Full Name: Brett William W.
Age: 26
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Editorial Ass(ociate)
Hobbies: Writin stuff... singin crap ... video games
Pets: none

1: the heavy part
Where are you from, originally? What was it like there?
I grew up on Long Island, which I feel like, for the most part, is a standard suburban area. There's very little to do there for young people. I spent the majority of my adolescence causing mischief, playing Nintendo and its newfangled variations, going to the movies and diners, watching punk bands play in VFW halls and trying to get laid.

How did you end up in New York?
I went directly from undergrad to grad school in New York City, so I moved to Brooklyn to be close to my school, and never left.

Has Nueva York lived up (or down) to your expectations?
I don't know. I think things are pretty much the same where ever you go, in New York it's a little more compressed. There's a lot of culture at my fingertips in NYC, but as a single twentysomething, I end up in bars, like twentysomethings all over the world I suppose.

Update us on your situation in life.
That's a pretty vague question... Actually it's not even a question, it's more of a command. My current situation. I work, I sleep, I eat, I relax, I write music and work on my book, I live in Williamsburg or Bushwick, I'm single, I'm 26. my job doesn't pay me enough to live on, I'm tired all the time. I hate the winter. My parents have moved to Florida. I'm very close with them and I miss having them nearby. I'm learning the piano and I love it. that's about what's been on my mind lately.

Have your '20s been like you imagined?
Honestly, I never thought I'd live this long... it seems such a long way off when you're in your teens. So hard to imagine yourself as an adult. I don't know what I imagined they would be like, but they're not so bad I suppose. I'm not famous or published, so can I say it's been as imagined? No.

Which was the best year, for you, of the aforementioned '20s?
Twenty-two was the most difficult and formative year of my life I think. So many changes crashing down on me, I don't even really know how I got through it all. That was my lowest and highest point. Learning about harsh loneliness and great freedom, and focusing all of my energy on myself in one aspect or another. Going to grad school, really living on my own for the first time.

Heroes in the Seaweed, eh? How did that whole thing come about?
The name of the band or the band itself? Honestly, before this question I didn't even realized the interview questions were tailored to me specifically. I assumed this was a form you send out to all your victims. Well the name of the band is obviously from Suzanne, by Leonard Cohen. I met Ryan, the other songwriter at a mutual friend's birthday party. We worked together for a time at the Brooklyn Underground Film Festival, found out we were both writing songs, and decided to collaborate. Pretty soon we gathered up some other friends, and all of a sudden we were a band.

How about writing? Did you plan to write or did it sort of just happen?
I started writing because words were the only thing I was ever good with. When I was in forth grade I was told my writing skills and reading comprehension were at an advanced level, and I built up some confidence, and never looked back I guess. I've never felt that I was particularly good at anything else. Better on paper. Heh.

Where and how do you see yourself in five years?
Man, I don't know. Hopefully having found a reason to feel accomplished, but the way things are going right now, with my motivational issues, I just see it being way to similar to how life is now. I need to find some growth, and a way to kick some of these bad habits I've gotten myself into. I can only hope I'm just going through a phase and will be back to work soon.

2: the not-heavy part
Describe a good night out...
A good night out will be a night where I've either laughed extremely hard, had a good conversation with someone I've never met before, or learned something new. Some of my close friends enjoy standing around the same bar every weekend and scamming on the same girls, but it stopped being fun for me a while ago, so I've been spending more time alone at home lately... which has, unfortunately, also been unstimulating.

And a good night in the apartment?
When I get off my ass and get some work done... finish something that I can be proud of. When I've engaged in the minimal amount of creature comforts... Is this getting redundant?

Current favorite ethnic food and, if possible, dish.
I'm all over the Chicken Masaman Curry... I've been loving the Thai food lately.

What have you been listening to?
This band Augie March, from Australia, has really done a lot of good for me. Unfortunately they only have one album at the moment... but it's rare that I've been getting into anything new. And it's encouraging that people can still make relatively original and beautiful music.

Was hast you been reading?
I haven't been reading much lately. The last thing I really got into was a book of short stories by Steven Millhauser, who's among my favorite contemporary writers.

What have you been watching on TV?
Well, I don't have TV really ,so I've just been watching a lot of movies. Right now from Netflix I have Shine, Amadeus, and Pale Rider. I will, however, need to find a friend I can use for their HBO because the new Sopranos season starts next month.

Seen any movies lately? What did you think?
Last movie I saw in the theater was The New World. I hate Collin Farrell, I thin he's such a turd... and Christian Bale wasn't in it enough, but the girl who played the Pocahontas character was phenomenal. I think we're all about to see her career explode. The movie was similar, format wise, to Thin Red Line, with it's sort of poetic narrative tracks, and all, but really, it was just beautiful shot after beautiful shot after beautiful shot.... so I have mixed feelings about the film, but overall it was worth seeing.

You're getting ready to go out: Which song do you blast?
Heh. That's a tough one to answer. It might be "Joan of Ark," by the Melvins.

3: the cocktail party
So you're having a cocktail party: list five A-list guests, other than Jesus, me and your friends...
Do you mean celebrities? Is that what you mean by A-list? Jeez man, I don't know. My tastes in celebrities hasn't really changed much, but I'd have to go with Walken, Waits, Hoffman, Winona Ryder (always on my A-list), Judas Iscariot, and... David Dinkins.

What drinks will you serve?
PBR. I'm not picky. Maybe if we have the resources we could all do Irish Car Bombs.

What will be in the stereo?
Something not mopey for once.

Conversation topics will include...
Music, call girls, ping pong, literature, how great I am, how Winona Ryder will marry me once she finishes sewing her oats, betrayal, fine acting, and cowbells.

How will the evening end?
Winona, are you drunk enough yet?