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Originally from Austin Texas, Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist Kym Priess is a pure pioneerwoman, fierce frontwoman, adventurous musician, writer and actor. As of late, she has specialized in creating conceptual whimsical performance art mixed with immersive, interactive rock n’ roll experiences under the name STUNTDRIVER.
The debut concept album “Saga” was released last September on Rock Hand Records and has been described as “Very Peaches / Karen O feel to the vocals, edgy and full of fire,” by blog Analogue Trash. This project initially debuted as a full immersive production in LA to a sold-out pair of wild, multi-media shows. Spectacle concerts have started up again as a full band whose members include Kym, John Avila (Oingo Boingo), Anton Söder and Sean Burgess (Boneacre, Nightjacket.) In fact, Kym just returned from a solo tour to Seattle and back and audiences are loving the interactive elements (like crawling through a human tunnel) especially after lacking live entertainment for so long.
Kym’s work pushes boundaries, forms and comfort levels yet maintains a fun-loving, absurd and curious tone and has been seen in music venues, galleries, theaters, non-traditional locations and federal prisons in New York, LA, Amsterdam, San Francisco, Honolulu and Austin since the 1990s.
Kym’s hybrid creations are highly influenced by the Wizard of Oz, the art of drag and disguise, clown, Cindy Sherman, Grace Jones, Karen Finley, David Bowie, alter-egos, elaborate costuming and makeup, 80s/90s music videos, fairy tales, old superhero stories, and human interaction.
Recipient of multiple artist residencies including Laura Escude’s Transmute Retreat and The Field, this discipline bender’s career took root in the NYC/NYU experimental theater world prompting many theatrical, comedic and musical works including her first rock opera that was awarded “Best of the Fringe” (SF Fringe Festival 2005). Kym has fronted and formed multiple bands, written 300 songs (many of which can be heard on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules), shared stages with Exene Cervenka and Fishbone and her voice can be heard on William Shatner’s Spirit in the Sky.
In addition to playing live shows again, Kym recently shot a comedy for Amazon, and is returning to the pen writing new songs and a darkly comedic pilot along with creating a multi-sensory side project named after her late great bronco-riding father, Ryland.
Kym loves tubing down a river more than anything else.
https://www.stuntdrivermusic.com/stuntdrivermusic
Bonus link: BLAZAR opened up for Stuntdriver in Eugene, OR recently - here is a link to the face-melting sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHaJ8lluw5s
STDR:
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Show Concept
00:00:03
Speaker
You are listening to something rather than nothing. Creator and host, Ken Zalante. Editor and producer, Peter Bauer.
00:00:15
Speaker
Yeah, so whoever I select, I ask him, like, all right, when I grab the plastic, you come and grab the rest of the roll and just start wrapping me. And that's pretty much the extent of my instructions, right? And then I say, well, and then cut it off and leave. Oh, and I give them this little green eye mask. But he went above and beyond it. He actually wrapped my individual legs
00:00:44
Speaker
which I've never heard anybody do. I mean, it's always an adventure. I mean, sometimes, you know, it's total chaos. They're always like, well, am I gonna mess up your playing? I'm like, don't even worry about it. Just let it be chaos. And yeah, he went for the individual eggs, and it was really hard to get out of there. Because it's like this industrial, big industrial saran wrap. It's more for like furniture wrapping. It's this big industrial roll. It's expensive to do this show, I tell you.
00:01:10
Speaker
But yeah, wow.
Guest Introduction: Kim Priests
00:01:12
Speaker
So while it's it's it's good with we're talking with Kim Priests and wow. So, you know, we're talking about Eugene, Oregon, a show she recently played. And thankfully she had
00:01:29
Speaker
the opening band, a member of the opening band help with individual leg wrapping for the first time in your career with the plastic. So, I mean, if there's one thing about Eugene, Oregon, I can say that if there's a higher likelihood of having your individual legs wrapped with plastic, Eugene, Oregon is a pretty good spot for it, I think. And so you've got that experience. I'll keep that in mind for next time.
00:01:58
Speaker
Kim, welcome to the show. Thanks for coming on. Thank you. Thanks for having me, Ken. Yeah, this is something rather than nothing. And we're talking with Kim Priest. Boy, an artist. So the quick backstory is Peter Bauer, editor and producer of this podcast, great musician, music guy, opened up for Kim and her band Stunt Driver.
00:02:23
Speaker
And we got the field report and we're talking with Kim now. And Kim, I've done a dive into your art. And I got to tell you, just like to frame everything, I love what you do. I mean, I love, you know, I'm a union guy in my background. I love with art. I love provocative art. I love people thinking or messing with kind of structures.
00:02:49
Speaker
to create thinking and engagement. So I see so much of that in, in, in what you do. And I have a lot of questions, um, about, uh, you know, about that. Um, but first of all, uh, tell us about stunt driver. This is not a regular role, you know, uh, bands or anything. What, what, uh, your stunt driver project, what, what, what are you doing when, when you're playing a stunt driver?
