Lately, I’ve been thinking about location and where we decided to place our selves. How different landscapes influence mental states. Maybe this is because I am struggling with my own change of scenery, moving from chicago where I lived for the past six years back to my “home town.”  It is hard to explain how I ended up back here.  Mainly I just really missed the pine trees and wanted the past and present put together. It’s been a little like trying to mix oil with water and I wonder if I keep stirring if it will ever mix together.  With maps and charts and telescopes in mind I have asked Lena from Whisker Music who has also been a bit uprooted lately, what she thought about the whole matter.

SF: How have different landscapes shaped you?

Lena: I’ve driven all over this country.  I think it’s given me a great respect for nature.  A Sadness for the Native American population.  Perspective on where we come from as a country and where we are now.  It ’s something everyone should do.  Leave your hometown, leave the norm and see what’s really out there. Put your boots on and walk on the wild side.

SF: When you were living in Richmand VA and  you thought about Chicago was there certain physical places or general feeling that you missed?

Lena:   The lights from music venues and my favorite restaurants at night.  That’s heaven, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

SF: Do you remember where you where when you made the decision to move and what you were looking at?

Lena:  We were in the kitchen, sitting at the table probably drinking Modelo and listening to a lot of Thin Lizzy’s deep cuts.

SF:  What was it about the Oregon landscape that felt like the right element for your video?

Lena:  We were back in Portland for Christmas when we shot the video.  It was Christmas day actually and we initially wanted to shoot it up at crown point and down by the river.  We love the Gorge, it’s the Pacific Northwest’s Grand Canyon.  Anthony used to spend summers down there when he was a kid with his family.  It has good energy there.  I’m in love with those kind of views, it makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger, something beyond me.  It’s very inspiring.  I guess that’s what the video became about.  Nature was completely out of our control that day.  The wind was so fierce!  We couldn’t even shoot up at Crown Point because you would get knocked over by the wind.  There were so many tourists, holding on to railings and sliding around trying to hold onto their car door handles to get inside.  It was freezing wind too.  Kind of felt good though.

Lena: Inspirtional music derived from landscapes: