Rubin Recommends

(Part of The Weekly Check In series)

I’ve always tried to keep up with Tim Kinsella, which could be impossible. From being in the bands Cap’n Jazz, Joan Of Arc, Owls, Make Believe, some solo records, (to ones I might not even know about,) but I think I’ve somehow manage to get it all.

So here’s a quick check in with him, the last check in of 2008, and I am glad I get to close out the year with this one.

RR: What are you currently working on or just finished that you’re excited about?

Kinsella: I just finished my first semester of Grad schoo. I’m in the writing department at the Art Institute of Chicago and besides just the general life warping being in schoo at all gives one after 11 years away, it’s great to go downtown every morning with all the business-people on the train and there’s this incredible cafeteria at schoo on the 14th floor of this building overlooking the parks and the lake.

And obviously art schoo is full of smart weirdos so it’s inspiring every day just to be around people absorbed in being creative and there’s all these specialists in their various disciplines and there’s a lot of overlap. So it’s great and I’ve been writing a ton of different things, most of which are in development phases of things I wouldn’t want to jinx by addressing specifically.

But in the realm of the partially realized, my beautiful super-genius girlfriend and I made a short film together I’m excited about and some folks are turning a screenplay I wrote a couple years ago into a multi-media opera of sorts, so I’m working on revisions of that. It’s called ‘Let Go and Go On and On’ it’s a biography of an actress Lauri Bird. I did a zine I’m excited about with my friend Karissa called Critical Hope. I’m excited about it - it’s photocopied and we’re handing them off to people we bump into.

RR: Where have you traveled so far this month?

Kinsella: I’m through for now with leaving Chicago. Staying put has been a wonderful and fertile indulgence after a long time of a lot of drifting about.

RR: What’s your favorite music right now?

Kinsella: Oh man, do you know the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices? I’ve been listening to that. I got obsessed with John Frusciante’s Brown Bunny soundtrack, listened to it a few times a day for a month or so, all the while in shock that I grew up to be a fan of one of the Chili Peppers’ guy’s solo albums?! I really like these few Bogdan Raczynski songs from I think the album is called ‘My Love I Love.’ And years later, I still listen to Under Pressure and Eminence Front a few times a day each - 2 best songs ever!

RR: Best food you’ve had in your neighborhood lately or while you were traveling?

Kinsella: I have a new sweet tooth! Very strange development after 34 savory paletted years. I prefer to live on kale and grapefruits, but occasionally condescend to Sultan’s Market spinach pies or Irazu veggie plates. Classics for Chicagoans, no great insight from me.

RR: Anything Else You Want To Mention?

Kinsella: Nope. Thanks for asking! This is a photo of me with two of the men I was named after - Kasher and Rutili.

(Part of The Weekly Check In series)

When I first moved to San Francisco my friend Mike Perry and Anna Wolf were on a little road trip and these two people from a far off land (London, England) were with them (picture.) Well now those two people are wonderful new friends who I keep in touch with, one being Jim Stoten (and Brie his girlfriend.)

Jim makes art you should look and for a long time or you might miss something. When I look at them I can’t believe how much is going on, and usually, how weird it is. I think it’s wonderful.

Check out Jim’s work here: http://www.jimtheillustrator.co.uk

RR: What are you currently working on or just finished that you’re excited about?

Stoten: I am writing Christmas cards. I just finished a lot of fun stuff. I did some drawings for a children’s library which got made up as wallpaper as pasted onto 7 giant pillars.

I did a map not so long ago for the Tate Britain which I really hope gets printed. but the mighty crunch might force that one into oblivion. I hope not though.

I just finished a zine with my friend tom. and i now i am thinking about a poster zine that folds out as well as how to tackle the next issue of a collective zine that islands fold publish called ‘BOING’. I am in charge of this issue so there is a lot to think about.

RR: Where have you traveled so far this month?

Stoten: I havent travelled much this month at all. went to brighton a couple of weeks back to do a talk. going to st.albans tomorrow to teach.

RR: What’s your favorite music right now?

Stoten: Animal Collective, Fela Kuti and The Stranglers.

RR: Best food you’ve had in your neighborhood lately or while you were traveling?

Stoten: Just ate some amazing pasta. Emmanthal and mushroom filled tortellini with watercress and spinach salad. Our neighbor made us some beautiful orange and cranberry Christmas loaf. Out of this world. Mince pies are becoming a big part of my life. Eggs and toast every morning, cant beat it. with some delicious strong coffee.

RR: Anything Else You Want To Mention?

I love my girlfriend very much.
I am looking forward to christmas.
I am aching on my left shoulder.
I am hungry but i cant eat yet because i am about to go play squash.
I miss my friends in america.
I want to find more time next year to make songs.
I should see my family more.
I am looking forward to next year for lots of different reasons.
I don’t care as much about money as I used to and it has made me a much happier person.