The Complex 7: Jemina Pearl

According to an entry in Jemina Pearl’s blog “Puke Till You Punk“, the 22-year old post-punk singer’s life long dream has already been realized: She’s got to work with Iggy Pop, the lead singer of The Stooges (the band she admittedly is obsessed with), on “I Hate People”, the lead single off her new album Break it Up. Truthfully, it’s not just the music that makers her interesting, as it turns out, Jemina loves to play Super Nintedo, is a vintage horror flick aficionado and a huge fan of different fast food chains. Video games, scary movies, fast food… Doesn’t it almost sound like a typcial day in Complex’s blogosphere?

On that note, we had Pearl come through our offices for a meet and great, and we must say she’s even cooler in person. Tonight, Pearl is performing at Bowery Ballroom, and at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on November 25th. We’ve heard her live shows are awesome, but if you plan on going, make sure you don’t act up, because she’ll beat the shit out of you. No, really.

Interview by Nak Im

 #1: WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND?

Jemina Pearl says: I feel like it’s maybe cliche but bad taste in music. Or if he is in a band and his band is really bad, then it’s just not gonna happen. Because it always causes issues. I’ve dated people where they’re were in a band before, and they’re like “what did you think of the show?” I’m not gonna lie, like “it was awesome!” So then they’d get all pissed off. If I can’t get down with the music, it’s not gonna work out at all.

 #2: WHAT TYPE OF FOOTWEAR WOULD COMPLETELY MAKE YOU DISMISS A MAN AS A POTENTIAL HOOK-UP?

Jemina Pearl says: What are those things? Crocs? Those are like Birkenstocks.

 #3: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RAP ALBUM?

Jemina Pearl says: That’s hard. The first rap album I ever bought was Paul’s Boutique by the Beastie Boys. So I would say that that has a pretty special place in my heart.

 #4: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD OR HANGOVER REMEDY?

Jemina Pearl says: I would say eating something really greasy. Either a grilled cheese sandwich or a slice of pizza. Something really greasy helps my stomach feel better. Something with a lot of bread, a lot of carbs and not so many flavors going on. And then a Gatorade and some Extra Strength Tylenol.

 #5: WHAT’S THE MOST EFFECTIVE APHRODISIAC FOR YOU?

Jemina Pearl says: I don’t know. Alcohol? [Laughs.]

 #6: WHO IS A CHILDHOOD CRUSH THAT YOU CAN’T BELIEVE YOU HAD?

Jemina Pearl says: My first crush was on Raphael from the Ninja Turtles. But I feel like that’s a pretty cool one. I think I went through a brief phase where I had a crush on Elijah Wood in North and Flipper. But I don’t really know how I feel about that now.

 #7: WHO IS YOUR FEMALE CRUSH?

Jemina Pearl says: That’s hard. Maybe Patti Smith back in the day. Not so much because I think she was super hot, but I just want to hang out with her. I don’t know, it’s hard for me to think who is super hot. Making out with girls is like ehh…

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Complex: You blog about Super Nintendo a lot.

Jemina: Oh, yeah. I love Super Nintendo.

Complex: You’ve heard of Xbox 360? Playstation 3?

Jemina: [Laughs.] I have a Playstation 2 as well. I really want to get a Playstation 3. Boys used to call me in high school to come beat Grand Theft Auto levels for them because I was better at it than they were. But they’re just so fucking expensive. And every game is so pricey.

Complex: You also seem to be obsessed with horror movies. How did you get into them? Why?

Jemina: Because they are amazing. I used to be terrified of Chucky, Jason, and Freddie Krueger when I was a little kid. So I think once I got to be a little older, I just really wanted to watch some, because I’ve always been scared of them but never actually saw them. My mom wouldn’t let me, so I think it just started from there. My mom is actually really into horror movies, so I kinda have her to thank for that. But what’s better than someone getting their head chopped off when they don’t have a shirt on?

Complex: What’s the story with your posts on fast food?

Jemina: When we were first doing the blog, I was driving down up and down Northampton to do demos—that’s where Thurston (Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth) lives. [That was] sort of an excuse to go to Burger King or Taco Bell. Doing that in the city kind of makes you feel like an asshole. There is a Taco Bell that just opened up nearby where I live, and I was sort of like “Whoo! I should go eat there!” Then I immediately felt guilty, but I’m about to leave for tour so I’ll probably go back very quickly about being all about fast food.

Complex: What’s your fast food of choice?

Jemina: Definitely Taco Bell. Just because it feels so dirty and awesome. [Laughs.]

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