Interview Excerpt

Nina: So what is it about Orson that makes you a fan of the band?
Annie: Well, I think that Orson is a very unique band compared to other bands ..
Nina: How so?
Annie: Well, the typical rock band in America is so-called “emo” or alternative, but you can’t really understand what they’re saying and it all sounds the same, whereas with Orson, they sound different and their songs sound different also. And you can actually understand what they’re saying, too. And the instrument … the music in the back by the instruments are very good.
Nina: So you mentioned before the “typical American band”. So what do you think of Orson? Since Orson actually started in America, they are American, but they’re in England now … so do you consider them American or British?
Annie: Well, I consider Orson American, but since they’re not typical and what the typical person would enjoy here, then they had to move out there, which is okay with me ‘cause I can still listen to them. I think they’re good.
Nina: So why is it that the typical American fan here wouldn’t want to listen to Orson?
Annie: Well, I don’t think that they wouldn’t wanna listen to them, but it’s because they’re not, umm … they’re not exposed to that kind of music, but if they were, then they would enjoy it. And maybe ‘cause they’re a bit older, too. They’re not young teens or in their 20’s.
Nina: You mean the band members?
Annie: Yeah, the band members. Yeah.
Nina: So do you think it’s Orson’s marketing team that’s not doing a good job or just, like, the current trend in music right now in America that’s stopping Orson from getting into the American music market?
Annie: Well, I think … both because there are bands that are older, such as Coldplay … they’re not, like, young, but they’re also doing … they’re very popular here, so I think they’d also … Orson would do very well in America if their marketing was better and if they advertise more and try to get on radio stations a bit more ‘cause now they’ve got a lot of popularity in the UK, so they can make it over here, too.
Nina: Okay. Umm, so because Orson isn’t really promoted in America, do you find it hard to gain access to Orson music? Like, would you know where to find it or how do you listen to Orson music?
Annie: Uhh, I listen to Orson music through MySpace, umm, websites such as that. Other music websites, like, umm, such as Pandora, or umm, I dunno, like, HypeMachine, or umm, sites like that. But mostly from their MySpace page. Or from downloads, from iTunes or places where I can buy their album.
Nina: Okay. So have you tried to promote Orson to your friends or have them listen to the band’s music?
Annie: Uhh, yes I have before. And they’ve enjoyed it, too, because it’s upbeat and it sets a fun tone.
Nina: So did they wonder why they didn’t hear more of this?
Annie: Umm, well, they’ve asked me where I’ve heard of it from and I told them that I found them from the Internet because that’s how you get access to that .. from bands from other countries. Umm, no. They didn’t ask why they weren’t advertised here or promoted here, but they enjoyed it.
Nina: Do you think that it’s possible that you and maybe other American fans of Orson really like the band because it’s something that nobody else in America is exposed to, so it’s kind of like, a special band in your heart, because you know that you have come across a rare band or not a popular band, so it holds more value to you?
Annie: Umm, yeah, I definitely feel that way because it’s like, something special. In that sense they’re unique and different and not the usual. And I feel that a lot of times when bands are underground at first and become famous all of a sudden once they become famous, they lose what they had originally, which was their really good raw style. But once they become famous, they start changing to become more popular to try to fit in with everyone else and their fans so they start to lose themselves. So if they stay rare and different, I think they’ll keep the sound that they have that I really enjoy…