The McQuiqley Interview

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Svend McQuigley is a renowned freelance music journalist whose work has appeared in countless articles around the world. He caught up with The Great Palaces Of Europe after their sold out show at the Oratorio del Caravita in Rome. McQuigley got a brief sit down with TGPOE singer and founder Jason Abiel. Also joining him was Milena Hokito, who needs no introduction, who plays bass and sometimes does the lead vocals for the group.

McQuigley: So how have things gone on this tour?

Abiel: This tour? Like there's ever been anything but this tour.

Hokito: He means this tour. The one that we started two years ago. Not the one from five years ago or ten years ago.

Abiel: Ten? Have we been together that long?

McQuigley: I actually thought you were together longer than that. Didn't you guys do the Lizard Lounge album, like, twelve years ago?

Hokito: He's right. You were just a baby then (She starts to giggle uncontrollably at this point).

Abiel: A babe in the woods. Yeah, you're right. We've been at it for awhile now.

McQuigley: And still having fun, I assume.

Abiel: For sure, man. If it wasn't still fun we wouldn't still keep doing it.

Hokito: Just a little baby boy.

McQuigley: What I want to ask you about, because I know we don't have a lot of time ...

Abiel: We don't. I need a drink.

McQuigley: I wanted to ask you about the new album.

Abiel: Please do.

Hokito: Does the little baby want his bottle? (Jason breaks out laughing at this).

McQuigley: That whole issue with the leaked track.

Abiel: Yeah, the leaked track.

Hokito: Kind of ironic since he wrote it on a fucking boat.

Abiel: Hey, who's the potty mouth?

McQuigley: When that song, I'm Hoping This Love Could Be You, was leaked and then downloaded millions of times did it bother you?

Hokito: I'm not a fucking potty mouth. I'm a fucking rock star! (Jason again breaks out laughing at her).

Abiel: It didn't bother me.

McQuigley: Not at all? I mean that's a lot of money you lost there. It's a very lovely song, no question, but weren't you annoyed that it was basically stolen from you?

Abiel: I honestly truly didn't care at all. I thought it was kind of cool that people liked the song so much that they stole it in such big numbers. People go nuts when we play it live. We actually just wrote and recorded a new track three days ago that we're really excited about. We've decided to make it the first single.

McQuigley: Wow, you must like it. I heard you've been working on this album for about a year. Why did the new song jump the queue?

Abiel: Because it rocks, man.

Hokito: It absolutely rocks.

Abiel: Yeah, we had most of the album in the can. And there’s lots of tracks, like completely different sounds. Hokito sings lead on a beautiful thing called Throw Your Love Around. We even did an instrumental thing with a horn section. 

Hokito: Cobblestone.

Abiel: Yeah, Cobblestone. Totally different for us. We recorded it live at The Lizard Lounge as well. Totally surprised the audience there that night who thought a jazz band was playing.

Hokito: Called Dumpster Fire.

Abiel: Yeah, the fake band name was Dumpster Fire and no one knew it was us until we got on stage. The whole album is diverse. Just different sounds. It was really getting close to a final thing. We had been working on mixes but then this new one kind of came up during soundcheck and we tried it out in Stockholm and the place went nuts. I always wanted to write a three minute rock song with just one chord. Just to prove it could be done.

Hokito: That show was fucking crazy. When we played it after running through it maybe twice at soundcheck. It's moments like those that make me want to keep doing this forever.

McQuigley: What's it called?

Abiel: I'm Trying.

Hokito: I'm Trying.

McQuigley: I'm Trying?

Hokito: We just all said that, like, three times.

Abiel: It's meant to be, man.

Hokito: Three times means we're going to rock it! (At this point Melina jumps up from her chair and starts to play air bass).

Abiel: Yeah! Fucking right! Hit it! Hit it!

McQuigley: So when can we expect the new song to drop?

Abiel: Any day now.

Hokito: Yeah, baby! Any! (Jason jumps up and starts to jump around with Melina at this point).

Abiel: Fucking!

Hokito: Day!

McQuigley: It's good to see you guys are still having such fun. Where are you off to tonight?

Hokito: Amsterdam.

Abiel: Amsterdam. I fucking love that place.

McQuigley: At the Milkweg I'm guessing.

Abiel: For real.

McQuigley: You've played there a lot.

Hokito: At least a thousand times.

Abiel: You were playing there before you were born, Melina!

Melina and Jason start to dance around the room just as their road manager comes in and ushers them away. Off they went on a tour that started two years ago and doesn't seem like it's going to stop anytime soon. 'I'm Trying' will be available at all regular music sites, well, pretty soon.