Artistic Work and Immersive Shows
00:03:16
Speaker
Yeah, what is Stunt Driver? And just FYI for everyone, Stunt Driver all caps one word. Yeah. I always say that. Okay, so Stunt Driver. All right. Well, Peter, you just mentioned, witnessed the first time ever me doing a solo tour of the project. I mean, yes.
00:03:39
Speaker
When I conceived this baby in 2017, late 2017, I was like, okay, I'm tired of doing the band thing. I'm going to start this solo thing. But you know what? It turned into this entire immersive production.
00:03:55
Speaker
I'm trying to make this as succinct as possible. I started writing some jams. I even went to a retreat in Florida where I really like dove into them. And then got together some songs, demos, whatnot, and ended up working with John Avula from Oingo Boingo and his business partner,
00:04:14
Speaker
as producers And then we start working together and I hadn't even thought about like what the live Version was gonna look like yet as far as like band members, right? I was just kind of in the writing phase and I like hey, can we play in it? I was like, okay So John ends up playing bass in many of the versions his partner Anton business partner Anton ended up playing keytar and
00:04:38
Speaker
And it happened to be the key tar that John played back in like Oingo Boingo days. So
Live Show Development and Influences
00:04:44
Speaker
he still plays that thing. It's like this key tar. Yeah. Yeah. It's pretty old. It's pretty cool. So those guys still play with me. So then got ready for this crazy immersive version. I basically had made a proposal to this cool warehouse performance space in L.A. called Highways. And they're like, yes, let's do it. But I like, OK, let's do it in June.
00:05:07
Speaker
And meanwhile, it's like, when did I agree to do that? I don't know, January, this 2018, and the songs weren't even done. So it was like, okay. And I just like agreed and just was finishing songs, having like actor rehearsals, set building, all this stuff, like all at the same time. And it was really stressful. But pulled it out, pulled it off. And I mean, these shows were sold out, people were loving it.
00:05:29
Speaker
Basically, it was like a living album experience. So audience members would essentially walk through the album and each station, I call them, proposed like a different human challenge, right? Like really encouraging people to get out of their shelves and all this stuff. And it's very much
00:05:48
Speaker
I didn't even mention this. See, I've been working on this too long. Sometimes I'm bad at explaining it. It's kind of like the age-old battle of light and dark. So it's very sort of like Darth Vader meets the Resistance. Like, where does the evil come from? All this, because there's this evil lady called the Influencer. She's the green lady. And obviously, this came out of me making fun of social media originally.
Character and Concept Exploration
00:06:10
Speaker
But she has this product called Night Cream that disguises your flaws, your inner demons. But she's kind of like a hoax.
00:06:17
Speaker
Keep in mind, I wrote all this before the pandemic, but it oddly relates in certain ways. I'm not saying COVID is a hoax. I know that's what that's associated with, by the way. I'm not saying that. Thanks for the disclaimer. It's been strange times for as long as I can remember. Any disclaimer that you think is useful for... I don't know. The word hoax might be triggering.
00:06:45
Speaker
Uh, for some. But anyways, the influencer, yeah, she's fake and she only lives in the virtual world. So then like in the live shows and this kind of, actually I used to never do her live, but then during lockdown, I started doing all these live streams and I was like, Oh my God, what if I become the influencer transforms into the driver?
00:07:04
Speaker
And the driver, for everybody knows, is really like the side of the resistance. Good, you know, fighting, standing up for people's rights, you know, justice for all, right? And we're, you know, white clad in these stunt suits with gold and black makeup and gold helmets, black gloves, the whole deal.
00:07:23
Speaker
And like these custom-made suits made very sort of like Evil Knievel meets Susie Quattro style suits. But yeah, so it's this battle between them and now it is morphed in recent versions post-fandemic. Well, let me just back up. Sorry, let me back up. So after those crazy immersive versions where I like went in the hole and
00:07:45
Speaker
I made sure everybody got paid except for myself. I was like, okay, how do I keep up this project
Challenges and Adaptations
00:07:51
Speaker
without any significant backing or grants or anything? How do I keep this project up in a feasible way that obviously keeps it alive and fun? Then it just turned into concert versions, but immersive concert versions. That started getting jamming.
00:08:08
Speaker
right? 2019, you know, finally like finished the record back then because we never finalized the mixes. We just got them ready for those original immersive shows. So, but also obviously money was a thing too. You know, so finally, finally, finally, like finished mixing them, mastering them all that stuff. And then finally, records ready to come out and lockdown happens.
00:08:27
Speaker
Yeah, you know and obviously like prior to that we've been playing out and stuff and it's going really well doing like video release shows and you know, whatever just playing out, you know, but you know, there's there's sponges that I hand out to the audience to have them sponge off their residual crap. Can I cuss on this? Am I allowed? Yes, of course you can. I expected you would. So okay, good. I do have a trucker mouth.
