2004-11-13 NME

Let's go to quirk

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Words: Imran Ahmed in London
Photographs: Ed Miles in London

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Devendra Banhart, Rufus Wainwright, Joanna Newsom and Regina Spektor are so cool they give singer-songwriters a good name. And that name is quirky-somethings

[...] So, quite clearly, one thing the quirkies have in common with Motown is that they • ingest tabs of psychedelic mind-funk by the bucket- load, right? RIGHT?

"I think that's a personal issue," mumbles Rufus, a man who previously has spoken frankly about his crystal meth addiction. Regina is equally guarded, squeaking: "I don't wanna say anything about that, it's private."

[...]

Regina Spektor

Describe yourself as a personal ad: "Bronx mastermind reborn as Manhattanite, seeks to live in apartment with piano. And a fire escape."

Need to know: Has toured with The Strokes (last Christmas in the UK) and Kings Of Leon. Has a song that goes, "Someone next door is fucking to one of my songs" about life on the road with the latter.