emailing the artist

Ever email a website of one of your favorite artists, and have the artist (or someone claiming to be the artist) actually email you back?

I've done that and received emails from Ken Bethea (Old 97's), Col, J.D. Wilkes (Legendary Shack Shakers), and most recently, Jason Ringenberg (Jason and the Scorchers).

Anybody else exchange email with artists they enjoy?

I got a couple of emails from The Tyde. Maybe one from The National (who have a new minialbum just out).

Ted Leo has emailed me back on several occasions. *swoon*

And… I wrote to the Decemberists to complain that the "dates" part of their website wasn't about how to secure dates with them. They replied stating that they appreciated my creativity but were unavailable for dating.

Sarah Slean, who I have ended up meeting in person a few times and still talk to occasionally.

Chester from Linkin Park , who I got into an email argument with!

and

Nikolai from the Strokes, when they refused to play MTV awards, I emailed them and thanked them for not being a bitch and he wrote back.

Bob Mould

The only time I've ever e-mailed a band was when I bought an Apes t-shirt that was a child's medium (you know, for their huge under 12 fanbase) that I wanted to exchange. Got a few nice e-mails back from almost all of them, and met up to do the old switcheroo.

I got an email from Roky Erickson's brother.

I'm surprised by how often they do write back actually. Bob Mould never wrote me back though. I got the biggest kick out of writing a band I like and having them respond, and then come down and play a show. ie the Bigger Lover. I think Pollard might be king though, he seems to write everbody, and they tend to write him back too.

I emailed The Warmers after I saw a show of theirs. Alec MacKaye wrote back thanking me for coming out to the show. That was pretty alright of him.

I emailed Scout about playing in DC and had an exchange with them, and the Nighties, now defunct local band (okay, that probably doesn't really count…).

Hmm, Bob Mould. Now that's an exchange I'd cherish. I've spoken to him several times around town, though…Those are not quite as cool because, believe it or not, I'm afraid of being a freak and a bother so I tend to keep it short and sweet.

I can understand that. I see him in town at least once a week, but I never say anything. I don't want to come off like a fawning fan. I did introduce myself once though. Seems like a nice enough guy.

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Ever email a website of one of your favorite artists, and have the artist (or someone claiming to be the artist) actually email you back?


Anybody else exchange email with artists they enjoy?

Yep. The most surprising is when you write to an "info@" email address and then the artist personally responds.

Glen Johnson of Piano Magic, I was really surprised.

mogwai, explosions in the sky, mercury program, trail of dead
i emailed all of them and they responded.. some on multiple occasions.
a lot of bands, though, don't have email addresses to send to.

I've had more luck in emailing or snail mailing the management or record companies of different artists. I've gotten a few autographed pictures like that, and some giveaways to give to the kids that I teach. Jack Johnson's wife sent me like 75 stickers to hand out to my students like a year and a half ago. It was really cool.

I can understand about not wanting to seem like a stalker outside of a venue. Once I was at an Oriole game a few years ago with a buddy, against the Angels. I was walking out of the stadium late (I had been waiting for an acquaintence to get off of work) and some guys came out of the Eutaw St. gate walking toward Howard St. I was about half a block behind them, and they turned left on Howard St., as did I because I was parked near the Balto. Arena. About another half a block up, this asshole turns around and yells at me for being a fucking stalker (verbatim). It ended up being Tim Salmon from the Angels (who was doing the talking) and Darrin Erstad was with him, and some other scrub. I was so damn pissed, I yelled "why in the hell would I be stalking you? learn where to walk asshole, you could have walked down Conway St. to get to your hotel. I'm just going to my car another block up." I was by myself at the time and was worried like hell something was going to happen. He just turned around and flipped me off and was mumbling to the others. The Angels can go to hell after that experience.

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Anybody else exchange email with artists they enjoy?

In the early days, Moby. This was back in 1993/1994. I don't even recall how the e-mail exchanges between us started.

Porl from Rosetta Stone. Those e-mail exchanges went on for quite a while, at least over a year IIRC.

Paul from Psychosonik - he even phoned me from Minneapolis once. That was a surprise.

Peter Hook from Joy Division/New Order/Revenge/Monaco.

Somebody (can't recall his name) from Contagion (and later then Pinch Point). He sent me the video for Contagion's "Scratch."

Athan from Spahn Ranch and also The Blue Dahlia. Spoke with him many times on the phone and met up with him several times too. Very cool guy.

Mark from Cosmicity. A very nice guy who I still have contact with occasionally. I think he pretty much e-mails everyone who contacts him.

Christian from Signal And Report.

Sebastien from Silence Is Sexy.

I think there may have been others, but that is all I can remember right now.

As someone else said, dealing with record labels/reps is far more common, especially since/when I set up a lot of CD giveaways. ;)

Cheers

DJ Medusa.

I've had several dealings via the internet but can't remember who all off-hand. Usually, I don't like to bother them or feel weird about contacting them without a damn good reason. Several are acquaintances of mine who are in bands that most wouldn't even know around here but do have CDs out. But I just happen to know them.

The two I will note that was of recent were several emails from Sean Hewson and Christian Savill of Slowdive/Mojave 3/Monster Movie.