00:08:52
Speaker
I also teach acting to kids, so I often have to like, you know, put on the, you know, what word would I use instead voice? You know, but of course, you know, if I ever slip, they're like, Oh my gosh, Miss Kim, you know, and they find it amusing.
00:09:11
Speaker
Anyhow, where was I? So yeah, we started doing all the concert versions. Oh yeah, yellow sponges. There's a tunnel that's become a real big hit that people love climbing through it as this human tunnel. I mean, it was originally like a dog tunnel, but for a very large dog, maybe a great day because people can get through it. Like actually the other night, this was two weeks ago, a really
00:09:32
Speaker
Person that was larger than the tunnel got in and I was afraid they're gonna get stuck, but they made it I was afraid they're gonna rip my tunnel, but I've seen the I've seen the tunnel and I didn't see you must be
00:09:45
Speaker
this taller, this size to go through, so I assume it's... Yeah, I don't list any size specifications. I don't... All-inclusive, all-inclusive, you know. Make the decision for yourself. Do you think you can get to the end of this? Or if not, but you know, it's all about transformation. So, you know, maybe if you don't... Sometimes you gotta turn back. Sometimes you gotta turn back.
Audience Interaction and Engagement
00:10:09
Speaker
But yes, there's a tunnel. There's obviously the plastic wrapping in which we mentioned. And obviously I could go into detail with all these things mean to and what else is there something else? Look, there's some other thing I use. Well, let me ask. Yeah, let me let me ask this, Kim. And I think one of my one of the one of the areas you go in that that I see that that I love that I think is thought, you know, thought provoking, fun,
00:10:37
Speaker
is I've been fascinated for the longest time with the imaginary space between you, performer, and the audience, and in general, expectations that are around this, right? So I think if I go to a show and I buy a ticket,
00:10:59
Speaker
I am going to listen to music and I'm going to have my space and I'm going to navigate it the way that I will.
00:11:14
Speaker
break down the distance between audience, participator, and you as performer, what is that like for you to go into that space and to tinker with that space? Because a lot of folks don't do it and they say they need and they have to have and they expect on both sides that there's that boundary. When you mess with it, what happens?
00:11:43
Speaker
Oh, I mess with it big time. That's my jam. What? Well...
00:11:52
Speaker
It's interesting. I really, especially since I start now as the influencer, I start her pre-show. I oftentimes walk around the crowd before, you know? And depending on the setup of the concert, I mean, we might be playing some like dive bar, right? Where there's no reveal, you know what I mean? I'm like sound checking and everybody's right there and I'm the influencer, right? Yeah, yeah.
00:12:19
Speaker
But sometimes during that soundcheck moment, so there's this, I tie on this half-body mannequin onto me. I strap this on, and it looks like mannequin boobs and everything. But there's no way, especially in the solo versions, I got to check my bass. I got to do my bass. I cannot put the bass on with that thing on.
00:12:41
Speaker
So for some of the sound checky things, I don't have it on, but I have everything else on, right? So I have this like lab coat over my driver outfit, you know, and I got the whole influencer get up green wig, this whole mass thing. You know, so I sometimes I talk to the audience during that part as the influencer, right? Sometimes I just ignore them.
00:13:00
Speaker
Right. And then I say, you know, and in my like fake British accent, I say, I'll be back. I'm actually that's horrible. That was kind of Australian. But let's see. Hello, everybody. I'm the ambulance. She's popular in both England and Australia. So it might reach that bridge that bridge that I might piss some people off. But but anyways, yes, sometimes I'm sort of in character. There's not. But
00:13:25
Speaker
To really answer your question about that, I love that imaginary space, or shall we call it the fourth wall, where I make that fourth wall, I really want it to be transparent, I guess, right? I want it to connect.
Artistic Philosophy and Influences
00:13:39
Speaker
I love that you call it this imaginary space. I think I just sort of unabashedly or forcefully am the influencer, and then what she turns into,
00:13:54
Speaker
that there's just, like I don't back down. And I think it scares a lot of people. I think it also, through that fear, by the end of the show, it's like broken down some walls for them. Like I've seen it happen and it's really rewarding. I think it's maybe like one of the coolest things, I guess, about to know that I could maybe
00:14:25
Speaker
help somebody to get out of their shell by me just being like a total clown. Up and over something. I mean, I've seen, you know, I've watched the videos and I think it's really fascinating because it's a challenge and there's all sorts of outcomes as far as, you know, provocation. I mean, it's just the way that it is. Something is occurring. But just seeing, you know, just prompts to engage or talk to like somebody that you don't know who's next to you and seeing like,
00:14:55
Speaker
active conversation that's been set up for that. And it's not a world changer. That's not necessarily at the point I'd imagine, but, um, it's, it's something that's, uh, provoked in, in, in generated, uh, in the experience. And I, and I find, I find that, um, whether folks have asked for it or not, they, they did, there's a way to put, have them jump over that hurdle and be like,
00:15:22
Speaker
This person's cool. I didn't know they lived across town. They seem pretty, they seem pretty, they seem pretty nice, right? Unless they start talking to you about a hoax and then, you know, then, you know. No hashtag hoaxes, please.
