It’s a typical day. I’m attached to my Macbook Pro I’ve affectionately named my Appletini, I’m scouring the online music sites for something that doesn’t make me want to throw my ipod against a wall, and my music A.D.D. is in full effect. The universe must have felt my desperation and they sent immediate aid in the form of an instant message, via a trusted music authority. The convo went something like this:

Music Authority: Have you heard of New Year Sun Bear?

Me: Nah- good?

Music Authority: Check it out.

Me: Already on site.

Then, something weird happened. Something that to this day shocks me. I was listening to a track for more than a few seconds. In fact, I listened to several songs before I realized that I didn’t want to switch up the tracks, like, yesterday. Had I defeated my music A.D.D.? Happily the answer is no. There is no known cure for music A.D.D.- the only therapy known, practiced, and recognized in this day and age is good music. Breath of fresh air kind of music. Enter New Year Sun Bear, and welcome to my twenty minute auditory attention deficit hiatus. “Orange Cat” was good, “Michela and I” was better- but I was hooked when I heard “I’m not staggered, Charlie”- which I’ve included for your listening pleasure below because I’m considerate. No, I’m not- I just want to be able to conveniently hear it when I want.

Because Frisco and Los Angeles are lightyears away by snail mail I used a delightful new device to badger Remy Cox of New Year Sun Bear with questions. Check out his amazingly entertaining answers below!

Lauren Novik: So- let’s dive right in- how’d this start as a class project and turn into your life?!  And people say homework is a waste of time…

Remy Cox: Ahah, yeah homework blows- but not when drum machines are involved. Last December I was taking a Modern Greek Poetry class at San Francisco State University. Instead of a final, we had the option to do a creative response. Score! I grabbed my keyboard and recorded a song about a book we read called “God’s Snake.” As it played for the class, I wrote the lyrics on the chalkboard (like Connor Oberst did in the music video for “Easy/Lucky/Free.”) It was a break through for me. I was like, “Woah. I can get people to move to electro-pop songs with Shakespeare references? This is so sweet!” So from there, I kept writing and on January 13th released the album “At The Café With Karyotakis,” named after the modern Greek poet.

LN: Main musical influences?

RC: I love the 8-bit brutality of Crystal Castles. The unapologetic dance-pop of Passion Pit was also really liberating for me. Over the years I slowly realized that pop music can be fun and catchy and deep at the same time. Lyrically, Connor Oberst is the man. A hand full of his songs make me cry- and not just because I’m sad I didn’t write them. I also love the theatrics of Muse (and also Matthew Bellamy’s falsetto.)

LN: Let’s talk about these “impromptu street dance parties”- give me the where, what, when, why, how!

RC: I first saw this band Starfucker in San Francisco last October. Synths littered the stage. Half the band wore dresses. They were spinning clips of British philosopher Alan Watts on turn tables. I left the show and knew I wanted to make electronic music. By the time they came back to play in March, the New Year Sun Bear album had been out for about a month. On the night of the show, my roommate Dan Cordie came home with a generator and said, “get your keyboard, we’re throwing a dance party after the Starfucker show.” So we hauled all my stuff over and set up outside the Independent. I scribbled “Starfucker after party” on a piece of paper and when the show let out I started playing. I got a good crowd and everyone was really digging it. Everyone but the people trying to sleep across the street. At the third song, to show their appreciation, they started throwing eggs. I got nailed in the back a few times, but my Members Only jacket took most of the yoke. I was just stoked they didn’t hit my Mac. One of the most vocal critics walked across the street to set me straight. “Just because you don’t have to work in the morning, you fucking trust fund baby.” I told him I was sorry, but didn’t bother telling him I was working minimum wage for 8 hours the next morning at my front desk job. I still don’t understand why people think musicians are rich. So the cops came and shut it down, but it was totally worth it. I got a few shows, a music video and a photo shoot out of it. I’m planning on doing it again after the Outside Lands festival this summer. Hopefully there’s no one with eggs trying to sleep in Golden Gate Park that night.

LN: We’ll have some people on the scene, hope we get exclusive Facebook event invite sent to us and about a billion of your closest strangers.

LN: Any pre show (pre-impromptu dance party) vices or rituals?

RC: Tomato soup. Something I’ve done since I played in bands back in High School.

LN: What do you dig specifically about the San Fran music scene?

RC: I love how much electronica SF has. There’s a lot of dubstep, but I can only handle so many brain aneurisms in one night. I’m starting a new genre of music called “Duck-Step.” Instead of a wobble base line, it’s a modulated duck quack on the low end. The synths are all 8-bit samples from Duck-Hunt. It’s going to fucking kill you.

