A Conversation With The Great Master Tsukai

^ Master Tsukai and Cola Gorda in Chicago.

Greetings, Cola Gordians!   Master Tsukai actually agreed to talk to me!  Yay!  This is my first ever interview (I feel like such a journalist!), so please don’t throw stones.   For those of you not familiar with Master Tsukai, she is the awesome and pretty little lady from Mexico D.F. who loves Interpol, has a kick ass myspace page, adores Daniel Kessler, and takes the loveliest live pics of the band I’ve ever seen.   They are like high, sexy art!  She also has quite an extensive collection of Interpol memorabilia.

P.S.  Master Tsukai can confirm that Cola Gorda is at least 1.63 meters tall, but is unable to tell us the precise number of moles on his person.  Sorry, Ugg!   I know you were waiting for that.

P.P.S.  (Updated: 1/16/08)  Master Tsukai got quoted in Q Magazine in an article for Interpol’s San Francisco show!  Click HERE and HERE.

 

 

 

1.  Why did you decide to call yourself Master Tsukai?   

Well, first I was only Tsukai. I like a Manga called “Ah! My Goddess!” and there is a character that (at first appearance) doesn’t have a name. They used the kanji “Tsukai” to name it. It means “Ex- devil” because it was a devil who was born inside a goddess’ body and became an angel. . . Master, I started to use it after I got my Master degree…

That’s interesting!   About the manga… oh,  and congratulations on earning your Masters! What did you study?

… I got my Master’s Degree in Marketing :P Thank you so much.

2.  How many Interpol shows have you been to over the years?   I won’t ask you how much $ you think you’ve spent…. 

Eleven in all my life. . .  L . DF twice in 2005, Coachella, Las Vegas, Chicago, Grand Rapids, Detroit, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Mexico again. I think my favourite show has been the second time in Las Vegas because they played specialist and that’s my favourite song… but I have great memories of all shows I’ve gone.

I’d could never have been able to go to the Chicago or to the Los Angeles show without Nancy’s help.  I met her in Vegas and she invited me to go with her to all those shows… I had to pay only little expenses and my flight tickets and I think I already owe my life to the bank already hahaha.

 

3. You seem to have met all the Interpol guys!  Who is the nicest?  Who’s cutest in person?  Do they know who you are now?  Do they say ‘Hi, Master Tsukai!’ and wave like little girls when they see you?

Nicest? Daniel by far! And cutest too… Not only because I like him so much, because he appears to care about fans and his smile wooow… When I first met them in Mexico, the nicest was Carlos D, but I think the Carlos D I met then is already dead.  No, I don’t think they now me or even by name. Maybe Paul and Daniel could remember my face because I use to give them presents everytime I saw them and hang a banner in the encore of the shows…. I love to have pictures with them… I have lots of funny or curious memories with Daniel…

Pease share a Daniel memory!    So you think that Carlos has changed?   Poor Carlos.    

One…  it’s too difficult to choose one! Let me see… oooouuu… Grand Rapids… When they played Not Even Jail I showed my flag of Mexico and he smiled at me. . . after the song was over, they went out of the stage and when they come back,  he took his guitar, then showed me the pick and he hung it like he was saying cheers to me… like he was dedicating that song to me… then he started to play NYC…

That’s adorable.  Truly.  :)

4. Does your husband mind that you like Daniel Kessler so much?  Is he also a fan of Interpol?

No, he doesn’t. Maybe at the beginning he was jealous but he understands it is only a fantasy. Many girls asked me the classic question: “If you would have the opportunity to be with Daniel, would you leave your husband?” hahahaha I think that is letting the fantasies go far…   And no, my husband is not fan of Interpol.  He says I always spoil his tastes in music because I used to listen to the same album, song or band all time without getting bored…

 

Ha!   Yeah, that is taking fantasy too far.  I wouldn’t leave my boyfriend for Paul Banks either (actually…. I would). 

