Get Your Ice On with Mugison at Mercury Lounge
Ever find yourself in the mood for George Harrison-inspired melodies, death-metal rubber-band bass lines, bone-chilling screams, and Beck-esque lovelorn ballads, all with a dash of volcanic ash?
Well, youre in luck. Icelandic punk-troubadour and current golden boy Mugison is kicking off his first full-length American tour at [Mercury Lounge] this Saturday in support of his third (non-soundtrack) album Mugiboogie (released last year in Iceland and last month here on [Mike Patton](http://www.mikepatton.de/main.html)s label, [Ipecac Recordings](http://www.ipecac.com/)). Mugiboogie is a swirling, scathing, pensive ride through the fjords and mountains of Mugis mind that took home three trophies at the 2007 [Icelandic Music Awards](http://www.icelandmusic.is/resources/Images/icelandicmusic_is/Artists/iston.jpg), including Rock/Alternative Album of the Year. In honor of his triumphant return to the states, Mugison answered our burning questions via e-mail communiqué straight from the land of Vikings and stinky fish.
Which Norse god (or goddess) do you identify with most? Freyja. She´s good looking and everybody wants to eat her food.
Your new record contains both mellow ballads and in-your-face punk-rock. How does each sound define what you want to accomplish through your music? I have my own studio in the mountains of the west-fjords in Iceland. When Im writing new stuff I hang myself upside down like a bat and record the noise I make. I have made software that translates that into chords and melodies. It is very random and unpredictable.
In addition to being a musician, you designed the CD art for your debut album, Lonely Mountain (and hand-assembled 10,000 copies of it). How does visual art contribute to your music? I like stuff that is special. I love getting friends and family involved making the artwork. I feel it adds to the whole experience. I think it's just as important as one song on the album. We've handmade 30,000 copies of Mugiboogie which you can only buy on my [website].
What are you looking forward to about playing in America? I cant wait. All the Americans I've met have had a good sense of humor and I hope that goes for all the people showing up at my gigs. I hope everyone brings an extra ten dollars along to the show. I need money. I've got two kids and a dog to feed.
Who would you most want to perform with? I'd love to perform with my grandfather. I'd also like to make a band with Christina Agulera, Noam Chomsky, Ringo Starr and Lenny Kravitz.
What do you think is the best way to get your music to people? I think the best thing would be to send a copy to every home in the world, then follow it up by visiting each and every one and playing a few songs.
Which do you prefer: fish or Phish? I´d like to listen to Phish while I eat my fish.