At this year's South by Southwest festival, the Music Connection crew ran into the infamous Andrew WK. Topics of discussion included his history with the festival, how fellow artists can embrace and enjoy the madness that is SXSW and his new endorsement deal with Playtex. See the full interview below.
Music Connection: How has your SXSW experience changed over the years?
Andrew W.K.: This is probably the 7th or 8th time I’ve been to SXSW and certainly could be the 11th or 12th time I’ve been to Austin and its only gotten better every time. I actually was thinking about that earlier today, but this is the most fun I’ve had, the best I’ve felt, the best sort of atmosphere in general. I’m not sure why. I don’t think it’s anything that I’ve done differently. It’s just something that you grow to appreciate more and more and more as time goes by. And I’m more thankful than ever just to be here and be a part of it and want to do so for a long time to come.
MC: Any advice for artists attending SXSW for the first time?
W.K.: As far as folks that are coming for the first time or if you’re anticipating visiting not just Austin but SXSW specifically, I would say it’s sometimes crazy. For example. there was a band I was speaking with earlier that were getting ready to come. So they hadn’t arrived yet, and they were trying to plan out I guess their transportation and how they were going to get their gear to some of their venues, and we were trying to explain to them it doesn’t really work that way. It’s not going to be that easy. It’s best if you just use whatever gear’s there and try to sort of embrace the particular qualities of this festival. It’s not going to be like playing at another show or even city or festival. It’s unique. It just sort of has its own tastes and style, so once you embrace it – and its taken me many years to fully understand and embrace it – then it really gets easier. But if you expect things to be like they are any other day, then not only will you be frustrated and disappointed, but you’ll also be missing the whole point of this great place.
MC: SXSW is the endorsement capital for musicians. Who are you working with?
W.K.: Yes I’m very proud to be endorsed by, I guess, or working with Playtex Fresh + Sexy. I mean I don’t know how you define endorsement. This is the product that I use – that I find very helpful. A lot of folks that are familiar with me would not consider me very clean – which I wouldn’t disagree with. Although I am very clean when it counts. And [during] those weeks and months where I haven’t been able to take any kind of shower or bathe or really clean myself at all, these wipes can be used in those most intimate areas before you have an intimate relationship even if it’s just with yourself and then you can clean up afterwards and it really, for me who’s partying very hard and traveling about and just having so much fun, these are a real life savor. So it was a no-brainer when Fresh + Sexy asked me to officially make this match in heaven.
