Nine Questions

Clay Dudash

I first discovered the squirrely, singer-songwriter known as Clay Dudash when he opened a show at Topaz Tucson in the winter of 2013. Dudash has released an EP titled "Keep Your Company" at the beginning of 2014. You can download his album at ClayDudashMusic.bandcamp.com and follow him on Twitter @ClayDudashMusic.

What was the first concert you attended?

Phoenix (the band) in 2009 at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. During their last song they invited everyone on stage, and I went ape just over the fact I was able to be up there. I took a set-list near one of the guitars and one of their roadies grabbed me because he thought I was stealing stuff.

What are you listening to these days?

LCD Soundsystem and that song "One For The Road" by the Arctic Monkeys.

What was the first album you owned?

Moby's Play. That album has a bunch of old blues vocal samples, and they used to freak me out when I was kid because some of them were so eerie.

What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?

It's not that I don't get it, but EDM's rise to the forefront is super interesting. Technology is making people that would otherwise not make music, make music. You go to any young college guy's house these days and they all have studios and make beats. It's just kind of funny.

What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?

I would like to see St. Vincent, even though I don't really listen to her music. She has a pop star style when she plays live, and she's gaining a ton of popularity. But she shreds too, so that's cool.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

U2 and Coldplay. Everyone hates them, but I have noticed that expressing my affection publicly changes their opinion.

What song would you like to have played at your funeral?

"Wake Up" by Arcade Fire or "Obstacle 1" by Interpol.

What artist changed your life and how?

The Beastie Boys because of their album To The Five Burroughs. I was in middle school and I got all caught up in the marketing machine and the hype built up for that release. It was all I listened to for a while, I still love it, but I can't listen to it like I did when I was 12.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

Probably Turn on the Bright Lights or Antics by Interpol. I like their lyrical content a lot on those albums. Sad music is my jam, dude, that's just how it goes.