interviews!

So this week I thought I’d take a week off and let other people do the writing for me. I have exciting interviews for your reading pleasure. First an e-mail interview I did with the stunning Yeti, Dutch accordion goddess from France, next some smart/ awesome boys I know answer some questions for me, and finally a video interview with Rock star/ Fashion icon/ Vancouver designer/ Empress of all Worlds (but you can call her ‘her greatness’) Sanne Lambert owner/ operator of Venus & Mars. Enjoy! ( I know I did...)

Yeti!



1) For those who don't know of you, could you give a brief biography.

What? Not everybody knows of me yet?
OK there we go...
I was doing serious studies to become a graphic designer in Holland, when I found an old accordion, covered with dust in some hidden corner of a second hand shop in Prague. I took it home, mostly for its flowered bellow and its woodcraft, but when I tried to play it, I discovered a beautiful melancholic sound and very soon I started to like typing on its pearl keyboard much more than on the plastic computer one.
My artschool certificate ended up in the paper-bin, I packed my bags and travelled with my squeeze box to the south of France, got seduced by its weather, the nature, the lovely villages and a man living in a charming town called Montpellier. The man disappeared, but Montpellier stayed. So did I.
I learned more or less how to speak French and used to sing and play the accordion in the streets.
Months turned into years, the streets made place for real stages where I met other like-minded musiciens and in 2000 I started my band Yeti ( www.myspace.com/yetila ). Yeti is the French homonym of my real Dutch name Jetty.
First covering old French songs and then creating my own (in French, s'il vous plaît!), I've been playing solo or with the band in festivals and clubs all over Europe and Quebec and recorded 2 CDs.

2) What is your definition of sexy?
A contagious state of feeling nice and beautiful in your body. I find someone sexy when he or she makes me feel sexy. But careful! Someone can be really sexy on a picture but looking like a rusty nail in real. Or having a very harsh high-pitched voice or a dusty smell that destroys everything. And if someone who's not sexy but who tries to act like, it's mostly tragi-comical.

3) Coming from Europe, do you notice a difference in what is considered sexy in France versus what is considered sexy in North America?
Even within Europe (just like in North America), every country, every region has differences in what is considered sexy already! Fashions are different, just like cultures, religions, eating traditions and backgrounds. For my example, being a Dutch woman of average height means being some sort of giant in the South of France. I don't think that a lot of Mediterranean men are able to find a giant girl called Yeti sexy...
But for sure, as soon you switch on TV, one might think that all sexy-considered women are twin sisters, no matter if they are American, Polish or French. These are sisters from The Big Skeleton Family, stuffed with hormones to maintain their big tits. We might be able to distinguish the American by their tendency to exaggerate their body-sculpting in fitness centers and the portions of botox that make their faces even more expressionless. But can we generalize cultures by watching TV? I don't think so. I hope not, anyway.

4) Do you feel that there are impossible or unreasonable beauty standards places upon French women, American women?
Of course! I mentioned already the ridiculous no-weight and zero-wrinkle-standards, you mentioned them as well in your blog, everybody knows about them, we all think it's bad and stupid and still the world seems to adore naked bones smoothened up by tons of make-up and Photoshop-effects... Real nature seems to scare. And unfortunately there are still a lot of women who think that one needs to follow these strict beauty-rules in order to be actually beautiful and sexy.

5) If you could pick a celebrity to define the media's or society as whole's representation of what is sexy, who would you pick?
Penelope Cruz. We're seeing her a little too much these days (at least in Europe), even in commercials and big-audience movies and I think that's a shame, but she remains for me a real sex bomb, a great actress, with an incredible spanish volcano-like character.

6) For you personally, does your sex appeal (as judged by other people) have an impact on your confidence or self esteem?
Well, it always gives a nice feeling if you please someone you like, no? It makes me happy when a man or a woman gives me a sincere compliment about my sex appeal, just as I need honest remarks about my art or my personality. But it depends how it's given. So please no wandering hands, dirty whispers or hysterically horning cars in the streets for me!

7) Do you consider yourself sexy?
Oooooh... that depends totally on my mood. Yes, there are days that I find myself incredibly sexy. It often goes together with enjoyment of life. On these days I think being surrounded by only very sexy people, the food I'm eating being delicious and the weather great. Even if it rains and I'm struggling on my bike for example. I will just loooove that natural water falling so gently on my head and body, turning me right away into a number one miss wet t-shirt. On a day like that, I could easily fall of my bike and in love with the first guy that helps me getting up.
But other days I think I'm as sexy as an old wrinkled potato. I'll only notice how, after a long intense struggle, crucial parts of my body definitely have given up their fight against the universal gravity power, I'll feel tired, useless and silly. If I fall of a bike on such a day, I would just stay splashed down on the floor, and nobody would even bother to pick me up, for I'll be way too scary with a stupid bad grim on my face.
Being on stage helps a lot! I guess it's like sport: singing and playing in front of an audience provoke a lot of natural drugs in your body that make you feel amazingly good and often quite sexy after a concert. And the more gigs you do, the more you get addicted to them.

