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Indie-Lit Pop Quiz: Beach Sloth

Indie-Lit Pop Quiz, our new weekly interview series, gets the skinny on independent writers, from their creative process and views on pop culture to their must-know cultural and artistic references for your personal arsenal. Check out our first pop quiz with internet enigma Beach Sloth below.        


Beach Sloth is the alias for the anonymous blogger, poet, and writer from the mysterious realms of the Internet. Beach Sloth’s blog has reviewed numerous works by indie writers (such as Steve Roggenbuck, Juliet Escoria, Michael J. Seidlinger, and myself), along with more mainstream, pop culture regulars such as his review of Coldplay’s last album, Ghost StoriesBeach Sloth’s latest collection of fiction and poetry, It Doesn’t Matter What You Look Like On The Outside It’s What’s On The Internet That Counts, was published by Dig That Book Co. in October of last year. Beach Sloth’s poetry can be found at such places like Reality Hands and Spork Press. He’s also the music editor for the literary site, Entropy. Beach Sloth is the inaugural indie writer for our pop quiz, and we’re excited to have him. So read his answers to our questions below and check out his stuff because, like all the future writers we’ll feature for this column, he deserves some attention.

 

Literature

1. What was the last book you read? Did you like it or nah? 

I read a lot of books. The last one I read, yeah, that was a pretty good book.

2. Thoughts on David Foster Wallace or Jonathan Franzen? 

I have some thoughts on them, quite a number in fact, both good and bad.

3. What are your writing habits? 

I write every single day usually at night after I’ve finished work and made dinner. I usually write for about three to four hours a day before I go to bed.

4. How do you party? How often? 

I party roughly at least one day a week, though how hard depends on the weather.

5. Any writer you want to give a shout out to? 

Shout out to Neon Glittery, most underrated writer out there. Everybody should check out her work.

Shout out to Steve Roggenbuck and for his uncanny ability to run down six flights of stairs with me at my old apartment building.

Shout out to everybody else since otherwise I’d be getting flack for not mentioning them.

 

Music

6. Last show you went to?

My Bloody Valentine. That was a good concert, very loud, very physical.

7. Band you’re currently obsessed with? 

Right now Father John Misty. He has the right mix of tenderness and repulsiveness. I get annoyed when artists lean too much towards either side. By not taking a side he’s able to bother more people.

8. Last time you made a mixtape? Who was it for? 

I made a mixtape for a special someone, like a really kick-ass one, about a year or two ago. I don’t anticipate making anybody a mixtape for at least another three years, unless they are exceptional people and are willing to pay me serious money.

9. Unknown band you think everyone should know about?

Low is the embodiment of perfect rock because they don’t rock. There is no ego with their music. Somehow they morph into one. No solos, no displays of their chops (which I’m sure they have) — I really like that. I’m pretty sure they are at least fairly well known, but I’d love for them to get some serious success. I always want my favorite artists to be as financially successful as possible.

10. As you get older, do you care more or less about discovering new music?

I care a lot about discovering new music. I think I care the same amount I did before.

 

Movies/Pop Culture 

11. David Lynch or Charlie Kaufman? 

Oh tough question. That’s a tricky one. You might think that I’m deliberately trying to avoid answering this question. That is one possible theory, one of many. But think of erasers and think of dreams and you’ll have your answer.

12. If you could have one TV show be put on Netflix, what would it be?

Rubicon was probably one of the best shows I’ve ever seen in my entire life. It was only one season. I would probably watch and re-watch it. More TV should be that slow and deliberate. Unfortunately it is hard to have patience with a form of media that most people turn to for quick resolutions and fast-pacing. Life is hard for the slow methodical ones.

13. Can anyone compete with Kanye West? Can Kanye compete with Kanye?

I think Kanye does fantastic work but he’s no match for Kanye.

14. Last movie you saw? Did you like it or nah? 

The last movie I saw was The Conversation. I liked that movie a lot.

15. Greatest film of all time? 

The Brave Little Toaster. Everyone should see that movie at some point in their lives. I’m not kidding. I’m serious, very serious.

 

Miscellaneous

16. Is it really worth it to be a writer? What would you rather do instead?

It is definitely not worth it to be a writer. I’d rather be an accountant, a really good one.

17. Which Internet friend are you most proud of? 

Michael Seidlinger is a powerhouse. I’m proud of the great work he’s done for himself and for others.

18. Any words for the haters? 

Haters, guess what, you are going to hate.

19. Should every writer’s goal be, ‘be more like Stephen Dixon?’

Every writer should have their own goal. Mine is to continue. That should probably be every writer’s goal.

20. If the Internet were to shutdown tomorrow, forever, would life go on or would you be in a hopeless state of panic?

I’d be fine. I’d probably catch up on sleep after putting it off for the past five years.

 

Interview by Trevor L. Sensor. Follow him on Twitter @trevorsensor



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