MIRANDA JULY interviewed by Lob Redondo Bch, CA 6/98 Miranda July is a spoken word/performance artist from Portland, OR. She combines spoken word/sounds/and video, to create a multi-media presentation of her words. She has produced several short films for her on-going video chain-letter project "BIG MISS MOVIEOLA", has performed in the past with the indie pop/new wave band THE NEED, and recently has had the release a new CD called "The Binet-Simon Test". Next Editor, G.Murray Thomas, and I went out to see one of her So Cal. tour appearances in support of this new CD (see live review page***), and i had the chance to ask her a few questions.... L: What you are doing is very "different", as a spoken word artist. What can you tell us about your current "spoken word" tour? MJ: Well, it's really more than a spoken word tour. It's really like a movie...a movie performance piece...it's kinda what MY world is..which is entirely mixed between movies and performing...and really not seeing too much of a line between them. Because alot of my influences are more cinematic, and alot of the people around me are movie makers, and I am myself also. And the fact that I am "live" when I perform is really just happen-stance. L: It was an amazing show, i have heard of people talking about using video production in spoken word performance, but have never seen it done.. and especially so well. Have you concidered maybe approching more galleries and art spaces with this performance style? MJ: well, yeah, I am moving sorta into being much more in the "performance world". Because it takes so much to do each show in a certain way, I mean the ammount of preperation for the show tonight was like 5 or 10 minutes, right before we started...and it could have easily been done in over 3 hours with alot less stress in terms of technical problems. So I am much more wanting to set up a performance where I play for 2 nights, and alot of people come and I can really give it everything I have. Because I have alot more that what you saw tonight, this was like a little sampler. L: So, you have 3 different projects going on in your life..you have this live performance work, and you have a huge video/movie project (Big Miss Movieola) that is overwhelming in your life, AND you have audio CD's and recorded material..do you like doing the movies better than the CD's? MJ: No, the CD's have thier own thing...I mean with this last CD I was like, "wow!" because it is starting to get to the point where it is a really intresting form, to me, to work in. It isnt like I am just taking things from the way bands record things. It is more like, in my mind, making up doing it in a way that works for me, which is something I kinda had to teach myself. I had to look at it with the thought, "How do i make this totaly visual?", and start there.. L: well it works, the CD is really good (see review pg****), i listened to it today.. MJ: wow, cool.. L: are there any other spoken word artists in the US that you like? MJ: well, I dont really listen to much spoken word, I mean it's not really something I grew up with...but I like the stuff that Slim Moon and Sue Fox are doing, but they are really IN my world alot...just because they exist and are right now so focused and supportive of me, and of spoken word in general, it is really great. GMT: Who in cinema influenced you? MJ: well.. Todd Haynes, his work is really great. Also alot of paranoia movies from the 1970's ...and alot of times it will just be like a little gesture in something, and I will be, "oh why is THAT so resinant"..and it is just THAT little gesture, or that certain way that someone says something, and it just makes everything stop, and I have to incorporate that into my being, so that everytime I use it, it will be like pushing a little button in everyone, because they will recognize that certain gesture, and everything that is attached to it. L: how long did it take you do get from the ideas and concepts of what you wanted to do, and to be able to do what you are doing now? how long have you been performing. MJ: I've always sorta been doing what I wanted to do.. I started writing Plays and stuff when I was in high school, and then I started to perform with bands, and then those 2 things kinda just mixed and became this. It always made perfect sense. It wasnt anything I really strove towards, I just did it in the moment. L: do you have anything to say to anyone who is just starting to do creative stuff...? MJ: just to constantly remind yourself that there isnt anything that you "can't", there isnt anything that isnt "allowed". There isnt anything that you should have to repeat, you should create what is exactly in your head. L: thanks Miranda. MJ: thanks..