00:15:39
Speaker
All right. We're speaking with Kim and Kim Priest. Thank you so much for coming on. I got to mention a few of your influences. I love lists. I mean, I know it's an easy thing to grab at, but I was looking at your bio and seeing some influences and such over your work. Wizard of Oz, I almost stopped there because
00:16:02
Speaker
Wizard of Oz. I think when you're into it means everything and then there's other things. But Dragon Disguise, Clown, Alter Ego, love that. Superheroes thinking about transformation. 80s and 90s music videos. Yes, yes, as far as an aesthetic. So I, you know, I see these Grace Jones. I see these various
00:16:30
Speaker
various pieces in what you do. And what I wanted to ask you, Kim, is one of the big questions. You're obviously an artist, a fantastic artist, very noticeable and conspicuous. But what's art? What are you trying to do? Like, what's art? I knew this question was coming.
00:16:59
Speaker
Um, what is art? You know, I actually journaled on the, on your questions the other day. Oh, that's, yeah, love it. I have them here in my yellow journal. Um, well, I, I do, I think art is a way of processing the world, whether you are, you know, the artist yourself or kind of like you said, you know, when you're going to a show or you're, whatever, you're, you're ready to see something, experience something,
00:17:26
Speaker
maybe feel something, right? But I think art can offer perspective. I think it can offer escape, joy, entertainment, freedom. And I mean, yeah, in a way of exploring issues, questions in the world. And I think for me, and I'm sure many artists agree with this, when you are making it or presenting it, sharing it, it's kind of one of the most present times in your life.
00:17:56
Speaker
Like when I'm on stage, nothing else exists. I mean, yes, I'm taking in everything else that's going on, you know, but in the room. But I mean, in that moment, it's like, you know, that 30 minutes or whatever it is. It's everything. It's everything. It's everything. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. I found that in asking the question, exploring art on the podcast.
00:18:25
Speaker
The big thing that pops up and asks about what is art is like immediately moves to like, what is it doing for us? How is it helping us? Why do we need it? And that moment that you mentioned, Raythea, that I wanted to just capture about of how you feel and who you are within the performance of art, I have found to be the most captivating magic around talking about art.
00:18:55
Speaker
when you are immersed in the experience. It could be the viewer and the participant or what have you, but as an artist performing that, it is the thing. It is what is happening. It is who you are. And I know I've had that experience some time and it feels like a different way of experiencing time. And like afterwards you're like, whoa,
00:19:20
Speaker
Well, that was a heck of an experience. Like, wow. And kind of move back, move back out of it. Do you find, uh, for yourself, um, as far as taking on, uh, say alter ego or, or personality that, that just helps you as a person to kind of explore artistically these different pieces of yourself?
00:19:51
Speaker
Wait, sorry, repeat the question. Does it help me? What do you mean exactly? Yeah, just like taking up different aspects of how you perform as an artist, as different pieces and extensions of you in developing, just as far as the meaning of that for you, as far as you being able to express yourself fully.
00:20:16
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, you know, it's interesting. I mean, the influencer is obviously sure. I mean, sure, she's a part of me, you know, like the part of me that's like judgy, the part of me that feels like there's things wrong. Sure. You know, and not to mention, I just love doing that accent.
00:20:35
Speaker
But, and then the driver, the driver, she's just fond, she's just ridiculous, you know, the influencer. And then the driver is, I'm much more me during, as the driver, you know, maybe a little exaggerated, but I'm much more me.
00:20:54
Speaker
Um, and you know, I used to do standup comedy and it's something that I feel like I don't, I'd love to go back to, but just like any art form, it's that's all thing, right? That's a particular way of writing. That's a particular way, you know, and it's another thing, you know, like my partner's always laughing like what next? What next?
00:21:15
Speaker
Oh, you're going to be this next, you know, but but I kind of get to exercise, you know, some little stand up stuff as the driver, you know, and yes, I have my stick for this.
Performance Dynamics and Comedy
00:21:32
Speaker
For the show, you know, for a set, there's my stick for sure. You know, tell me about. Tell me. Tell me. Tell me about. Tell me about stand up. I love stand up comedy. I believe it's the biggest Daredevil act. I mean, I.
00:21:47
Speaker
I'm in awe of jumping in on stage and there you have it. Can you give us a little peek into that? I haven't been able to talk to many folks to do that, but as far as performance, what is that experience like? You know, Ken, I haven't done it in a really long time.
00:22:09
Speaker
But I will say, of all the performance mediums, just talking performance here, is truly the most vulnerable and raw. And I think it's more about presence than it is about your actual punchlines.