LN: A) I still have my Nintendo NES in working condition, and B) I rule at Duckhunt. When I hear said song I’ll be secretly imagining shooting clay plates in my head. Might want to enroll me in a psychiatric facility when you have release dates for said songs.

LN: So since the musical occupation you’ve found seems a little unexpected- what were you going to school to be originally?

RC: I am a Senior majoring in English and Creative Writing. The goal is to be the next Jack Kerouac but, well, you know how that goes.

LN: As a former fueled by ramen girl with 2 copies of Dharma Bums and more highlights in my copy of On The Road than the critics’ last roast of the Laker loss, I can relate.

LN: Favorite guilty pleasure song to rock out to?

RC: Dancing Queen. But I stopped feeling guilty a while back. ABBA fucking rules.

LN: We’re going to go ahead and agree to disagree on that one.

LN: You need to get the party started- your weapon of choice is Twister, Operation, Battleship, or Scrabble?

RC: I always try to play board games, but no one ever wants to play with me! But in an ideal world, Twister would start off the evening to get everyone familiar with each other’s body. And then Scrabble for the rest of the night. I come from a family of Scrabblers. When I visit them in San Diego, we play 2-3 times a day. We’re purists. We don’t allow slang or abbreviations.

LN: CD currently in your car right now (don’t go switching it up now that you’ve seen the question!)

RC: Awww, I don’t have time to switch out my Bieber CD? Okay okay fine. Andrew Bird- Noble Beast / Useless Creatures. It’s been in my record player for over a year. That man can whistle!

LN: It’s 2am post an impormptu dance party- are you late night snacking it, chilling with your friends in recovery mode- describe the scene!

RC: All my roommates in Upper Haight/ Cole Valley are crammed into my room drinking Red Stripe. Dan Rosenbaum just fell asleep on the blue couch. Abby and Hayley are sitting next to him, rubbing each other inappropriately. Dan Cordie is telling us about five awesome bands we’ve never heard of. Paola is bragging about how she pulls more girls than me (and she’s right.) Karen just made vegan lemon lavender cookies and they are delicious. Outside in the street a stranger named “Red Delicious” is drunk on the hood of a rusty station wagon. Our neighbor Daniel just lit himself on fire and tumbles down the stoop. Inside, I am trying to get everyone to play Scrabble but no one wants to play.

LN: Most over-rated band out there right now?

RC: Kings of Leon. I know I’m the only person that doesn’t get a woody from that song. But whatever. Their old stuff is good though.

LN: Alright and we’re back on track again- every time one of their tunes come on I hear my friend saying “sounds like they’re singing every song in a cave. It’s like they recorded their entire album there.”

LN: What’s up for NYSB in the next year?

RC: Well, Kanye’s people keep calling me about doing a collab, and Coachella is hounding me to headline next year. So probably those things. But there will also be a new music video coming out for “I’m Not Staggered, Charlie.” A new album will be out in Fall of 2011 as well. You can follow New Year Sun Bear on Facebook and Twitter for upcoming shows too.

LN: Closing remarks to friends and fans?

RC: Yeah, two people in particular. My friend Jason Webber, who let me come into the studio with him to record the vocals, and my friend Greg Skiano, who created www.NewYearSunBear.com and the music video for “Michela and I.” Couldn’t have done it without these guys. I also want to thank all the people who believe in me more than I believe in me. I just made this CD because I love music. I didn’t have any high hopes for it, but it seems to be catching on and I feel really fortunate that people are listening. It’s more validating than whatever grade the professor gave me. I’m not sure if New Year Sun Bear will go anywhere, and that’s fine with me. I stopped wanting to be a rock star when I graduated from high school. But if it does catch on, it will be because of all the amazing people that supported it. And, of course, because of music bloggers like yourself. I hope I didn’t write too much. That’s my problem. I always write too much. So thank you everyone! Oh, and I also want to thank my cat that I named the song “Orange Cat” after. Even if I am allergic to you, you are the coolest cat in the universe.

I’m Not Staggered, Charlie. by New Year Sun Bear

I’m pretty sure I had more than one “LOL” moment when I read these answers. Yeah, I said it. More importantly I used “LOL”- and for that, I apologize. More importantly (and to divert attention from my pre-teen acronym fluency) head to www.newyearsunbear.com and do yourself (and your ears) a favor by downloading the album FOR FREE. You officially have no excuse by blaming the laziness on lack of funds to make an auditory investment. Go there, do that, and then be sure to catch his post Outside Lands soiree in San Fran. All the cool kids are doing it.