Posted on May 18, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Sing About Afternoon Naps

I say that afternoon naps are possibly the best things in life somwhere with sex, The Beeeedles and few other sings. And I’m not only talking about laying down for a little rest in a cheerful and quiet sunny day. Just for today there’s a clear reference to a jingle-jangling Cloudberry band from Cleveland too! Here’s a little interview with Tom D, from Afternoon Naps.

Mark Zonda: On my personal top five under the file “Best Things In Life”, Afternoon Naps take the second place after Sex. Is your band better?

Tom: Hmmmm… Well. Aex sometimes complicates things and you usually need another person whereas with an afternoon naps you just need an afternoon, and well, just yourself…..then of course you could spend your nap dreaming about sex… And that’s almost as good I guess… So iI guess the answer would be “Yes! We are”.

Mark Zonda: A “Ready-Made” band, just like Pizzicato 5. Ever listened to Japanese Pop? And what do you think about it?

Tom: Yes, i’ve spent some time enjoying japanese pop…mostly the mid -90′s stuff like Pizzicato5, Cornelius, and especially Takako Minekawa…. Really fun and creative stuff.

Mark Zonda:  Is it difficult to make it twee in Cleveland?

Tom: Not really, most people are pretty open minded and genuinely enthusiastic around here… However twee/pop/indie music is fairly scarce in these parts…

Mark Zonda: “Postcard” is an incredible song. It reminds me to Northern Soul, Christmas Songs, Cardigans, Lucky Soul and Simon & Gartfunkel at the same time. In which time of the year was born? Is it dealing with ad dump broken heart?

Tom: Thanks! all those bands are favorites of mine…. Anyhow yeah it’s about a nostalgic broken heart I suppose… I wanted a song to sound like the “Phil Spector” christmas album and “Felt” at the same time… And “Postcard” was just that… It was one the first songs i wrote for this band.

Mark Zonda: Can you tell us more ’bout “Happy Happy Birthday to Me records”?

Tom: They’re a really great label based in Athens, Georgia… Home to many great pop bands like “Casper and The Cookies”, “Bunnygrunt”, “Boyracer”, and many more… Also do a great singles club with previous releases by “Of Montreal” and “Apples in Stereo”…. The label definitely feels like a family that we’re very excited to be a part of.

Mark Zonda: Are fanzine popular in Athen? I mean… The handmade ones… And what’s your impression on the Elephant 6 collective?

Mark Zonda: “Seasong may chance” is such a brilliant happy tune! Very Buddy Hollish and fresh at the same time. Glockenspiel reminds me of Costello from the Warner Years. Is it going to be an hit?

Tom: Wow thanks again… Iadore Buddy Holly…. He’s definitely been a huge influence on me as a songwriter…. His songs are so sincere and un-pretentious… Do I think it will be a hit? Hmmmmmmm… It’s hard to tell… Even if it’s a “hit” with just 10 people I guess i’m happy!

Mark Zonda: It will hit 200 peoples at least! Each year Sir Paul McCartney got a 2 days radio show where he puts through nothing but Buddy Holly songs. It’s some kine of Buddy Holly day or something like that. Which artist would you pick to celebrate him all day long?

Tom: That’s a tough one…Ii would have a “Left Banke” day and just play “Walk away Renee” all day long… That’s my all time favorite song… But if I had to choose and artist it would be a toss up between the “Beach Boys” and “Smiths/ Morrissey”? Maybe…. Ah!

Afternoon Naps – Postcard

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