00:22:30
Speaker
You know or your material, you know, you can think of like some of the greats like lenny bruce um, um, uh I'm drawing a blank here. I'm richard prior is huge for me Yeah, and just like but their presence alone You know was was hilarious. Um, but uh, I don't I was really really into it for this was this was this was like after college and I was
00:23:00
Speaker
really into it, and I was really going to these open mics. I was actually, I'm from Austin, Texas originally, and I was back in Austin for a summer doing Shakespeare in the Park, and I was like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna start doing stand-up, start doing stand-up. I mean, I was, you know, what, in my early 20s, and it was actually going really well, you know? I auditioned for this HBO special. I didn't get on it, but I remember told this story about shit in my pants, and then they cut me off.
00:23:28
Speaker
Come on. They cut you off. I was number 99. They cut you off for that. Come on. I know, I know. Canceled, canceled.
00:23:37
Speaker
canceled in 19... Geez, what is this, 1940s here? I mean, it's a shitting in your pants joke. Late 90s, late 90s. But yeah, and then, you know, it was, I don't know, I was having a blast. I was like really kind of getting involved in the scene and was really inspired in that way. You know, I'd get, you know, I would like have a cocktail napkin and these ideas would be coming to me while I'd be like sitting at a show, you know? Not that I wasn't paying attention to the former, but it was like spawning ideas and I'd be like, oh, write down that little,
00:24:06
Speaker
drink it, you know? And then I moved to San Francisco and I don't know, just, you know, whatever. I started doing other performance things and I kind of did it for a little bit and then it just kind of, you know, I mean, I think it's in my work. I think it shows up in my work, but not as a, this is pure stand up, you know? And I don't know, maybe one day I'll get back to it.
00:24:31
Speaker
But yeah, what about many things on my list? I got a question. Just so the final question about that is what about the you know, the the boundary, let's say it's the imaginary boundary, you know, you know, I mean, I when I was mentioning my comments about you as a performer, I tend to think about that in
00:24:52
Speaker
you know, with comedy as well, such as the relation with the audience, stepping into them, busting their balls, like picking out one person, you know, breaking that piece down. And of course, recently, culturally with the
00:25:06
Speaker
Chris Rock, you know, Will Smith, we saw that the boundary between the audience and the performers busted wide open. But were you and the comedy bit on that particular point, were you thinking about those things? Were you kind of fucking with those things? Well, I wasn't punching people in the face or anything. But but as far as I mean, that's kind of
00:25:32
Speaker
The way I go about the world, I love people that fuck with me and I love fucking with people, like in good fun. I mean, one of my main goals in life is to just spread joy. So if that means I'm like making you laugh or being ridiculous, you know, fantastic. Yeah. You know, I think that's, I think that's kind of keep me maybe alive for a while.
00:25:55
Speaker
Well, I deeply appreciate you doing that. It reminded me of I had a painter on the show, one of my favorite painters, and her name is Vanessa Stockard. And she she's called herself a happiness peddler. And it was just like a really cool thing.
Tour Plans and Upcoming Shows
00:26:14
Speaker
It was just like, you know, there's some
00:26:16
Speaker
There's some darker themes and stuff like that to work through in the art and stuff, but in general, the jokes and the paintings and the paintings themselves are being able to mess with different popular cultural pieces.
00:26:29
Speaker
just trying to tweak things and become a happiness peddler. So, hey, peddling happiness, mixing things up. Yeah, I love it. So Kim, it's a little peak inside of doing a stunt driver. Can you tell us like what you're up to and just like just in general, like where stunt driver shows up, things like that, focusing on your performance?
00:26:59
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. So, well, as you know, I just did that, I just did that big test of me going like on a solo tour and it was amazing. I mean, the hardest thing was not getting enough sleep, driving five hours, doing a show and then.
00:27:14
Speaker
going to sleep for a little bit, trying five hours, doing a show. Not being able to take a nap while someone else is driving. But would I do it again? Absolutely. So that just happened and that was great. And so now, so what that did for me was to go, oh yeah, I can do this solo and it's still just as fun. I mean sure, it's great to have my band mates, don't get me wrong, absolutely. So that being said,
00:27:41
Speaker
This Sunday, just the way it's working out with availability and just life, this Sunday, doing a little show in Long Beach. And actually, the only person that could do it is my guitar player. So it's just the two of us. So I'm playing. So what's really fun, too, is I've been, I mean, I do play bass, but in the full band versions, I don't play bass. But I started playing bass in the solo versions, and it's really fun for me. So, you know, because I really love, love, love bass.
00:28:10
Speaker
And I'm starting a side project, but that's a little story. So where's Sundriver going next? Next big full band show is at the Viper Room before it gets turned into condos on June 24th in LA. That's turned into condos? Give us the LA scoop. What's the LA scoop there?
