Just placed online, an feature/interview with Yuki of Asobi Seksu (read it here). Yuki talks about the inevitable comparisons to shoegaze bands, as well as her Japanese heritage. Lots of the interview didn't make it into the story (which was limited by The Reader to 600 words). Among the outtakes:

What do you do on stage during the performance of "Red Sea" while guitarist James Hanna is making droning noise for five minutes? "Hopefully I'm not just standing there," Yuki said. "I don't go back stage. I've got a keyboard that makes some cool noises, so I try to add to the guitar and bass squalls. What I'm doing isn't as interesting as what James is doing. It's his moment to shine. I give him cartes blanche.

About her Japanese lyrics: "My mom will call me and say there's a grammatical mistake in your song. I said, 'I know, I know.' My Japanese is not perfect. I pretend to know what I'm doing. Still, other family members call me up, too, and correct me."

I read that your music hasn't been discovered in Japan. Is that surprising to you? "I don't know if people in Japan know about us or not. Japanese bands that I like, like Guitar Wolf and Melt Banana, aren't big in Japan but are huge in the U.S. We're under the radar, but the CD will be released in Japan later this year (distributed by Disc Union), so we'll see. It's a dream of mine to go there and play. I haven't been there in years."

Asobi Seksu will be opening for Appleseed Cast. Little Brazil also is on the bill. It should be a helluva show even if it's a Monday night.

It's hour-zero -- the last day to enter the Lazy-I Best of 2006 Comp CD giveaway. The disc includes tracks by Yo La Tengo, Simon Joyner and the Fallen Men, Scissor Sisters, Junior Boys, Cursive, Cat Power, Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Royskopp, Ladyfinger, The Terminals and more (see the track listing here). All you have to do is e-mail me (tim@lazy-i.com) with your name and mailing address and you'll be entered into the drawing. I will announce the winner online right here. Good luck!

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