November 30, 2014 |
Dressed in cut-off denim and a silky kimono, Gika is at once ethereal and West Coast gritty.
When she shrugs that signature-look kimono off her shoulders on stage as the frontwoman of LA’s most brilliantly indefinable alt-rock group IO Echo, it comes off as sort of neo-Stevie Nicks. A coolant calm character in person, Gika carries something in her eyes (which are framed with lightning bolts of black liner) that tells us that, if we hang back after our chat for long enough, we might just be in for the night of our lives. A right good party, that is.
How long have you lived in LA?
“Several years, but I travel around for tours.”
What’s your favourite thing to do in LA?
“Leave and then return. The quality of life in LA is better than a lot of other places.”
How would you define yourself?
“I don’t fear the sleep of death, I fear the life that’s slept through.”
Why did you decide to do what you do?
“It was never a conscious decision. I just started doing it and never stopped.”
What do you do to relax?
“Work.”
What do you do for fun?
“Work.”
What would you say are the essentials to becoming famous in your profession?
“If I attempted to answer that question seriously, I would have to kill myself immediately afterwards.”
Is there anything you would like to do but never seem to have the time?
“Go to space.”
What is the most ridiculous rumour you’ve ever heard about yourself? Is it true?
“There are lots of weirdo genre names attached to out music and yet I identify with none of them.”
Have you been to Disneyland?
“I prefer the Renaissance Faire.”
Health food or champagne?
“Everything in excess.”
Photographer: Kenneth Cappello
By Vincent Levy