00:28:28
Speaker
I mean, yeah. That's it. That's it. Viper rooms. Viper rooms now condos will be condos. I mean, soon, soon. I don't know when the exact date is, but, you know, everyone's like scrambling to get in there. So I was like, screw it. Let's do it. So we're doing that. And that'll be like another full band production. You know, so John Anton and I had Sean Bergus on drums. He's fantastic. And he's he's been doing a ton of shows with me like we've done just him and I as a duo. In fact, we did we did
00:28:54
Speaker
a show a couple weeks ago. It was right after I got back from the solo stuff, just him and I at this dive bar in the valley. And there was a fight that broke out. It was nuts. This is when the guy couldn't sit through the tunnel or he did, you know, had some challenges. And honestly, but sometimes, sometimes there's these places where I'm like, do I bring out the tunnel? Because there's like, it seems like there's no room. Like this was a dive bar where there were like tables everywhere. And I'm like, fuck it.
00:29:17
Speaker
And so when it came that moment, I moved some tables and pulled the title out. It was hilarious. So the tunnel and I'm telling you, like kind of going back to that that that space that you're talking about, the imaginary space, even places I've played where this was like on tour, I noticed this, you know, where there's like the cool guy factor, you know, like.
00:29:36
Speaker
everybody's like, you know, not moving and their arms weren't all black, right? They even start to soften up. So if I could like get to those people, it's kind of really amazing. It's like, it's okay. We can all have fun. We can smile. It's cool.
00:29:51
Speaker
Yeah, so oh, and the dancers will be back for the June 24 show at the Viper Room. So I have two dancers, but we were rehearsing as two dancers, then one got COVID when we were getting ready for our album release in April. So I've just had one dancer so far. So both dancers are back, fingers crossed it stays that way.
00:30:10
Speaker
with her climate and Yeah, maybe actors too will investigate because sometimes I have actors too that are the influenzas and they work for the influencer So they're like these minions of her that spread the word. She's like a cult leader, you know of night cream So yeah, and then
00:30:29
Speaker
Yeah, then working on some other like obviously, I mean, just kind of like focusing on building in LA, but also like regionally, right? There's the desert, there's Inland Empire, all that stuff. And then I'm going to be in Austin this summer. So I'm working on an Austin gig, which obviously I would do solo. And then I'm going to be in New York a bit.
00:30:48
Speaker
So I'm working on some New York gigs, you know, and you know, it's tricky. It's tricky. Like I wish I could be like, Hey, I'm flying the band out. But you know, at the end of the day, it's not like this is like, it's not one of those bands where we all came up with it together and we all split everything. It's not that.
00:31:05
Speaker
Um, I do would like, I wouldn't like to have a project like that again, but this one's just not like that. It's kind of like, all right, who can do what, you know, obviously, unfortunately, you know, it comes down to money lots of times, you know, if somebody in New York's like, Hey, I'll fly you guys out. Here's a guarantee. Hell yeah. It's full band. But if it's just a normal door deal, lots of times it's just, Hey, let's see here that out there out East. I'm originally from Rhode Island. I know some East coast listeners listen a shout out to
00:31:33
Speaker
I know a bunch of folks down in Austin, Texas. Uh, love, love, love, love Austin.
The Los Angeles Arts Scene
00:31:39
Speaker
I am a East coast guy. I adore LA. You know, I grew up, I grew up on the East coast. LA for me growing up in the eighties was like, was like, like a weird wizard of Oz, right? It was like, it was just, I was a working class kid. It was such a.
00:31:57
Speaker
a big idea, a big thing. And I finally went to LA a few years ago, living out in the West Coast. And I don't know, I've never been ashamed of being caught up in all of it, all of it there, good and bad and everything. I love LA, which would have gotten me kicked out of Boston in places where, you know, I was at times, but no, I just love it. And of course we're reaching Kim,
00:32:25
Speaker
uh, from, from the wonderful, uh, from the wonderful city of Los Angeles. And, um, what I wanted to ask you, uh, Kim and, um, and thanks for this interview. I mean, I, the list of stuff that you do and you're into, it's, it's all in my wheelhouse. So it's just like, for me, it's just like,
00:32:45
Speaker
Thanks for being here because all this shit's really cool I wanted to ask it's it's it's a it's a bit of an odd question Because I think I know the answer but I wanted to ask you it and I I asked artists why is it that you create or or choose to create because you don't have to but what I
00:33:11
Speaker
What is M is just an overriding force is it's a way like I need this to keep my head healthy, but why do you create?
00:33:21
Speaker
I mean, it kind of, they come and look at my journal entries. That is completely permissible because otherwise why did you put in, put in the good journaling work? Here's what I wrote. Here's what I wrote. I wrote to process, to feel, to flow, to be present, to question, to investigate, to play, to entertain, to inspire, to collaborate, to be, I can't read that, to be at ease maybe.
00:33:56
Speaker
Yes. Well, it should be at ease. You couldn't read the two be at ease. You might not have been at ease when you were doing it, but that was a fantastic list. And I do want to stop.
