PlanetGrrl Grrls In Rock - Interviews

GrrlsInRock Writer Sarah interviews

Anet Mook .....

This is my first ever interview for Grrls in Rock and as you can imagine I am rather nervous as I enter the backstage area of Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms. I have a lot of respect for Cay and meeting people you think are cool is always kind of scary.

"The music industry always makes me cringe, because it’s so disgusting- the business side is horrible. But girls who want to be in bands, should just go for it and don’t let the bastards get you down! "

Anet Mook, the singer and guitarist of Cay is chilling out with the band in a tiny room and from the moment I go in, I can tell she is as cool in real life as she comes across on stage and in the press. She is wearing a Cay ‘Fuk Pop’ t-shirt that she designed for the band’s merchandise and some ripped knee khaki trousers, pulling off this seasons ‘grunge girl’ look just slightly better than the likes of Mel C. The rest of the band, who look completely shattered from their busy tour schedule, sit around and listen as we have a little chat about Cay, her favourite music and what she thinks about the music industry.

How old were you when you first started getting into music?

I’ve been into music all my life really, but I guess since I was five, when I started nicking my Mum’s records.

When did you first start playing the guitar?

About three and a half years ago.

Who were your music heroes when you were growing up?

When I was very young, like about six, it was definitely Diana Ross and Barbara Streisend and then Billie Holiday, Sam Vaughn, Johnny Rotten, Kurt Cobain and Thurston Moore.

What would you say was the song or album band or gig that made you want to get into music?

I don’t think I ever had any, there definitely wasn’t a moment where I thought I wanted to get into music. I never planned to set up a band either. My mum studied classical music and I used to guide her on piano and when I met Nic it was like ‘oh you like music too and you play guitar and I play piano’ and we just sort of played together and it all kinda happened. But I didn’t want to be in the music industry- it’s a foul business.

What were you going to do as a career?

I didn’t really know or have plans- I wanted to be all sorts of things and travel a lot and stuff . I did study psychology for a bit, but I did that out of interest, I never wanted to be a psychologist. So I was just going to see what happened really. What I would fall into, I would fall into.

What has been the best thing you have done so far with the band?

The best thing for the band, for all of us I think, was the first time we were played on the radio. That was quite mad really.

How does all the new material compare with ‘Nature Creates Freaks’?

It’s kind of the same, just a bit more mature. Or maybe less mature! It’s good. The thing is though, we’re pretty varied anyway, I mean ‘Nature Creates Freaks’ is such a varied album, it’s got so many different moods to it, that you can’t really be a lot different, because all the songs are different. It is the same schizoid material as it’s ever been.

Are you planning to play any festivals this year?

Yeah, we don’t know which ones yet, but we are definitely gonna be doing some.

What is it like touring with so many blokes?

A laugh, It’s probably better than touring with girls. Guys are always nice to you and leave you alone. They don’t blabber on about the f**king latest lipstick or sh*t like that. I like it.

If Cay could support anyone or anyone support you, who would it be?

Some ‘zine asked us the other day what would be our greatest achievement and I said if Led Zeppelin were supporting Cay it would be quite funny.

What bands are you listening to at the moment?

Probably the same as I always have, the people who I said were my heroes. I still listen to the same stuff. Sex Pistols, Billie Holiday, Annie….I just got the soundtrack for the musical Annie…it’s really cool.

What is your advice to girls who want to get into music?

The music industry always makes me cringe, because it’s so disgusting- the business side is horrible. But girls who want to be in bands, should just go for it and don’t let the bastards get you down! Just do it, if you believe you can do something and that goes for not only being in a band, but doing anything you wanna do, just do it- you’ll get there in the end.

Where do you think Cay will be in ten years time?

Hopefully some quiet island! (Nic interrupts and suggests it would be bad luck to predict anything ). It would be nice if we were touring the States, as this time in ten years, after a nice long break. And then we would be off to Hawaii, to record another album.

After the interview I stay for a bit and we talk more about guitars, bands, gigs, festivals and general music things. I am amazed at how down to earth and cool they all are- definitely not the ‘sell-out’ types. Anet gives me some stickers that they all sign and after a few photos I leave. Later the gig they play is amazing and I am left totally star struck!