I had the pleasure of getting a little tispy with THIRSTY, asked some questions about Crossfade Responsibly
along with what the meaning of Thirsty is all about. We talk about never being sober and how people are trying to “Get Like Him”.
LIZ: Tell me about the first time you ever drank, what did you drink and what was the atmosphere?
THIRSTY: I remember being a victim of the cliche of a parent servinf their kid grape juice and telling them it’s wine and I acted all “drunk”, I was probably 6 or 7, but that doesn’t really count. I think I was well phased into drinking, like, I guess the first time I got too drunk was high school at a party and it was just like bottles of liqour there and a buncha dumb kids throwing up. Honestly, the moment that stands out, I think, it was this girls sweet 16. I remember she was crying, drunk, looking at her trashed house.
LIZ: Were you one of the culprits for trashing the house or are you innocent (until proven thirsty)?
THIRSTY: I was drinking whatever was in front of me. I think I remember something purple, like a purple vodka. I was being as respectful as I could.
LIZ: Can I tell you about the first time that I drank?
THIRSTY: Yeah!! Of course.
LIZ: Okay. So I was 14 and a half, working at a grocery store. My parents told me that with my first paycheck they would buy me alcohol. I got a 4-pack of Sparks. I was invited to this motel party that was super super sketchy. I ended up having my back turned to the bed of two people having sex, and I was so awake from the caffeine yet inebriated that it was hands-down, one of the most confusing moments of my life. I wasn’t watching them have sex or anything voyeuristic, but I was like “So, /this/ is what drinking is like?”
THIRSTY: Yeah, not the best situation. Wow. Thank you for telling me that, that’s crazy, hahaha.
LIZ: What is your drink of choice?
THIRSTY: That’s difficult, it switches a lot. I think if I could have anything it’d be a good champagneeeee. But in terms of cocktails, I will always see if the bartender can make a daiquiri, which they fucking should. It’s so simple. Fuckin 2 oz. Bacardi fuckin 1 oz. lime jucie (fresh preferred but I’m not picky) and a little less than 1 oz. of simple syrup or a teaspoon of sugar, then shake and pour, it takes 1 minute. I’m a rum drinker so if they can’t do it, I’m like, “Rum and coke, fine”.
LIZ: Yeah, they take forever doing it, and then you have to tip them too so they don’t put less liqour in it for the next drink.
THIRSTY: I always tip once at the beginning like 2 bucks and say I’ll tip more at the nend of the night depending on how much cash I have left. If you make conversation, they are usually friendly. If you tip $5 at the end of the night at the place you go, they usually respect that.
LIZ: That’s a good strategy – start slow and build rapport – it’s kinda like dating, y’know?
THIRSTY: Yeah, like, imma be here for a whilee. $2 is a good buy in for a good pour and good service.
LIZ: Do you prefer two mini straws or one ‘regular’ sized straw with your drink?
THIRSTY: 2 regular straws.
LIZ: I like the mini straws, I think.
THIRSTY: I do too honestly, I love when they do that. It like switches it up, I’m like “Yeah!!!!!”. But on the day-to-day, I usually just receive the straw I am given. I got a 40-pack of silly straws, for like $10 on Amazon. I might get some mini straws.
LIZ: You should just carry a spare silly straw with you anytime you go out drinking.
THIRSTY: I doOOO! omg
LIZ: How do people react when they see your silly straw as opposed to their regular, boring straws?
THIRSTY: The last 3 times I went to The East Room, I brought my own straw. They see me… let’s just say, they wanna get like me.
LIZ: Do you ever worry about a water shortage? If this were to happen, it could greatly affect your personal brand.
THIRSTY: I feel like the potentiality of a water crisis and our like neeeed for water and for all types of liquids is a really interesting thing. Liquid makes it all happen. I feel like someone needs to fix this water shit. THat’s why I’m running for Water Conservation Board President in 2020.
LIZ: Solely so you can stay quenched on champagne, and also bring awareness to drinking champagne.
THIRSTY: Yeah, fuck, you need water to grow grapes, fuck.
LIZ: What is your overall artistic statement with Thirsty?
THIRSTY: It’s like when you’ve had enough and want some more, literally. Like with anything, liquor’s just an acute analoguy. It’s exploring consumption and overindulgence.
LIZ: The equivalent of “one toke over the line”, like, it’s human nature to want more even if you are adequately turnt?
THIRSTY: Yeah, exactly. It’s like, one more can’t hurt.