8) As an artist and a musician, where do you draw the line between sexual identity and art? Is there a line? Is it fluid?
I think one can't generalize. It depends on the art and the artist. But for me, I think it's fluid and I play with it. It's a lot of fun. My show is quite theatrical and my lyrics talk a lot about love-disasters, so it can happen that in one single song I'm acting like a really sexy girl in the beginning to become a wrinkled potato in the end. Happy coincidence, they're both part of me!

And finally, Do you consider me sexy and what would you suggest I do to make myself more media accessible?
Oh yes Devon! You are really sexy! And very funny, honest and full of phantasy. Don't change. And please don't try to make yourself more media accessible just with your sex appeal. That would be a bit reductive, wouldn't it? Wish you good luck!

Boys!
1. What does a sexy women mean/ look like/ act like to you? Feel free to describe or use a celebrity to illustrate your point.

C: A woman who is sexually confident and uninhibited. Someone who doesn't look to the crowd for what to do, doesn't worry about what other people think of her. She goes after what she wants when it come to sex and relationships. She is glamourous with a keen fashion sense and is used to being the center of attention in a room. Lady Gaga is the first celebrity to come to mind. Personally if you were to ask me what type of woman do i prefer aestetically I would say: Caucasian Eastern European women with Raven colour hair... but I've had relationships with women of a few different ethnicities and it's not that important. The important thing is that they are somewhat slender / in shape (not anywhere close to as extreme as run way models though, those women look gross) plenty of meat on the breasts and but is also very nice. Any unnatural died colour like pink is also very hot as well. I tend to prefer goth or alternative type women... I don't think my opinion of what is sexy is too far off the media as far as body type goes, all though like i said runway models who are skin and bones are disgusting and there are some women in popular culture who are a little on the too skinny side...

R: Sexy is not just looks, yes they are a part of it but not completely, its the attitude that goes with it. I've talked to chicks who have the sexy look but when they start talking they are complete bitches and loose all sex appeal. some one who is sexy is a) not a complete freak show (although bearded ladies are goddesses) b) comfortable with them selfs and shows it proudly

B: It seems more and more that I'm attracted to women with confidence. A woman who is assertive, but not pushy. As far as how a woman acts, I'm far mor appreciative of someone who can sustaine a conversation with valid and insightful opinions, rather than a good set of lady parts, a bleached mop and glowy orange peeling skin. If I were to relate my taste to a mainstream celebrity or actress, I'd say a mix of Dita Von Tease, Rosario Dawson, and liv Tyler. And maybe a little Patrick swayze for good asskicking measure.....

2. If you could pick one woman that you feel represents the media's definition of a sexy woman who would that be? Does she differ from what your representation of sexy is? Is she the same?

C: I guess Lady Gaga again comes to mind, all though some people in mainstream culture seem to think she is too weird or a slut... Those are the people who seem to be more conformist and or the moral right wingers who care more what people think. There is a spectrum of what is considered sexy in culture with room for lots of variables. To be honest Gaga is the only female in popular music who i find interesting right now, and therefore the only one I pay attention to, since I mostly don't follow mainstream culture, I follow alternative culture instead. Also I think Maddona provided a very sexually healthy, positive view of things through her art back in her day and Gaga is continueing in the same vein. The whole bubble gum Miley Cyrus / Britney Spears thing on the other hand doesn't appeal to me at all, but that is definitely one end of the popular culture... on the more conformist judgmental side. I really hate the whole dichotomy they tend to promote of on the one hand making a profit out of teasing men (their sexuality seems to be unnatural and completely geared towards marketing and making a profit) but on the other end they still put up the clean / wholesome / middle American, I'm a good Christian act. I guess there a plenty of examples on the male side too like Jonas brothers.
Some actresses that come to mind off the top of my head with regards to sex appeal: would be Anjelina Jolie, Kate Beckisale, Rose Mcgowan...

R: Definitely Zoey Deschanel is sexy. She's hot as hell and fine with being herself and doing her own thing her way.

B:This subject is terribly touchy for me, as I feel my taste in women in popular culture, or" mainstream" is way off. I feel I'm a man of oldskool values. I love old cars, bikes, tattoos, and a good cigar. So you can keep you sickly thin skinrack models dressed in chrome lampshades ripping lines of coke off the spoiler of a lambo. The bejeweled Ed hardy sporting trucker hat broads that seem to go out of their way to play stupid, in hopes of finding someone to buy them drinks all night till they puke, make me want to skin myself alive then be set on fire. What the he'll ever happened to self worth? However I digress.... Basically immore attracted to a woman with curves. Dark long hair, beautiful eyes and a smile that could make cherubs hard..... If they had the parts for it of course. That "real" woman. Mainstream culture is soo far off from real these days, I can't bring myself to read a magazine, watch tv, or even browse the newspaper without finding myself let down.

3. Do you feel that there is an unfair representation of men in the media? Do you feel like the standards are impossible? Do you feel that women's standards are impossible?

