Thao Nguyen of Thao With The Get Down Stay Down Interview

This interview originally appeared in the April 12 Edition of the Tompkins Weekly.

One of my favorite bands to emerge in the last few years is Thao With The Get Down Stay Down. Lead by singer, guitarist, and songwriter Thao Nguyen. The band is rounded out by Adam Thompson on bass and Wills Thompson on drums. This alt-folk band plays really smart and infectious tunes that, from the fist time I heard them, established this as a band to watch. The band really has its own sound. In addition, the way the songs are arranged—often without a verse, chorus, verse type of structure—makes a vital contribution to the bands sound. Freed from the tradition song organization, the music is able to build in layers. To date, Thao and the band have released two excellent records, 2008’s “We Brave Bee Stings and All” and 2009’s “ Know Better Learn Faster.”

The Tompkins Weekly was fortunate to get to ask Thao some questions in advance of her appearance with the Get Down Stay Down at Castaways on April 18.

Tompkins Weekly: Where did the name The Get Down Stay Down come from?

Thao Nguyen : “There are no romantic origins of this name– someone said get down, someone else said get down stay down—but we can’t remember who said which.”

TW: The band is great. How did you all come together?

TN: “Thanks very much. Willis and I met in college and then we met Adam on a tour in Richmond, Virginia.”

TW: When did you start playing guitar and writing songs?

TN: “Roughly 12 years old for both.”

TW: Who or what are your influences?

TN: “Country, blues, Motown, old time, hip hop, being a lonely youth.”

TW: It seems to me that your songs don’t always follow a verse chorus verse model. Am I correct in this? If so how did this develop?

TN: “I guess that is correct—I have never noticed. I think this developed because I have selective attention to detail.”

TW: “You’re on the independent label, Kill Rock Stars, home to some other amazing bands. How is being on an independent label for the band?

TN: “I love Kill Rock Stars and I love that they are more independent than a lot of independent labels.”

TW: Your most recent album, “Know Better Learn Faster” and its predecessor, “We Brave Bee Stings and All,” have gotten a lot of attention. How do you feel your career is tracking?

TN: “I am grateful to play music for a living and I am glad some people have taken to us and I hope they don’t change their minds.”

TW: Do you plan on hitting the festival circuit this summer? Or do you prefer playing clubs?

TN: “I am interested in doing both this summer and in general—I’m not sure yet how are schedule is shaping up.

TW: You’ve done some work with Oxfam America around climate change. As a public person, do feel you have a responsibility to speak out on issues that matter to you?

TN: “I do work with Oxfam and climate change—mainly I work with Sisters on the Planet—a campaign that helps poor women who are most affected by climate change—as they are the world’s primary food growers and household providers. I feel my job helps me be of more help than I otherwise might be and it is my priority to take advantage of the opportunity to win more support for causes I hold dear.”

TW: What else are you passionate about?

TN: “I love: 826 Valencia, Food justice, SF War, women’s advocacy in general.”

TW: Who are you digging now?

TN: “Wolves in the Throne Room, Share This Place, Mos Def, Cesaria Evora.”