Paper Doll hits Shanghai
Fresh off New York's indie-pop-rock scene, Paper Doll (Teresa Lee Chaisiri, Patrick Molony, Steve Paelit, Chip Thomas), hailing from the Lower East Side of NYC, is set to perform at Shanghai's Frexh 2010 and World Expo on August 6th at Mao Livehouse and August 10th at the USA Pavilion, respectively. They will also blast out a free performance at Yuyintang on the 5th. In preparation for their tour to China, they've already created a Mandarin version of their single, Anything At All. Check out http://www.myspace.com/paperdoll to hear some tracks. Here Talk interviews frontlady Teresa Lee Chairisi:
1. How did you come up with the name Paper Doll? It was from a song I wrote in school. the lyrics were "I'm not your PaperDoll can't dress me the way you want..." Oh god - it sounds so cheesey written out! It was a week before our first gig and promoters we were like "What are you callled?" - we didn't have a band name! So we looked at our set list and said "Uhh...PaperDoll"
2. What does each member bring to the band?
Wow - good question...hmmmm well, this is just my opinion...
Patrick (guitar) - Patrick brings amazing guitar playing, great hair, brooding Irish good looks and a cool Irish accent which our lady fans love!
Chip (drums) - Sick drummer. He brings energy and charisma - he smiles a lot which girls love. He was also one of Gothamist Magazine's top 100 Bachelors - his photo was next to Justin Timberlake! :)
Steve (bass) - His bass playing is steady and witty. steve brings his cool, nothing-gest-to-me-laidback, low-key vibe. And girls love his scruffy beard!
Teresa (vocals/keys) - I'm a good writer. I usually bring snacks.
3. If I asked you to pigeon hole yourself into a genre or two, how would you describe your sound?
I guess some people say The Killer meets Pat Benatar - which is pretty flattering. We're a fun dance-y indie rock band. I call us Nerd Rock 'cause nerds are thoughtful and get really into things even if other people don't think it's cool. We always create music that we like and think is fun.
4. What aspirations do you have for the future direction of the band?
We'll be recording this fall and hopefully have a new record out by next year. We'd love to tour more and perform live more. We'd do it everyday if we could.
5. Backstage essentials?
Teresa - Water, a bathroom, Safety pins and band-aids
Patrick - guitar strings, picks
Chip - white m&ms and crystal champagne (jk!)
Steve - snacks
6. What’s your favorite kind of gig?
Anywhere there's people - we'll perform. We love it when people dance!
7. What inspires your lyrics?
Everything. The song If Nothing Happened - I overheard a girl on the phone fighting with her boyfriend and she kept saying "Nothing Happened? If Nothing Happened..." and I was like - ooooh that sounds like a song!
8. How have you evolved as a band?
I think just getting to know each other and trusting each other's intentions and trusting that we're all in it for the long haul - I don't know if that's evolving - but it feels like growth of some sort. Anyway - that makes our music better.
9. What kind of audience do you usually play for?
audiences with great taste in music! jk...Every kind of audience. A lot of students and young professionals in NY. All different shapes and sizes and colors. Our fans are really diverse...I have moms that email me saying their 3 year old refuses to go to bed unless he watches our If Nothing Happened video.
10. What do you have in store for your shows at the Expo and Frexh this summer?
F-U-N
Performances:
August 5th
Venue: Yuyintang, 1731 Yanan Xi Lu near Kaixuan Lu (entry on Kaixuan Lu behind the Metro station)
Time: 9:00pm-11:00pm
Price: Free
August 6th- Frexh Shanghai Night 1
Venue: Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu near Hongqiao Lu
Time: 8:00pm-
Price: 150 RMB in advance (http://frexh.com/03-tickets.html), 200 RMB at the door
August 10th
Venue: USA Pavilion Stage, World Expo
Time: 10:00am, 11:00am
Price: Must have expo tickets- Standard day single day admission (160 RMB), Standard day special admission (100 RMB), Peak day single day admission (200 RMB), Peak day special admission (120 RMB), Evening admission (90 RMB)
August 10th
Venue: America Square, World Expo
Time: 7:30pm, 8:30pm
Price: Must have expo tickets- Standard day single day admission (160 RMB), Standard day special admission (100 RMB), Peak day single day admission (200 RMB), Peak day special admission (120 RMB), Evening admission (90 RMB)
August 11th
Venue: USA Pavilion Stage, World Expo
Time : 10:00am, 11:00am
Price: Must have expo tickets- Standard day single day admission (160 RMB), Standard day special admission (100 RMB), Peak day single day admission (200 RMB), Peak day special admission (120 RMB), Evening admission (90 RMB)
August 11th
Venue: America Square, World Expo
Time: 7:30pm, 8:30pm
Price: Must have expo tickets- Standard day single day admission (160 RMB), Standard day special admission (100 RMB), Peak day single day admission (200 RMB), Peak day special admission (120 RMB), Evening admission (90 RMB)
