Anathallo’s Matt Joynt Takes Our Pop Quiz

With seven current members, Anathallo don't reckon themselves a band, so much as a collective. Fair enough. So how do you choose out of an entire collective when you're looking to submit one of them to the brain-benders on our pop quiz? Luckily, we didn't have to, since vocalist Matt Joynt tuned in from Tokyo while promoting their new record Canopy Glow, to answer our crucial questions.

What's the last thing you do before going to bed?
Stretch, breathe, and think about how fortunate that I am.

If you could have a meal with anyone living or dead, who would it be?
Thich Nhat Hanh and Mathieu Ricard

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Some sort of arts administrator/organizer.

If you could only eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Takoyaki or Coco’s curry.

Ever went out with someone you met online?
Nope–but I have friends who are in successful e-relationships.

If you could have any super power, what would you choose?
Ability to time travel and speed walk so that I could go back to the 90’s and totally rule at the Lifetime TV show Super Market Sweep.

How many times a day on average do you think about sex?
2.145770983

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Too many trips to Margie’s Ice Cream for the Raspberry Fudge Sundae–oh, and going to bed early.

Do you think you’re a good dancer?
I was in a dance company for a few years as a kid – I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I was voted “Best Dancer” at our Senior class awards. With that said, our friend John is the real deal. 
When we go to Smiths’ Night at Danny’s Bar, he owns the room.

Last restaurant you ate at?
A Japanese/Indian restaurant in Kashiwa (near Chiba).  Unfortunately I can’t remember the name.

Ever been star struck?
Yeah, twice. I went to Barry Hannah’s class with my friend Jimmy in Oxford. He was every bit as insane as I imagined. The second time was hanging out with Joanna Newsom. It was a different kind of star struck. A star in a different sense… more just, such deep respect for her music.

When you get good news, who’s the first person you tell it to?
Usually my fiancé Heidi.

What do you always watch if it’s on TV?
We don’t have cable, so I watch most shows on dvd. I just went on a Freaks and Geeks marathon, before that it was The Wire, and before that, Six Feet Under. Jer and Bret are really into Friday Night Lights.

Who’s the first person/What’s the first thing you think about in the morning?
Heidi usually–depends on the day.

What do you normally sleep in?
A bed, van, or airplane.

Who was your first kiss?
Lisa P. in sixth grade behind the bushes at Pullen Elementary School. I hired 2 friends to keep watch for the playground monitors and paid them with hot lunch chocolate milk drink tickets. I’m 100% serious.

Who was the last person you texted?
Heidi.  “Thank You.”

What’s the funniest joke you ever heard/told?
Wow–this is a tough one…we’re around so many charismatic people.

If you could be any literary character, who would you be?
Oscar in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. He understands everything. Either Orcar or Hazel Motes from Wise Blood. 

Did you sleep with a stuffed animal when you were little? Who was it?
I had two– Cabbage Patch Kid named Elliot, and a janky bear/dog thing named Mowkey.

Where do you really want to be right now?
With my family, ice skating. But–with that said, I have a pretty great life. I’m in a van on the way to Tokyo. Who can complain about that? It’s insane!

What’s the first job you ever had?
Attendant at a community pool called Chipwood. I spent most of the day spraying wasps with a can of repellent that shot 30 yards. They got pretty angry and chased me around. Good way to pass the time between monitoring the chlorine levels and cleaning poop out of the showers.

What’s the best advice you ever got?
There are so many wise people in my life…I’m very fortunate. 

Who’s your favorite family member? What family member do you get along with best?
Our family is really tight. We all have a great time together. My sister and I are really close. We’re both artists so it’s nice to have dialogue as part of our relationship.

What’s the first thing in your Netflix queue right now?/What’s the last thing you Tivoed?
Mister Lonely–great film.