the INQUEERY

My relationship advice to the world is simple: keep his balls empty and his stomach full. This is a guaranteed recipe for success. After seeing Good Goose of Menya perform the other night though, I am going to add “be a beat programmer, be the best band of the night, and have a killer smile” to the list.

You know those rare people that you see that are not only cute but they just look like they are going to be nice? In a city full of negative creeps I have found myself more and more drawing the line in the proverbial sand at mean-spirited, tactless, lame negative attitudes — and Good Goose was just what the doctor ordered to get over this bummer hangover. Also; dating him would mean I have succeeded in marking off another one of my “Types Of Guys I Want To Date At Least Once in My Life” list (see; guy named after benevolent animal).

Good Goose has an energy on and off stage that just makes you want to melt into him. His jizz-in-pants inducing live beats contrast well against his sweet, welcoming, and god damned sexy presence one on one. For example, I saw him leaving QBR after performing a kick ass set and so I shouted “You’re awesome!” Your typical New York hipster-in-a-band would have said thanks and maybe smiled, but would have kept walking. Good Goose smiled, said thank you, and came over to chat and I’m pretty sure he grabbed my butt and ran his fingers through my hair. That last part might be a day dream.

Ohhh I am totally crushin’ on Good Goose! He answered some questions for me, and I’m certain by the time we are done we will be as we are meant to be; Good Geese.

When you’re not working on music what can Good Goose be found doing?

Sleeping. Haha, I actually do spend the majority of my time working on music in some way- be it recording, writing, making beats, booking shows and tours, e-mailing fans, or even just thinking about music. Second place though, is that I like to take nice long walks around Park Slope with my ipod just absorbing everything around me. It’s very relaxing.

I admit to knowing absolutely nothing about making beats. What got you into doing that versus, say, playing the piano?

I had a home studio in high school and I’d often record a lot of punk bands from around DC.  Around the time I turned 16, a lot of my punk band friends and I all started getting really into hip-hop and soon some of the kids started rapping. We all used to make beats together on weekends in my studio and just rap over them for hours. I took over the beat making after a while and a hip-hop group was formed. Once I graduated high school and we all went our separate ways.  I didn’t really do as many beats once I got to college before I met Coco Dame and things sparked up again.  And I’m so glad they did!

You took to your Twitter to announce that you are spending the Summer being an artist. What does that entail?

Being broke.  Haha, I have enough music stuff to keep me busy full time this summer, and I figured I could use a summer to really concentrate on music. We’re putting out a new Menya mixtape in August, so we’re all working hard on writing and recording that. It’ll be totally free and available online.  I’m starting to do DJ sets and we’ve got a lot of small tours and such too. I’ll be busy. Just slightly poor.

Were there any artists that inspire you in your music?

I could go on for days: Spank Rock (specifically XXXChange’s production), the Magnetic Fields (I am a HUGE Stephin Merritt fan), Kid606, Girl Talk, Jay Dilla, The Neptunes, pre-Nelly-Furtado/Justin-Timberlake Timbaland…and of course, my girl Miley. “7 Things”? Hell yeah!

The party at QBR that I was lucky enough to be apart of was so much fun! Are there any venues besides QBR that you really enjoy playing?

I like Bowery Poetry Club a lot. They’ve been really great to us and given us a lot of freedom to throw our own parties. We play there just about every month or two with our good friend Nyle. Also, I have to give a lot of love to the Lake Johnson loft in Bushwick. We’ve played there a ton of times and the parties have always been ridiculously fun. We filmed our music video there.

As far as lyrics go, which songs from Menya are some of your favorites? I must say the hook in “Ripe” where you’re saying “Suck my dick, girl you’re mine” always works me into a – pardon the expression – vicious libido-driven froth.

Aww. Appreciated, but it’s actually not me saying that in “Ripe.” It’s our friend Marty. (B: NOOO!! My heart has never been broken so swiftly!) It’s a very common misconception. I’m usually far too shy to sing lead. I’m trying to be less shy these days. In terms of one-liners and hooks, I thought we had some good ones in Philly Gurls. “You got a crack bigger than the Liberty Bell”? Crazy! In terms of serious ones, I love the lyrics of “Oh!” I think Coco Dame really bares her heart in a lot of songs she writes, and I’m floored by her honesty sometimes.

You have several shows coming up. Are there any venues you’re especially excited about?

I’m really excited about our tour dates. I love playing in Providence. We have some amazing fans out there and we’ll be playing a couple times. Richmond is always so much fun too. We’re playing a couple DC dates and that will be great since both Coco Dame and I grew up nearby. I can’t wait to do June 27th with Nyle at Bowery Poetry Club. Nyle’s been having a great couple months (he’s been featured in New York Magazine, Kanye West’s blog and lots more) and I’ve been so happy to watch him grow.

Are you going to be doing anymore music videos in the near future? The video for “Oh” is so cute!

I can guarantee that we will soon. It will likely be something off our new album that we’re recording now. It will be so much easier to do now that it’s warm. We filmed “Oh!” last January and had to wander around the city in 20-degree weather wearing only thin hoodies. I was the same color as a strawberry by the end.

Where could anyone reading this keep up to date with the happenings of Menya?

Our myspace is http://myspace.com/menyamusic and we also have a blog at http://menyamusic.blogspot.com where we post what can often be described as “TMI.” You can also just e-mail us and ask us “what’s up guys!” We like to meet new people and always appreciate a good hello from strangers. I’m goodgoose@menyamusic.com. If you’re reading this, say hi!

If there were one person, dead or alive, that you could meet and talk to for an hour, who would it be?

Louis Sachar. He wrote Sideways Stories for Wayside School and Holes. I think he has a wonderful imagination and I’d love to just pick his brain for a bit. I’d probably get a lot of great inspiration.

What’s the greatest compliment you’ve ever received?

On a musical level, when Robert Christgau gave us an A- on our first EP on MSN Music, it was unbelievable. I couldn’t believe that something I had been a part of would have been regarding so highly by such a respectable and well-known critic. In a completely different world: Gay Times Magazine in the UK twittered about me being a “new boy crush”. I had never had anything like that happen to me before. I freaked out for a week straight!

Do you have any awesome tattoos? I love tattoos…

I wish. I like tattoos too, but I don’t have the guts to get one. I know I’d regret whatever I’d decide on the second after I get it done. I can be kind of impulsive to a fault.

What word would you say that you over use?

“Crucial” or “Adorable.” I say “adorable” every five minutes.

What do you think your nemesis – Bad Goose – would look like? Would he be in some horrible rival band ala the Misfits in Jem and the Holograms?

I think the fact that you just compared us to Jem and the Holograms makes me want to change my answer about the best compliment I’ve ever received. But it’s pretty safe to say that Bad Goose is anyone who dislikes Shirley Temples. They’re just so good.

BESIDES ME OBVS., who would you want to lay a huge kiss on and why?

My Mom. Because she’s wonderful. Hi Mom!

And Finally – I have a vision: You. Me. A power ballad duet about our love for each other featuring your sexy beats and my milky baritone. What say you?

Sounds like a hit record!

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST! Coming late 2009 — Good Goose featuring Brandon B. in what is sure to be the next big New York club track! Yes it’s a slow song but people will be jammin’ on our looooove..

Thank you for talking with me Good Goose! I name you the INQUEERY’s official GOLDEN EGG/BEAT LAYIN’ MASTER FOWL DELUXX. The title comes with a lifetime subscription of me crushin’ on you!