Artistic Process and Reflection
00:34:08
Speaker
And I know of all the therapy that I get, all the people I talk to about healing, I am glad that you're referencing, that you journaled around these questions. I know so many people say, hey, just do this. If you got weird ass thoughts in your head, like,
00:34:17
Speaker
But yeah.
00:34:26
Speaker
put them on the paper and put the paper away. So folks, good practice as far as I know. So yeah. I mean, I've been doing morning pages. I don't know the artist way, Julia Cameron, the morning pages, I've been doing it for like 20 years where you just get up and literally just let the pen flow. You know, that's more like subconscious style writing, but you know, but then I have prompts too, you know, so thank you. Yeah, prompts.
00:34:53
Speaker
Look at this. It isn't just all wildness and just everything. It's about being a... Yeah. I listened to a few of the podcasts, specifically the ones you told me to listen to. I can't remember who it was. The one that makes stuff in nature. I can't remember. Grew up in an artist family.
00:35:20
Speaker
It's all that she does. It's one of your recent ones. But I was just like, wow, gosh, she's creating all the time. And sometimes, and yes, I do put pressure on myself to create, right? But then I was like, I've just been thinking a lot lately, well, why is there this pressure to do it? Like, you know, like, how do I have like, it's like, instead of being like, I'm out of focus and making it like this closed heart action, like super focused tunnel vision, what is it like to have like open heart?
00:35:47
Speaker
even with pressure, right, if that makes sense. Because lots of times, I mean, unfortunately,
00:35:55
Speaker
I mean, unless you got a team working for you, you don't just get to make art all the time. There is a business side to it. And there's a lot of freaking admin. Admin, that's really annoying. So I find myself oftentimes getting really obsessed with booking, reaching out. Or this week I had to catch up on editing some live videos. And I try to make that creative. But at the end of the day, it still feels like an admin task.
00:36:21
Speaker
You know or updating this profile or make sure you know, and I really try talking about boundaries I really try to create or compartmentalize, you know, like okay, you know Mondays and Wednesdays are this you know, blah blah blah blah blah just otherwise I can get too scattered about it or it's like I'm forcing it or whatever just really Allocating time for different things, you know and for different projects, too Yeah, yeah, and I uh
00:36:50
Speaker
that's
00:37:00
Speaker
Um, you know, being very interested in, in looking at the things you do. I can, I, who knows what I sent you as far as I could take a screenshot of it. I could probably tell you. I'm saying, uh, part of my point is I think it would be easy to suggest things to you, but tough to remember the various things that I suggest. Um, but, uh,
00:37:27
Speaker
Well, yeah, and of course, thanks for listening. We got Kim Preece here from Stunt Driver, and I don't know, she's have to consult her journal here, but I do have kind of a big one is brought Kim Preece here to answer the question, why is there something rather than nothing?
The Philosophy of Art Creation
00:37:58
Speaker
I knew it was coming. Let me consult my journal. Then we don't know what's next. Yeah, we make art out of nothing, right? Or, but there's always something to, hold on, let me look at what I wrote. Yeah, we make art out of nothing because there's always something.
00:38:21
Speaker
Right? And then sometimes we don't even know, you know, what's next, but there's always something. So whether it's whether it's we've received a prompt from an individual or life or maybe something that inspired us or triggered us or whatever it may be, there is always something to draw from.
00:38:42
Speaker
You know, and I teach acting. So I'm so even when, you know, students are like, well, I don't relate, you know, it's like, no, there's always something. There is always something. Even if something seems so far away from you, there is always something. It could just be fear. It could be, you know, you've experienced joy before. And this person is having a totally joyful moment or vengeance or whatever it may be. You know, yeah, we're always making stuff out of nothing.
00:39:11
Speaker
I love that. I don't, I wasn't sure in the journal whether, you know, the question is, is so ridiculous and it's profound or ridiculous. It matters what mood you're in. But I think, you know, I think I could imagine you might've done like a funny face and cross out or, you know, tell the, yeah. No, I mean, it's, I love it. Thank you for,
00:39:36
Speaker
Thank you for playing on that. I think what I want to do on the podcast sometimes is have the pauses and the giggles when I ask such a
00:39:46
Speaker
a wild question. It's always fun. And I appreciate you philosophizing. I mean, for me, with philosophy, too, a lot of it's active. So when I see you messing with the boundaries that have been set up socially, for me, that's philosophy. Because a lot of philosophers, where you can start to think is where there's a crack or where there's a breakdown or where there's something that messes things up.
00:40:16
Speaker
I don't know. I think you prompt thinking. I think questions prompt thinking. And I love everything you do, Kim. Aw, Kim, thanks. Yeah, it's groovy. And love the music. And I love the...
00:40:33
Speaker
the the engagement in the serendipity of editor and producer Peter Bauer finding stunt driver and Kim Priests in Eugene this is how this is how it all it all happens um Kim I know you mentioned yeah yeah definitely Kim I know you mentioned um
00:40:54
Speaker
some of the spots you'll be arriving at under a stunt driver.
