Kata Rokkar Kata Rokkar – A Bay Area based blog about music, life and stuff by Shawn Robbins.

KUESTIONNAIRE: Fences

Featured, Kuestionnaires, Music

05/3/2011

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Good heartfelt and damaged singer-songwriter music is pretty hard to come by, unless you’re Seattle’s beautifully disturbed Fences (Christopher Mansfield). His self titled debut, recorded in March of 2009 with Sara Quinn of Tegan & Sara,  is whisper-soft yet lush, with minimal production and warm acoustic instruments. Mansfield creates songs that are at once effortless and heartfelt, filled with venom, self-doubt, and love for the everyday people he meets in the street. Plus, not many people can pull off the ‘hardcore fuck-shit-up crew’ look and still come off endearing and sweet. More power to him though, after headlining the Rickshaw Stop last month and currently touring with David Vandervelde and even scoring a spot on this year’s Bonnaroo line-up, it looks like Fences might have secured a comfortable spot in the modern singer-songwriter genre.

You can purchase his self titled debut here.

This week we have Christopher Mansfield himself answer the world famous Kuestionnaire as he mentions an odd non-musical influence…

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1. Could you state your name and what you do in the band?
Christopher Michael Mansfield, guitar, vox.

2. How would you describe your sound?
Jangle, pop, country, cloudy , shimmers, I like R.E.M who cares.

3. What is your favorite local band?
Perfume Genius

4. Any concerts that blew your mind recently?
Mt st helens vietnam band, every time.

5. Any non-musical influences you would like to mention?
Sleepless in seattle. Any meg ryan tom hanks love.

6. If your music was to be the theme of a film/TV show, what would it be?
I WISH my own private idaho remake. Cmon…Gus, cmon.

7. What musician/artist would you like to collaborate with for a day?
Jessica Lea Mayfield

8. What is the album you listen to on a cold rainy day?
I wouldn’t. I watch Roseanne.

9. List four songs you would listen to on a roadtrip?
Counting Crows…round here, colorblind, mr. jones, long december.

10. Where do you see yourselves in 7 years?
Dead! Just kidding, 35 and totally insane looking. Hopefully have a baby and a big house in upstate NY.

11. What is the last book you read?
Salems Lot.

12. Is image a factor in music or is it a waste of time?
Chan Marshall is a babe. If she were a president shed be babraham lincoln.

13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you would like to share?
The first 2 years of my career.

14. Any favorite tour locations?
L.A.. For sure SF. Portland. NY. All good. Little Rock was awkward.

15. Lastly, what is your present state of mind?
Jenny O.

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Fences – Girls With Accents from Fences (2010)

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Perfume Genius – Learning. from Learning (2010)