For the HELM Lookbook this Fall we were lucky to be able to photograph the talented Angie Kang in our women’s styles. Hailing from Detroit, she now resides in Austin, performing in the band Future Death, working on her own electronic projects, and DJing. This past weekend we snagged her for an interview before she got on stage at The Sidewinder and picked her brain about performing, fashion, and why she likes playing in front of drunk fans.
What is the first album you remember owning?
TLC’s “Crazy Sexy Cool.” It was on cassette tape. I’m a huge TLC fan and a Lisa Left Eye fan.
Do you feel like that has influenced your music with Future Death or your other electronic projects?
Yeah! I think that every, especially female singer that I idolize, has had a big impact on me but I certainly have some male influence too.
What is something that you hope people say as they are leaving your shows?
I hope that they leave and say they’ve never heard anything like it. That’s the best compliment I think I’ve ever received about our band. If somebody was even like “I don’t like it but it was weird and different,” then cool.
Is there something about performing that still feels really surreal to you?
Especially when you’re playing a big show, like a big crowd, that can be more surreal. We played a sold out show with the band This Will Destroy You in NYC, and that was a sold out Halloween show so it was just packed and I couldn’t even see towards the back and it was just an incredible feeling to play for that many people.
Do you prefer a basement or a big show like that?
I actually prefer basements because the energy is so different. You know [the NYC show] was a great crowd but its just very different and people who listen to very laid back music tend to golf clap but when you’re at a basement show its like “I’m wasted! This is the best thing I’ve heard in my entire life!” People get wild like they’re at a rodeo or some shit like that. That’s kind of how I equate it. My favorite part is at a basement show when somebody starts climbing the rafters, and it doesn’t even have to be a punk show which is the thing. Like I used to be in an indie pop band and that would make people get rowdy. Sometimes people you don’t expect. When people get drunk it will open things up. Some musicians don’t like that though. They don’t like playing to drunk people because they see it as “They’re not really listening to the music,” but I tend to disagree because some of the best shows I’ve ever been to in my life and have experienced were when I was drunk and maybe that’s part of the thrill, like lowering your inhibitions and expectations.
What are some of your favorite venues to play in Austin?
I love playing house shows but nobody really does that in Austin, or its rare if it happens…but I like playing the Mohawk. They are respectful to the artists that come through there.
Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes –
My favorite shoes are these glitter YSL boots, these ankle boots…they are like disco shoes pretty much and I was going to wear them tonight but they weren’t going to fit in my bag.
Do you use clothing as a way to augment your performance?
One thing I am conscious of is to not take away my femininity because I know sometimes I feel insecure about getting dressed up or looking too feminine and I have to remind myself “Well who gives a fuck” and I’m the one who dictates what I want to wear. It’s kind of frustrating that I feel that way sometimes, like that people will judge me as a singer of a punk band as if I may be weak or something like that if I wear a skirt, so its something that I’m just conscious of sometimes. Sometimes if I feel like it’s a very casual show and everyone is going to be wearing jeans and sneakers, I might adapt to that because I would feel kind of uncomfortable looking like a prom queen in the middle of a very casual situation, but sometimes I have to think “Well that’s stupid for me to feel that way.” Its just a thing I’ve become recently aware of but mostly I’m trying to wear things that are flattering because I’ll see people take pictures of me on Instagram and I’m like “Damn! That’s a bad angle!”
Any parting thoughts?
I had a good time at this festival. This is by far the best music festival I’ve ever been to and I’m really grateful because I think Transmission Events is really fueling Future Death into the radar, at least of the local Austin music scene, and we just really appreciate being given the opportunity to play with incredible bands like we have at this festival.
- Photos by HillyMonster Photography
