Hi I'm Empress Of, I'm at Amoeba and this is What's In My Bag.
The first thing I found, it was definitely this Kate Bush record.
It's like a compilation of four records.
I really just wanted to find 'The Kick Inside' because that's my gateway drug into Kate Bush.
But, I mean, this is bomb.
I like how unique she is and how in control of her art she is.
It's a singular vision, like videos, dancing, music.
Just everything is like the world of Kate Bush. Love her.
This record is Julee Cruise and she was featured on Twin Peaks.
She added vocals to a lot of Angelo Badalamenti's instrumentals.
She's very influential to me.
And actually I highly referenced her on a new song on my record.
It's the last track on my new album.
Were you happy with the way the track turned out, yours?
Oh yeah, yeah, a 10 out of 10. So good.
I mean for me. I love the song. I listen to it a lot.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
I love Kubrick.
This movie is '2001: A Space Odyssey' in a very glamorous blu-ray.
I just love the pacing of the movie.
Stop, Dave.
Will you stop, Dave?
It's really slow and, I don't know, it just feels like you're in space.
The music is crazy too.
'Howl's Moving Castle,' which is my favorite Miyazaki movie.
Look at that.
I mean, they're all amazing. 'Spirited Away' is really good. 'Princess Mononoke.'
But I don't know, I really like this one.
I like the image of the dude because he's really put together but he's really ugly
because he's vain. I don't know, it's just gnarly.
I see no point in living if I can't be beautiful.
I saw the shelf and I was like, oh obviously I have to get this.
This record was one of those records I just listened to for a year straight
and only listened to this record.
I listened to this record when I was playing guitar a lot.
I don't play guitar very much anymore
because, I don't know, I just like producing beats and making electronic music.
But I loved how melodic all the guitar riffs are.
I don't know, it's like you could just listen to a guitar riff forever.
So to bring it to modern day, this is 'To Pimp A Butterfly,' Kendrick Lamar.
Very important for me.
I put Kendrick Lamar on when I think I can't do what I need to do.
Y'know it's like very motivational music. It's like, 'ok, get up, get out, do it.'
I mean I still listen to 'Alright' today. So I don't know, it just makes me feel empowered.
Should I keep it modern? I'm gonna keep it modern.
'Sweetener,' Ariana Grande.
The Ariana Grande fans get really upset if people do this. So we're not going to do it.
I listen to a lot of Ariana Grande. I think she's...
I mean, especially 'Thank You, Next,' which is her most recent song, which is not on this.
She's just like a really good example of someone who's had so much
crazy stuff happen to her and she just comes out on top.
Channels it through her music.
I love the Pharrell production. It really sounds like Pharrell produced it. A lot of the songs.
Like 'The Light is Coming,' the beat is insane.
Celia & Johnny.
I just listened to this record growing up like my whole life.
Y'know, 'Quimbara.' Yeah, there's so many songs on here my mom played.
And I heard at, y'know, first communion parties and quinceañeras.
Celia Cruz is amazing.
I couldn't find the record because my girl is sold out, but this is Selena.
It's 'Entre a Mi Mundo' and it has a lot of her iconic songs. 'Como la Flor.'
That one was really good. 'Amame' is really good.
But yeah I just wanted to rep my girl.
I watch a lot of movies and I just started directing my own music videos.
And I think that's because I just spent so many years watching movies and studying that.
But I really love Dario Argento and I did not get 'Suspiria' 'cause I'm not gonna be that person.
I got 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage.'
It's really good. I don't know, I love the stories that he comes up with.
Y'know, like, oh cool we're gonna do a ballet school.
Or we're gonna do an opera.
Anyways, he's really good. So I got this one.
And then this is a soundtrack from a movie that I'm obsessed with
that's called 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence.'
The movie features Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Bowie, co-starring. In a movie.
And if that wasn't enough Ryuichi scored it.
I know, right? How do you have time?
Artists like Ryuichi Sakamoto and Quincy Jones, I'm just like, how did y'all do all of that?
Like, how? I got out of bed at 9:00. Barely.
Ryuichi Sakamoto, if you're not familiar, he was in Yellow Magic Orchestra.
And he is a film composer and does other collaborative projects.
But yeah, this is big for me.
The last thing in here is 'Eraserhead.' I love David Lynch.
It's like his first thing that everyone knows. But I picked it because, when I was younger
this ensemble did a live score of 'Eraserhead'
And I did the song of the woman in the radiator.
I don't know, I was just throwing it back to my youth.
Ok
Thank you so much.
Thank you.