Feature / One Question Interviews
Queen Serene

Words: Loren • January 21, 2025

Queen Serene
Queen Serene

Sarah (Queen Serene)

SPB: How did you connect with Craig Ross for the new record?

Sarah: Craig Ross (not to be confused with Lenny Kravitz’s guitarist, haha) is a regular at the coffee shop that I used to work at in Austin. He would come in every morning, sit at the bar, and we’d always end up talking about music. He works out of his home studio and offered if I ever wanted to come over to hang and record. We recorded Queen Serene’s early singles and vocals for “2” over there and it’s always a blast! Craig introduced me to Talk Talk’s incredible later records and Brian De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise. I’ve also been lucky to play guitar with him and our friends Thor Harris and Claire Hamilton as the live iteration of Thor’s Doom Dub! Craig rules. 

Loren • January 21, 2025

Queen Serene
Queen Serene

Related features

Small Steps

One Question Interviews • June 12, 2025

Jeremiah (Small Steps - guitar/vocals) SPB: What song has the best use of whistling? Jeremiah: I feel like the easy answer would be the Bobby McFerrin song "Don't Worry Be Happy". Which is catchy as all get out, but we prefer the road less traveled here in Small Steps. For … Read more

Joliette

One Question Interviews • June 11, 2025

Joliette SPB: What foreign country has been the most fun to play? Joliette: Our favorite country to play shows in has definitely got to be Switzerland. It’s such a beautiful and fascinating place. Despite its relatively small size, we’ve been lucky enough to play in several different regions -- including … Read more

Visual Learner

One Question Interviews • June 9, 2025

Morgan (Visual Learner – bass) SPB: What was the first song you learned to play on your instrument? Morgan: I think the first song I learned on bass was either “No” by Subhumans or “Boredom” by the Buzzcocks. I was maybe 16? and traded a blunt to my boyfriend for … Read more

Skyway

One Question Interviews • May 23, 2025

Andrew Burgess (Skyway) SPB: What is your favorite protest song? Burgess: My favorite protest song? That's a tough one. I think it's impossible to talk about protest songs without mentioning the all-time greats that have held up over the years. I'm talking about songs like "We Shall Overcome," "We Will … Read more

ButcherBird

One Question Interviews • May 22, 2025

Rob (ButcherBird – guitar) SPB: How do you draw the line between taking influence vs. mimicking? Rob: When it comes to human creativity, almost nothing is truly and completely new. There’s a song by Iron Monkey called “House Anxiety” which has an absolutely crushing riff in it -- and it’s … Read more

More from this section

Small Steps

One Question Interviews • June 12, 2025

Jeremiah (Small Steps - guitar/vocals) SPB: What song has the best use of whistling? Jeremiah: I feel like the easy answer would be the Bobby McFerrin song "Don't Worry Be Happy". Which is catchy as all get out, but we prefer the road less traveled here in Small Steps. For … Read more

Joliette

One Question Interviews • June 11, 2025

Joliette SPB: What foreign country has been the most fun to play? Joliette: Our favorite country to play shows in has definitely got to be Switzerland. It’s such a beautiful and fascinating place. Despite its relatively small size, we’ve been lucky enough to play in several different regions -- including … Read more

Visual Learner

One Question Interviews • June 9, 2025

Morgan (Visual Learner – bass) SPB: What was the first song you learned to play on your instrument? Morgan: I think the first song I learned on bass was either “No” by Subhumans or “Boredom” by the Buzzcocks. I was maybe 16? and traded a blunt to my boyfriend for … Read more