Where to Find Stunt Driver
00:40:59
Speaker
Can you tell the audience where to find your stuff, music, visuals, website, all that type of thing?
00:41:07
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Well, I do, websites will kind of lead you to everything, for Stunt Driver, that is. So the website is just stuntdrivermusic.com. Stunt, S-T-U-N-T-D-R-I-V-E-R music.com. And I just, like I said, I just edited a ton of live videos. Unfortunately, none of them are from the solo rendition, but
00:41:33
Speaker
But there's maybe in like Instagram stories, they're probably in the highlights for live, there's some in there. But on YouTube, it's on YouTube. But all that is clickable on the website. But as far as like my handle on all the forms of social media, it's Stunt Driver Music. Because unfortunately, Stunt Driver was taken. So Stunt Driver Music, on Twitter, it's like Stunt Driver Muse, but whatever, I don't really.
00:41:58
Speaker
worried too much about Twitter and obviously you know Spotify it's you know the thing it's just on driver on there but um and I'm you know I'm trying to work and then
00:42:11
Speaker
You know, I've been applying for grants and stuff for other projects and they're like, where's the kimpriest.com website? I'm just like, ah, that's, you know, I've owned kimpriest.com forever. But as far as like making an actual website just for that, cause then that's another, you know, that's another hundred bucks a year, you know?
00:42:31
Speaker
and because i keep getting that question a lot like well who's the artist behind stone driver like who is you know and so eventually i'll make that freaking website but i do you know like i used to go by hawk tomahawk so hawk is kim perise is the instagram for that where i post kind of like the other stuff
00:42:50
Speaker
for now. But it's all about adventure. It's all about adventure. That's like, I guess that's, I didn't throw that in when you asked me about art, but it's adventure. Life is adventure. That's like my trigger word, adventure. And so I try to make art an adventure. I try to make shows an adventure. I look at my bandmates before we go on stage and I'm just like, Hey, let's have an adventure. Who knows what's going to happen? You know,
00:43:11
Speaker
And it's true when every show is totally different. And, um, it's been really fun and hopefully I can just offer people an experience, you know, something feels something. Maybe we can all empathize about something. Yeah. Yeah. It's been a big part of the, the show. Um, I think about in terms of, uh, organizing or living life, you know, authentically, you know, connecting with folks, having an experience that,
00:43:40
Speaker
is transformative or fun or silly or a stunt or whatever. I love that because I feel that, for me, yes, it appeals to my particular makeup and who I am, but I'm convinced that everybody needs some of that and they kind of move away from that. So thanks for bringing that stuff to the table.
00:44:10
Speaker
And thank you for what you do and hanging out. It's really been a great pleasure, Kim, and I'm going to be looking actively.
00:44:23
Speaker
for what you do and where you pop up. And hopefully, you know, I, when you're around, I can catch a show. I have a very large Gumby outfit. I don't know if that's a licensed thing or that would fit into what's going on, but I'm thinking green with the green mask and stuff like that. Oh, listen, you're wrapping me in plastic if you're at a live show, Ken, in the Gumby outfit.
00:44:50
Speaker
Um, wow. This, this set up. All right. So we've done some collaboration work in planning already. So the task type of stuff that you were talking about, we took care of it when you're doing the task podcast interview, which was fun, hopefully. So that was awesome. It's awesome. No, we'll do a run. We'll do another run up the coast, you know, maybe in a few months, fall early fall. So yeah, you're on my list. That's you're on my Portland and my Eugene list.
00:45:19
Speaker
I did with Portland, Portland in Eugene. So, um, yeah, thanks. Thanks. Thanks again, Kim. Uh, thanks. Thanks for hanging out. Um, I hope you have, uh, uh, have a great, uh, day, evening, um, et cetera. And I, and I hope we get a chance to chat, uh, really soon. Keep doing what you do and, uh, everybody check out a stunt driver live, check out the podcast, check out the site, check out Kim and, um,
00:45:48
Speaker
I'm sure you will enjoy and be better by the experience. So thanks, Kim. Thank you so much, Ken. Love the show. Be in touch. Thank you.
00:46:47
Speaker
Switch it that way
00:49:28
Speaker
Give up, give in, celebrate No time to procrastinate, oh Time to party, not be gaudy The things we eliminate Fly low, above radar Steady in the forehead Non-violent, just hell bent Delusions in the red, oh How do you talk to yourself
00:49:55
Speaker
Do you want to turn it on? Or do you want to turn it down? Cause you, you, you forgot your crown. We on the same trade. Entertain, restrain, detain, sustain, obtain. Oh, you, you're not a man, a kid, you're a human. Turn it on, turn it up, oh. Death is all around. Death to a possible now.
00:50:32
Speaker
This is something rather than nothing.