an interview with russ marshalek of a place both wonderful and strange and Adventure[s]
collaboration, pop-culture, and the Davids (Bowie and Lynch)
Good morning to you, my lil Saturdaisies,
Have you all been rocking out with your scarves out this fine fall week?
You know who hasn’t been? The dude who just passed by my window with shorts on in 50-degree weather. I have respect for that kind of hearty constitution, I do. But as soon as there’s a breeze, I like a sturdy sheathe to guard me from the elements.
That’s why I invested in a beautiful Rachel Comey scarf four years ago—it’s still in perfect condition and still looks chic as hell even though I use it as a veritable swaddle like five months out of the year. It keeps me so toasty I don’t even get bronchitis anymore! (I mean, also, I don’t smoke cigarettes anymore—but I’M CERTAIN my magical scarf doesn’t hurt.)*
This week, I’m launching my very first interview in this here space. Fitting that I get to interview someone who was one of the first to put me on a stage in the big city all those years ago!
In the decade I’ve known Russ Marshalek, I’ve seen him launch too many cool projects to count, and he’s introduced me to music, movies, and memes I would never have discovered otherwise. If I have ever told you about anything cool, there’s an 87% chance I heard about it from Russ. (As I told my brilliant astrologer friend Kiki the other day, Gemini’s are such TASTEMAKERS.)
Next week, I’ll be performing with Russ at Black Lodge/White Noise: An immersive David Lynch + David Bowie Halloween presented by a place both wonderful and strange (that’s Russ’ electronic duo with Laura Hajek) and ADVENTURE[s] (that’s the Brooklyn-Based party collective Russ is part of and who are responsible for “This Party Is Killing You” known to many as The Robyn Party.)
This annual Lynchian Halloween party [tix here] is one of my favorite shows and I’ll be reprising a role I care so much about.
This time, with a Bowie twist…
Before we bid Laura Palmer farewell for a while (maybe we’ll see her again in 25 years?) I asked Russ to share with us some ideas about collaboration and pop culture.
an interview with russ marshalek of a place both wonderful and strange
One thing I’ve felt from Day One of working with you is that when I float an idea that I’m toying with, you’re all in. That trust has really helped me take some creative chances I’m super proud of. What do you look for in collaborators, and what can artists do to become better collaborators?
Russ: That's really flattering! Thank you! I really enjoy working with you a lot, and I think that might speak to what I look for in collaborators--in a lot of ways, it's like entering into a transaction, but with someone's brain and soul. So, as in any other sort of transaction, you have to be willing to know what you know AND cede that which you might not know, and trust that who you're engaging with is going to do the same.
At the last Black Lodge party, I think we were all like blissed out about how much fun we had and how good everyone was. How did the “whole gang” come together?
Russ: It's funny, it's basically a perfect converging of a New York scene--like, an old-school type scene, where "dinner party" or "stew" could be an apt metaphor. Everyone involved were friends, or friends of friends, from various little factions or venn diagrams of weird, dark conceptual art/music. In situations like the black lodge halloween parties, where you have about 5 hours of entertainment squeezing into a three hour window and venues screaming at you to get out on time so they can keep the money train moving (which i totally get), it's also a matter of everyone's ego taking second shelf to the idea of putting on a good cohesive night, which is really difficult to find. so it's a balancing act.
You’re one of the creators of one of New York’s most beloved parties—and you’ve taken it to Berlin and the West Coast. What were some of the signs that the Robyn party was something special that really had staying power and the ability to grow?
Russ: awww, thank you! the robyn party is really near and dear to my heart, and I think we knew it had staying power when it began to outgrow venue after venue and start to make an impact on people--and, apparently I guess, which is WILD to me to be saying, Robyn herself!?!?!? like, it's always been a party in service to, by and for fans, so to have an emotional resonance is...well, it's wild.
[check out russ and the robyn party in Robyn’s Missing U message to her fans!]
You and I both love bringing pop culture into our work and I think our ideas about using pop culture are always evolving. Any thoughts about that?
Russ: pop culture is a form of hypersigil, like we're in essence pre-stating the art that we want to use as existing before we use it. it's a conversation that's happening on a level that doesn't need actual linguistics which makes it a very very effective pallet to paint with.
You’re definitely a producer and performer who puts your whole self into your events and projects, so how do you know if something is worth the energy it will require?
Russ: that's the problem! i don't! i'm actually in a place right now, and this is one of the many facets of why the black lodge halloween is ending, where i just have never known if something is going to pay off, so i give my all to everything, and now i need, for a while, to maybe take some of that energy back.
Anything else you’re excited about right now?
Russ: i'm writing a book. for real this time.
I hope you’ll join me, Russ, and a bunch of other talented musicians and performers next Friday, October 25 at 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn. You don’t need to be a Twin Peaks diehard to appreciate this show. The performers are all out of this world and I guarantee this is a night that will feel like a step out of time…
Later Saturgators!
xoxoxo
Sarah
*I am not a paid spokesperson of Ms. Comey but I would be in a heartbeat.