The artist collective and performance group Thank You Rosekind is currently on tour through mid-July. The touring group consists of Thank You Rosekind’s artists Michael Bauer and Joel Chartkoff along with Little Band of Sailors’ Rachel Mason and Chris Haack. All are visual artists in addition to being musicians and stellar performers. While on the road, Thank You Rosekind kindly answered a few of our questions about the show.
WHITEWALL: Is this the first tour for Thank You Rosekind? What was the impetus behind the tour?
THANK YOU ROSEKIND: THIS IS THANK YOU ROSEKIND'S FIRST TOUR AND IT' HAS BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE ON THE MOVE WITH LITTLE BAND OF SAILORS -- WE ARE PLAYING NEARLY A DOZEN SHOWS TOGETHER AND HAVE BEEN WATCHING EACH OTHER BLOSSOM, PERFORMING NEARLY EVERY NIGHT. THE IMPETUS IS FOR TWO TOURING GROUPS TO REALIZE DISTINCTIVE, PSYCHOLOGICALLY DRIVEN LIVE SHOWS. WE PRESENT REALLY DIFFERENT VISUAL AND AUDIO LANDSCAPES. LITTLE BAND OF SAILORS DELVE DEEP INTO A WEIRD AND VISCERAL DARKNESS, SINGING OF SCI-FI WIERDNESS TO METAL INSPIRED GUITAR. RACHEL MASON PUTS BLACK MAKEUP ON HER FACE AND MOVES HER LIMBS SPASTICALLY TO VIDEO. CHRIS HAACK ACCOMPANIES WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL ELECTRIC GUITAR AND VOICE.
IN THANK YOU ROSEKIND WE (MICHAEL BAUER AND JOEL CHARTKOFF) WRITE AND PERFORM SONGS THAT EXPLORE GRATITUDE. WE SPEAK MOTIVATIONALLY. WE TELL PEOPLE TO BE BOLD IN THEIR AFFECTIONS. WE SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE DRIVE THEIR DREAMS. WE PLAY TUNES THAT BRING JOY TO THE SPIRIT AND INVITE GROUP MOVEMENT.
WW: Thank You Rosekind is an artist group and you've invited a fewvisual artists - Rachel, Chris, - on the tour, as well. Do any of you incorporate your visual work into your musical performances? Do they bleed into one another?
TYR: RACHEL MASON OF LITTLE BAND OF SAILORS INITIATED THE TOUR. THERE ARE TWO TOURING ACTS -- THERE'S LITTLE BAND OF SAILORS, A THEATRICALLY INVOLVED PERFORMANCE WITH NARRATION AND COSTUME CHANGES.
THEN THERE IS THANK YOU ROSEKIND . WE PERFORM SONGS OF THANKS DRESSED IN BUSINESS CASUAL OUTFITS, OPERATING AS MOTIVATIONAL SINGERS. WE HAVE STARTED INCORPORATING A VISUAL POWERPOINT PRESENTATION CALLED "LET'S GET CLOSER" -- THIS PRESENTATION FEATURES VISUALIZATIONS OF GROUP HUGS AND POSITIVE DECLARATIONS PUNCTUATED BY VIBRANT DECORATIVE VISUAL ELEMENTS.
WW: What attracts you to these positive mantras, as featured in your album Attention Intention?
TYR: WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT A VOICE OF SELF-EMPOWERMENT, EMOTIONAL WELL BEING AND HOPE IN A WORLD THAT IS FRAUGHT WITH MANY CHALLENGES. THROUGH MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND LYRICS, WE GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT TO THE HUMAN CONDITION.
WW: How did you select which cities to perform in? Do you have a favorite you're looking forward to?
TYR: WE HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO CONNECT WITH INTERESTING SPACES. FOR EXAMPLE, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE TO WORK WITH NINA MARIE BARBUTO AT PITTSBIRGH'S NEWLY OPENED "ASSEMBLE" VENUE, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN GROUP WORK, BOTH WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
WW: Do you prefer to perform in a club or a gallery? Would your performance vary from one type of space to the next?
TYR: WE PREFER TO PERFORM ANYWHERE WE CAN INTERACT WITH A RESPONSIVE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.
WW: How would you describe your performance style?
TYR: WE DANCE UNTIL WE ARE DRENCHED WITH SWEAT. JOEL LIKES TO LOOK INTO PEOPLE'S EYES.
WW: Any special surprises this tour?
TYR: WE HAD A FULLY IMMERSIVE DANCE EXPERIENCE AT THE ANDREW RAFACZ GALLERY IN CHICAGO. EVERYONE DANCED ECSTATICALLY WITH US.
To find more about Thank You Rosekind and make sure you see them on tour, please visit: thankyourosekind.com
All images courtesy of Thank You Rosekind.