how soon is now? || w. a rose [i/v]

YOKO V

So what are we expecting with the new album?

YOKO: Well, something old, something new. Isn't that how it goes? Some of the songs really are just older versions of Hooliganism songs. Like a couple of the songs almost sound like the big sister of Murder at a Party.

ANDY: But then some ended up being really experimental, we really had fun with some of the other tracks. I really like where we went.

YOKO: [laughs] We don't know if it will be successful yet be we sure as hell hope it will.

Do you think working with Guns N Roses has changed the direction of the album?

YOKO: Maybe? I don't know, a lot of it has already been written. I think it gave us a different aspect of music writing and a different way of production.

ANDY: It does feel a bit different but I think that's more on the production end than anything. The way production and the sound engineering side works pretty differently, and that definitely sent us down a different path that way. Don't expect our songs to suddenly sound like Welcome to the Jungle!

[They both laugh.]

Do you think your music still has the more classic British rock feel?

ANDY: Yeah. Absolutely, I don't think it's changed at all.

YOKO: 100% what she said. I don't think living here and recording here has made any difference to the music of the album because we're still British would you believe it. We're still talking about those same issues and the same problems from before.

ANDY: What even is "British Rock" are we talking about The Who or The Smiths? All music is music and I don't think we'll lose our English audience because there is still that relatability.

// NME Magazine, Interview with Andy Bernow and Yoko Nakahashi on Mind the Gap's next album as yet untitled, June 1990.

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w. light nsfw, reference to drug abuse, mention of past racism/slur against east asian people

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Yoko frowned as she opened her eyes, immediately shielding them from the bright sun coming from the bedroom window, the curtains pulled back with the summer LA sun burning through the floor to ceiling glass. She'd forgotten to shut them for the third night in a row.

It hadn't been as bad in winter, when the sun wasn't at its highest by ten but since April it had become unbearable past eight. Yoko supposed it was alright for regular people that got up at seven to go do a regular job, not for drunk rock stars who were still over the limit by lunch time.

Probably when the sun was already back down. And that was without any extra afternoon drinks.

All traces of winter duvets had been stripped off the bed, replaced with cherry red sheets and silk magenta pillowcases, horribly clashing with the sequin trim around the edge and pin tucks across the satin. It was sticky and uncomfortable, wrapping around her legs and flushing against her skin.

It was pretty though. And expensive.

Mainly the second one. She hadn't looked at the price when she'd first spotted them in the magazine, allured by the glowing fabric under the fancy lighting fixtures that her apartment did not have, even though the rental banned any changes to the lighting.

Apparently a former client had done some major damage to the electrics and therefore all tenants afterwards had to keep with the ugly spotlights that were always too bright yet somehow not enough for putting on makeup.