LIZ: So, Thirsty doesn’t endorse Drink Responsibly, right? It’s more, “Drink how you feel”?
THIRSTY: Yeah, trust yourself. Don’t go WAY over the line. Be safe, you don’t wanna like, fuck your whole life up for one night.
LIZ: Yeah, fuck the idea of liquor companies making us doubt ourselves.
THIRSTY: The best advice is to set yousrelf up for safety, like know how you will be getting home or somewhere saef that night, and then everything else is *thumbs up*. And yeah, if you gotta throw up, just do it. I haven’t gotten to that point in a while.
LIZ: Thirsty’s music is very direct and to the point, which in a way is going with your instincts, would you agree with that?
THIRSTY: I would. It’s like, the hook is the whole song usually, which is like, basic human instinct to repeat.
LIZ: The music is very impulsive, like you make it on the fly, it’s actually really awesome hearing the mantra of the project and taking into account the nature of the sound.
THIRSTY: It usually takes no time at all to get a demo done, especially now that I have expanded to work with other producers. It’s usually written when I’m drunk as fuck, and recorded a little tipsy. The beats vary. Sometimes I’ll just be high and making a beat.
LIZ: I mean, why would Thirsty make music sober, right? Seems counter-intuitive.
THIRSTY: I get sober sometimes.
LIZ: You’ve already worked with Blank Body and Leelo for two mind-blowing collabs, regarding workw ith other producers, do you have any other collaborations in mind, or album ideas?
THIRSTY: I’ve put a lot of thought into this like, I have collabs in the works with a lot of people, but I don’t wanna give anything away so people don’t get their hopes up, but I wanna work with a lot of people and maybe put together an album length statement piece. I wanna work with both Blank Body and Leelo again, but honestly I feel the magic has happened and it’d be fun to see what else could happen with them, because Blank Body is a verified genius with one of the best palletes in music right now, and a good friend too. Leelo is an exciting new project from another genius and we work very well together.
LIZ: I definitely understand not wanting to give much away – plus Thirsty is so impulsive that like, you don’t really know who you aer going to work with until you’re in the moment.
THIRSTY: Exactly like, there’s definitely a ton of people I want to work with and am working with but I don’t wanna jinx it. I’m interested in working with anyone with a punk attitude.
LIZ: Do you think Thirsty is punk? If so, what do you think you rebel against?
THIRSTY: Thirst and snootiness.
LIZ: Definitely, I mean your project is not pretentious, it’s incredibly fun and really doesn’t have any barriers.
THIRSTY: Yeah, I wanna like do whatever feels right in the momrnt. Especially after putting out “Get Like Me”.
LIZ: 420 or Thirsty: Do you love them equal, or do you have a bias?
THIRSTY: Honestly, I 420 more than I thirsty, but I love them both. Howeverr, when I go out, I don’t usually like to be too 420. Let’s just say I do both daily
LIZ: Do you crossfade or do you try to keep it separated?
THIRSTY: I do and sometimes it’s difficult. I feel like smoking a ton of weed then dirnking is great. Drinking a ton and then smoking weed can make you like a zombie.
LIZ: I think instead of Drink Responsibly, it should be Crossfade Responsibly, because it truly is an artform to stay balanced between the two.
THIRSTY: Yeah, exactly, like doing both together in harmony. I ususally stay away from kush if I’m too drunk, but not all the time. A drink when your high is chill.
LIZ: In life, what are you thirsty for more of? What will quench Thirsty’s thirst?
THIRSTY: I’m thirsty for everything I want to bring into this world. Like, I wanna open bars and hotels and nightclubs. I won’t be quenched until I have a Vegas Casino. I wanna bring Vegas back, honestly.
LIZ: I’ve seen people on reality TV make their own branded liqour and it seems that one of the main goals is so they have their own inventory of liqour. Do you think that might be something you’ll do when you open up ventures of opening bars, hotels, and casinos?
THIRSTY: I would love to have my own sparkling sake or something.
LIZ: My mom, for her birthday this year, she rented a limo in Las Vegas and went out clubbing. She’s like, in her 50’s.
THIRSTY: Amazing. I’m going for my birthday this year. My mom won a trip.
LIZ: Do you have any other final comments or anything you want to say?
THIRSTY: I am working on an intense live experience and want to bring it to a town near you.
TO STAY HYDRATED, MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW THIRSTY ON SOUNDCLOUD AND TWITTER
