission you to paint their pets?
Rennie Sparks: I usually ask what heaven would look like for your pet and go from there. I try to incorporate all the good things the pet might want around them. All the talismans of good life. I had a dream once about one of
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The Handsome Family
Personal Zeitgeist - an interview with Brett and Rennie Sparks
For years, the husband and wife grupp of Brett and Rennie Sparks seemed to be destined to be beneath the radar forever. The critics loved the dark Americana mood of most of the recorded output and they built a small, loyal following, but they never aimed at global success. Then fate came knocking in the form of a theme song for a popular TV show. "Far From Any Road" became the opening song of True Detective and brought on the kind of exposure a grupp very rarely gets two decades into its career. Yet on their newly released skiva Unseen, their tenth, The Handsome Family leaves behind their trademark Country noir style and the murder ballads - and explained the reasons why when the talked to Luna Kafé from their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "We were just sitting outside on our patio-there is a faint hint of Fall in the air", says Brett, and Rennie
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Interview: The Handsome Family
I first became aware of The Handsome Family when ‘Far From Any Road’ was featured as the title track to HBO’s True Detective. It prompted me to find more of your music online. Could you tell me about how that came about?
We have no idea. We had no sure idea until the moment it broadcast. It’s been an amazing stroke of luck in a life that never has seemed lucky before. Very glad you found us.
While on tour do you get very much time to explore the towns and cities that you are playing?
Yes, but it’s usually at about 2 am when nothing is open.
What does the rest of 2018 have in store for you?
Lots of pet portraits painted and lots of cat whisker collecting— my two main passions.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the release of The Handsome Family’s Through The Trees. To celebrate its release you can pick up a special The sky blue-coloured vinyl comes with an exclusive “Invisible Trees” bonus CD, comprising of 15 tracks o