5. What do you like about Daniel Kessler?

I love the way he blushes when you ask him something he doesn’t expect you to say (I don’t mean I said something dirty no way!) , the way he smiles when I show the banners in the concerts… I like the way he is so passionate on stage… the way he is grateful with people… nice, kind and shy :P

He blushes?!   That’s so cute!  Have you ever told him you had a crush on him?  

YES he blushes! And he lows his gaze too….  No I would never say something like that hihihi that would be so embarrassing :P The time when he blushes I asked him for a hug… only a hug! He said of course but my friends said a big “AAAAAAAAAWwwwwwwww”   so I was blushed too :P

6.  Is Paul Banks evil?

No, I don’t know what the hell is Paul Banks.   But I’m sure he has cold blood inside his veins.  When I met him in Mexico in 2005, he was so cold with me but when I met him in Chicago he was very kind he even smiled!  I hate how he depends on his mood to be nice with fans….

Uh-oh!  I hear that a lot about Cola — that he’s moody.   That’s not very cool.   I really do think he is 65% evil.  But I still have a crush on him.   I’m sorry he was moody with you. 

Don’t worry, I didn’t feel hurt or something… that’s because I don’t care about Paul :P He has been cold with me always… Once, in Grand Rapids, he hides from me behind the van… I only wanted to give him the present I brought from Mexico… and after the show I asked him for a pic and he answered me in Spanish… ‘sorry, I’m not taking pictures… if I take one, everyone will want one… do you understand me right?’… what a jerk :S hihihihi (hahahahahaha)

He hid behind a van?   That’s weird!   Hahahahhahaha.  He really did that?  He really said that to you?  I don’t think I like him anymore.  Hee Hee.

Yes, he did…  can you believe that? I felt bad, but what other chance [did] I have?  I had to eat my pride and go after him and give him the present… I tell him … “Hey, I only wanted to give you this present I brought you from mexico, that’s all”, and turn around again to the line….  And when he said that about taking the pic I answered him… yes, I understand… but I’m sure I would slap him with a gaze… and he noticed it … again… he is a jerk.   He is mean yeah… but he does goods things too… In Vegas, I was screaming a lot during specialist… even Daniel and he shared smiles cause all of us went crazy with that song… after he played that song, he threw his pic to me… I think it was a way to say thank you for leaving body and soul with his/our favourite song… Yes… he can be cute… but only when the planets align…

So Cola Gorda is victim to his moods, huh?   Shame all over you, Cola!  Nice arse, though.

7.  What is your favorite song from each album and what is your least favorite song from each album?

TOTBL:  Favorite —The New;  least favorite —Hands Away.  Antics:  Favorite — Take You On A Cruise; least favorite — Length of Love.   OLTA:  Favorite — Rest My Chemistry; least favorite —  Who Do You Think?

8. Do you like Our Love To Admire ?  A lot of people don’t seem to like it as much as the other albums.  What is your favorite album?

I love OLTA. And I’m not trying to be false with this… I think I’m more a “song” person… Maybe some fans could kill me if they know I prefer OLTA instead of TOTBL… Sacrilegous!!!!! I would never be a purist fan… that’s an extreme…

My favorite is Antics.  Hahhaha.  Yes,  hardcore fans are all supposed to worship TOTBL…  hahahaha!  It’s not my favorite, either.   Thank you for saying that.   That makes me feel better.   The great Master Tsukai’s favorite Interpol album is NOT TOTBL!  

Hahahahaha  The New is my second favourite song so I respect TOTBL… but Specialist is WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

9. Have you met any of the girls from the message boards?  Are they nice?

In person?  I have met lots of fans and I have never met one who hasn’t been nice with me. I think everyone were awesome in all the cities I visited for the shows. . . I have good memories of all of them.   In Mexico, in The Rabid Glow Forum I found lots of friends and we were together in Manifest…  it was great because in 2005 we were completely strangers and now we get drunk together hahaha.

There is a ‘rabid glow’ forum?   That sounds cool!  That’s sweet that you guys are friends now and hang out together.  I find Interpol fans to be really nice people.