C: That's a tough question, because i could go in so many different directions talking about men in the media...
I don't think a man should ever have to apologize or feel guilty for wanting sex & being interested in sex but i still feel that there are a lot of mixed messages coming from the media on the subject. I also feel like there is a message being given to guys that a guy should always wait to have sex out of respect for the woman & that women aren't as interested in having sex as guys and need to build comfort and trust over time excreta. A women is a perfect pure flower and put on a pedestal and a man is a dog basically.... You're supposed to be nice, buy gifts, take her to expensive dinners and that's how you get a woman interested in sex eventually... That's all bullshit... everyone is different. If two people are in a relationship and both want to wait thats fine, but what if the woman really does want to have sex right away, but a man is caught up with all this negative programming he's been fed from culture saying he has to wait... In that case the man is actually doing a huge dis-service to the woman my mind. If two mature people are attracted to each other, than why wait? I also hate the stereotype that a man who has a lot of sex partners is praised for it in our culture and women get called names like slut whore etc... that's why I'll never use those word in a derogatory way. I think if a woman wants to have a lot of sex partners and that's who she is that's great & she should be praised for being uninhibited.
I think men are often demonized for being men in popular culture when it comes to all of the sex scandels that go on... They are expected to apologize for things that happen in their personal lives that have nothing to do with anyone else except for the people involved. Like with Tiger Woods or any of the other politicians... who are we to judge whether what they did i right or wrong, we don't know all of the details, and even if we did everyone sets a different moral standard for themselves. personally i don't see a moral problem with having multiple lovers the only thing i would never do is be dishonest with someone i care about who is personally involved.
And lastly I have also come to realize more and more as i grow up that in our culture a woman's worth tends to be judged more on her physical beauty & men's worth is judged most on his wealth, job, accomplishments, & personality. Looks are still somewhat important on guys, they need to take care of what they do have(as in grooming), but still if they are strong in all of these other areas they can have average looks and still have a very high sexual worth... but for a woman it's the opposite, her looks are most important & the other areas (wealth/job/accomplishments/personality...) are still somewhat important but secondary to her looks. This is not really simply a problem of the media since there are good biological reasons to explain this and i'm not saying it's necessarily wrong either because then you would have to say human nature is wrong...the media just re-enforces it. Basically for a woman the good looks automatically equal money/worth(because it garauntees that she will be provided for by a man / men) but a man has to demonstrate it through accomplishments / status / confident personality. Look at a rap video where the guy has good chains and a nice car and beautiful women all around him for an obvious example. I guess as a man i feel like i am always being driven to try and accomplish things and be out going personality wise in order to increase sexual worth, which can have many positive results, but it can also be very tiring and depressing sometimes as it can feel like it's never good enough and yet beautiful women are basically handed everything based on their looks.(not saying that looking good doesn't take effort though, it does, as you are no doubt learning, just in a different way)

R: the media has set high standards for both sexes, that the perfect man is a rich, model looking man who makes the world a better place as a job, who is a mans man but completely in touch with his feelings. While the perfect woman is an absolute 10 while being down to earth, either the perfect house wife or the business class executive and looks runway ready at any given moment.

B: Standards seem to vary in culture. Women seem to have all this pressure to look, act, and treat other women a certain way. I'd have to say as Terrible as it sounds, women can act like sharks/ you get a bunch in confined quarters, toss a few drops of blood in there and it's a frenzy. This isn't always the case, I've seen women capable of maintaining amazing freindships. But culture seems to tell us that life is a competition, and both men and women should cheat, steal, and stab to get ahead. It's unfortunate really. Men inpart are in a very similiar boat. We are supposed to be square jawed, chisseled, hairless manboys. Unless you deal drugs and can affordto spend hours a day preening, it's just not realistic. What ever happened to bodyhair? When did society decide that we as men are supposed to maintain an impossible physique, wear purses, and have ridiculous thin "goatees" I appologize if you fit this description, I'm sure you've got a great personality..... I happen to love red meat. Real beer. Loud fast cars. And I'm not afraid to do my own oilchanges. Regardless of what culture tells me.

4. If you are comfortable doing so (and no I wont be offended no matter what your answer is so please be honest) could you rate me on a scale of sexiness between 1- 10, 10 being Goddess like stature of sexiness and 1 being your great grandmother. Rate me for your opinion, and then what you think the media presents as sexy if they differ.

C: i don't like that idea because no matter what i say there will probably be some part of you that will resent me for it... so I'm going to pass.

R: i highly doubt that you wouldn't be offended if i gave you a 1, but i think your around an 8 maybe a nine if you were in lingerie.

B:Rating my opinion of your attractiveness is easy and very difficult at the same time. Over time, and getting to know you, my opinion has changed. Not much, but I've had the pleasure of spending hours laughing and making ridiculous inside jokes about my misfortune, and the possible six kids I'll be fathering? Anyway if I must put a number to the question, I would say 7. You tall, terribly curvy, you hold yourself well, and you can hold your own In any facet of conversation. These are all attributes I respect greatly.however, your not 96 pounds, Terribly dumb, or high on painkillers and appetite supressors, so as far as what's "cultural" both you and I are outta the loop. Regardless, your sexy, and terribly funny.


Sanne Lambert:



Next week, we will tackle makeup and its application, and skin care!
Lazy D