After a few false starts we managed to catch up with Nathan Williams, aka Wavves, while he was sitting around in a Philidelphia toilet.
What are you up to at the moment?
I’m standing in a bathroom right now to do these phone interviews before we play a show tonight.
Why the bathroom?
There’s nowhere else to go! There’s a band sound-checking in the main room so I’m in the bathroom backstage. It’s called the Starlight Ballroom in Philadelphia.
All right, we’ll launch straight into it then. What made you want to start playing music?
I got a guitar when I was 13 and I thought it was fun. I liked The Beatles. I used to watch A Hard Day’s Night all the time, so I guess that was my first introduction, that’s probably what made me want to be a musician.
How has the reality measured up to A Hard Day’s Night?
[Laughs] Well that’s a movie! So it’s nothing like that at all. But I definitely love doing it. I wouldn’t rather be doing anything else. I prefer writing but I like touring too, I love it.
What do you miss when you’re away?
Ummm, Playstation. L.A., I miss the sun, my house, my cat. Normal things.
The cat you’re referring to is Snacks right? He has a lot of fans.
Yes, he’s a very famous cat. He has a lot of personality, kinda like a dog. He plays fetch and stuff like a dog. He likes to get in cars and we drive him around.
What should we do if we’re ever in L.A.?
Eat Mexican food! There are a lot, just any hole in the wall. They’re all really good. Go to the beach, it doesn’t matter which, as long as it’s got water and sand… Ummm, I don’t really leave my house. I go to the grocery store once a week and that’s about it. I live on the road basically and I live in L.A. with my girl [Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast] when I’m not on tour.
In a previous interview you said you were hoping to meet Lady Gaga. Did you manage to make that happen?
[Laughs] No! I’d be star struck if I met Lady Gaga but I’ve yet to meet her.
Who would you love to meet?
I’d say Kanye West is probably my number one.
What’s the weirdest thing a fan has done?
I feel like I get this question all the time but I don’t know. I guess people finding out where you live, stuff like that. But I’d say all of it is kind of creepy. I mean the fact that my cat has 5000 followers on Twitter…
What’s your first memory of performing live?
I played at a bunch of bands so I don’t remember the first time. Actually, I think the first time I played was at this girl’s party. I was, like, 13, probably younger – maybe 11 or 12. It was this girl that my friend went to school with. She had a trampoline, that’s all I really remember about it.
Music blogs have been a bit of a double-edged sword for you. How do you feel about them now?
I don’t really look at too much on the internet besides at Twitter, VirtualNES [a website that allows you to play old-school Nintendo games] and pornography. I’ve read some reviews but I don’t like, sit around and Google myself. I have and it was kind of weird at first, but it’s not sudden. It’s been three years. It’s just surprising that anyone cares, and flattering.
Have you been to Australia before?
I have not. My bandmate Stephen has been before so I’m excited to go.
Will you get a chance to look around?
No, we don’t have any time to travel, we’re playing a show every day that we’re there. That’s how it always is. We’re on a six week tour right now so that will be a breeze.
All right thanks for your time. We’re looking forward to seeing you here.
Thanks.
Wavves tour dates below. You can follow Snacks on Twitter here.
Tue 8 March – The Zoo, Brisbane
Wed 9 March – Manning Bar, Sydney
Fri 11 March – The Bakery, Perth
Mon 14 March – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
