Nickell’s Bag

After talking with crazed music-masher Gregg Gillis (aka Girl Talk) a couple of weeks ago, I found myself inspired to attempt my own kind of mash-up.

Herewith is my own special Greg Gillis Q&A Mash-Up Remix, with questions culled from a recent Rolling Stone interview with Bruce Springsteen, and answers constructed out of Gillis’ own words and phrases from our conversation. Enjoy!

Q: This kind of dialogue requires a heavy commitment. What do you get out of it?

I have a blank slate when I go in. Then when it’s time to sit down… I like to throw…new layers to put on things…to demonstrate to people how….things start to solidify.

Q: It’s effective. It has an allegorical power.

I feel like I nail it.

Q: What were those songs about?

There’s a lot of implied things about the significance of…guns.

Q: You’re addressing the politics of fear, aren’t you?

It’s something where you definitely start to notice…some of the stuff…I actually execute…is…abrasive on purpose. I like some of that.

Q: Your sense of American identity and American possibility — where does that come from?

When I was young for a year or two…there were a few things that went well. I keep going after that. It’s kind of impossible.

Q: We live in a moment where those things aren’t set in stone.

There’s no way I can do the same thing twice.

Q: If you can share some secrets, you can save me a lot of money in therapy.

I would be hesitant…I have friends who are more schooled in…people really. Figure out what works…125 days a year or more. I want to have a real understanding of that.

Q: In what way?

I might sit down.

Q: Sometimes you’re running in a different direction because you don’t know how to do things differently than what you’ve seen growing up.

It’s a thing that never really stops. I’m…just another tool…in the end.

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