I’m On the Quest to Score! A Very Brief Interview with Shawn Parke

An interview conducted by Rhonda Baughman

            Anyone who knows me well, which is really, about seven people – know I have a penchant for musicians. Moreover, I have a soft spot for the modern-day wandering troubadour – and will often open my gates to let them crash as they’re passing through. Um, the gates to my apartment, not anywhere else. I mean, at least not since I joined that group of monogamous humans, anyway – hm, that’s another novella for another time, now that I think of it. In August of this year, I had the pleasure of seeing an old friend again: Montana’s Rappin’ Cowboy Chris “Sandman” Sand, and he was not alone on his musical journey across the great US of A – he brought The Moustaches with him. (http://www.myspace.com/moustacheface, www.loghogmusic.com) An adorable, quiet-yet-watch-them-turn-raucous duo everyone should have in their home at least once.

            While some people you meet only briefly – they are still able to make an indelible impression on your psyche for years to come – that’s Sandman and his Moustache buddies, truthfully. Shawn Parke, one half of the infamous duo, also dreams of scoring films one day. Which is funny, because another pal of mine and I were just talking about music in films, as in: Where the fuck is it?! What happened to the good old days, of the good old-fashioned score? Now it’s just obnoxious pop/rock/metal of the uninspired variety – angry, soulless lyrics blathering on about nothing – and so much so, it just makes me anxious, annoyed, and nauseous.

            Talking to Shawn, I was reminded of my love for the Tourist Trap score (on vinyl, of course), the Halloween score, The April Fool’s Day score – among others … films where the music was so integral it was a character in and of itself. We need more of that – in addition to the return to 35mm on Charles Band’s part, if we had Shawn leading the pack of musicians eager to score films – maybe we could breathe some oxygen into an otherwise virtually stagnant entertainment kiddie pool.

Rhonda: You indicate you are currently immersing yourself in filmmaking - in what capacity?
Shawn: I am currently working on a documentary film about a family member with a very unique story... It is thrilling.  I am also working on a score for the film simultaneously!  I am having the time of my life and think I have found what new-agers often refer to as a "life calling".
 Rhonda:  If you had the opportunity to score any genre of film - what would it be?
Shawn: I would love to score a horror film,  heck I would love to make a horror film.  I love the genre and always have.  When I was 9 years old my mom took me to the theater to watch An American Werewolf In London and I haven't been the same since. The horror score is the most creatively open of all genres and can freely incorporate elements of experimental sound design, orchestral movements, electronic instruments and everything in between. I can't imagine anything being more fun than trying to scare people.
 Rhonda: Would you score solo or with your band member?
Shawn: The score I am working on now has at least a dozen hands in it,  but I am taking those contributions and tweaking and twisting them....  Basically using them as original sample sources.  The final pieces will not end up resembling the originals to any degree.
 Rhonda: Is there any genre of film you would NOT consider scoring?
Shawn: (laughs) Hmmmmmm....  No.
 Rhonda: Where does the sound for The Moustaches come from?
Shawn: My influences are old school hip hop, and horror film soundtracks.  One of our songs contains a sample of the European soundtrack of Romero's Dawn of the Dead.  Shhhhh.  It's an uncleared sample.  I think Jonah is influenced by old school hip hop and turntable artists like Invisible Skratch Picklez...
 Rhonda:  Are there any other bands you would recommend as an addition to score a film? If so, who?

Shawn: (not laughing) Let's see.... Hmmm.  Nope.  Just me.

Rhonda: Agreed.

Shawn: I hope the answers aren't too snarky... It might be a little less snarkster at my MySpace page: www.myspace.com/shawnparke - then again, I doubt it. The track called "Controlling Whitey Theme"  is the opening theme of the doc.  I didn't want to be to explicit about it because it is a long way from being done ...  Also I have a few press clips for some of my remixes that I did for Mirah there and the remixes are set up to stream if you'd like to listen to them. 
The record came out in 2006 on K (the label Kimya Dawson is on) Here's the link to K:  www.krecs.com

Rhonda: Thank god – real music to listen to … it’s been so long.

Shawn: My pleasure.

Rhonda: Wanna come over?

Shawn: Ahhhh … if only I were in your state.

Rhonda: Bummer.