Yes! You can check it  here .  [It] is for spanish speakers.  I think the things more strange that would happened to me has been in myspace… some girls wrote to me to ask me for tickets, backstage passes, introduce the guys… even to tell me some strange stories about Carlos D… You can find very nice people and others that only want to ask you something…

Thanks for the link!   That’s kind of weird, people asking you for stuff online. 

Yes, weird :P

10.  How do you get such great pictures?  I posted some of your Daniel and Paul pics before… very nice!

Because of the camera, and I don’t like to use flash because it changes the way you are seeing the show… and it bothers them.  I like to catch moments and take different angles not a simple picture …

You’re so considerate.   The flash would bother me if I was them, too.   I think your pictures are actually beautiful.  What kind of camera do you use?  <—– You don’t have to tell me.   Just seemed like a good question to ask.

I use a Cybershot DSC-H5… not a professional camera… but it takes good pics.

Yes, it bloody does!  :)

11. Do you think it’s wrong to call Paul Banks ‘cola gorda’?  Do you think that Paul Banks has a nice cola?

No, I think it’s very funny. I remember some girls in the rabid glow forum used to call him the same way :P.  I haven’t really seen his ass with attention… The best way to know is to grab it…

And why haven’t you grabbed Paul’s cola?   Nevermind, I think I know why:   He’s mean!

Hahahahaha He is really mean :P

^ hahahhaha

12. What was your favorite band before Interpol?   How long have you been a fan of Interpol?

Depeche Mode. The first time I knew about Interpol was with the video of Obstacle 1 because I like this movie ‘The Ring’ and that video reminds me it a lot… then I started to like the song. . . Incredibly, I didn’t buy any record until my husband gave me ‘Antics‘ and the madness began :P

13. Do you like Helena Christensen?

I think I would like to look like her at her age and being with a hot man 10 years younger… that’s an image of success hahahaha.

Do you think she’s a good photographer?  (hahahahha)

Automatic cameras are awesome don’t you think? Hahahahaha.   No, I really haven’t seen her pics, or other things about her… in fact,  who cares about HC?

No one cares about her, I think.  Not even God.   I just like to tease her because she’s shagging my man.  

Damn lucky woman…

Straight up. 

14. Do you think Carlos D. is hot?

Now, no I don’t think so… I think he is losing his marbles hahaha.  To be hot, I must have more than the face… and he was to be charming…

I agree with you.   Looks are meaningless without charm and grace.  Is there something Carlos did (besides grow that stache) that makes you think he’s losing his marbles?  Just curious.  :) 

The beard! Hahahaha that dog [Gaius] . . .  When I met him in Mexico, he went out the VIP zone to sign my cd and took a picture… he even tried to spell my name… wasn’t that cute? I miss that Carlos D… not this ‘Howard Huges’ attempt…

Oh, I see.   The old Carlos D. you just described sounds so sweet.  That’s cute that he tried to spell out your name. Howard Hughes scares me.   His toenails and stuff.  I really hope Carlos does not turn into Howard Hughes…

15. Ok. Last question!  What is your favorite thread on the Interpol Message Board?

Live thread… because I can read about what happened in every show.

Oh!  I always go straight to the pictures thread just because I’m sick like that.   I read that live thread for the forum show in Los Angeles.   There was a lady there who was so critical of the band.   She said Daniel was ‘doing the waltz’ on stage and it didn’t match the music.   She was so mean!  I think I hate her.  Did you read that one? 

Of course I read it… but that was a purist fan… Why does someone feel that they have a right to say what a band should do?  That’s for crazy people…

*

That concludes the interview!   Sorry so abrupt.  But it’s hard doing this via email.   Master Tsukai, was  awesome and wonderful.  Blame me if anything sounds weird.  I must stress that she loves the band  completely so please do not take any of this out of context.   :)

More pics from her Manifest collection:

^ Sam!

Carlos!