"Cry Baby" is probably one of the dumbest things you can name your band. Not because it isn’t a good name, but because it is such a good name there are hundreds of bands named Cry Baby. After interviewing Nashville Cry Baby drummer Tiffany Minton, I tried a Google image search and came across a slew of crappy Cry Baby bands. Emo Cry Baby. Old-timey Cry Baby. “All-American rock band from Boston” Cry Baby. The list was never-ending.The only Cry Baby I am interested in is the band compromised of Tiffany Minton and Wesley Trew. The two-piece side project (Minton is in Heavy Cream and Trew in Fuckshow) recently released an EP of home-recorded demos that are catchy, Southern, and full of big emotions. It’s feel-good rock 'n’ roll with big heroic choruses and double vocals. Before skipping town with Heavy Cream for yet another tour, I called up Tiffany to talk about Cry Baby’s Southern musical roots, the Bible Belt, Britney Spears’ body, and why they writes such emotional songs.First off, I just want you to know there is a really cheesy all-boy band called Cry Baby that describes themselves as “All-American Rock.”
Tiffany: Oh, sweet Jesus on the cross, I've seen it. [Laughs] I didn't even think about the fact that there are probably 50 bands with Cry Baby for a name until we made a Facebook page. For now, we're not changing it, but like other bands have had to in the past, we may also have to re-name. Maybe we'll be Cry Babies? Or I'll just noogie all that pretty side-swept hair until they scream "Uncle!" and then we can be Cry Baby "All-American boy rock from Nashville?"I like the last idea. Why did you and Wes call the band Cry Baby? Was it after that movie with Johnny Depp?
I love John Waters, and the name had been sitting on a list of potential names for future bands. It could just as easily have been Serial Mom, I guess. Wes and I having a running joke about being really emotional people, so it's probably more fitting.Are you guys singing really emotional songs?
I don't know how deeply they have the potential to move, but there are some demonstrative moments.Do you have a song you like to listen to when you feel the most emotionally overwhelmed? I have a few.
Oh, yeah. I love listening to Harry Nillson songs when I'm really lovesick. I have the most tortured taste sometimes. I like to really commiserate with myself. Songs like "To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees or "Crying in the Rain" by Carole King, which just slays me every fucking time. I love that song!I think people need emotional songs.
My go-to song when I'm feeling really exalted is "Make Your Own Kind of Music" by Mama Cass. Well, hers is a cover, but it's the best version. That song really blows my skirt up!Do you think being Southern gives you a different kind of relationship to music? I mean, you guys know how to write the good shit in Nashville.
Being Southern definitely has its own unique voice in my life, as well as the broader story of music. I grew up in the Bible Belt—Nashville is the "buckle"—so that old time religion has definitely carved a deep river into my psyche. Wes' too. We write songs about undoing a lot of that psychological abuse, for sure. And of course, Nashville has such a long history with songwriting. If I may be nationalistic for a minute, I do think we live in a city that is home to the best songwriters and musicians in the country. Living here is a constant challenge to want to be better than you are as a musician.Because it's competitive?
Well, everyone is so good that you can't ignore it. Being around people who are better than you will make you better if you have reverence for their talent, which I do. It's competitive here because everyone is a musician, just about. But, it never seems cut-throat. I don't mean that. People are kind and the bravado of those who are better than you—which is every other person—is generally a mark of confidence, not viciousness.Because you are on double duty with drumming and singing, do you wear one of those McDonalds headset microphones to sing live?
I didn't have a Britney Spears mic, but if you're suggesting it, I'm open to the possibility.I think those things are crazy, but you could start a new trend. It could be cool with the punx.
Punx love Britney, right? They at least like Madonna, and she made that shit cool. So why fucking not, right?I love Britney. She's so butch. She's the Queen. Plus, she's very emotional.
The women of Birdcloud use those mics and it's so good! They look rad! Oh, I love Britney, too! I have a huge space in my heart for pop music. I was so excited for her big comeback! "Butch," huh? I'm curious… I've never thought of her that way, but I'd like to now.I just mean like her body is super athletic and strong. She doesn’t have a typical hourglass frame. She's strong and butch and she looks good. I follow her on Instagram, so I look at her constantly.
There's nothing sexier than a butch-bodied woman to me! I am going to follow her Instagram now, thank you.@myszkaway
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Tiffany: Oh, sweet Jesus on the cross, I've seen it. [Laughs] I didn't even think about the fact that there are probably 50 bands with Cry Baby for a name until we made a Facebook page. For now, we're not changing it, but like other bands have had to in the past, we may also have to re-name. Maybe we'll be Cry Babies? Or I'll just noogie all that pretty side-swept hair until they scream "Uncle!" and then we can be Cry Baby "All-American boy rock from Nashville?"I like the last idea. Why did you and Wes call the band Cry Baby? Was it after that movie with Johnny Depp?
I love John Waters, and the name had been sitting on a list of potential names for future bands. It could just as easily have been Serial Mom, I guess. Wes and I having a running joke about being really emotional people, so it's probably more fitting.
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I don't know how deeply they have the potential to move, but there are some demonstrative moments.Do you have a song you like to listen to when you feel the most emotionally overwhelmed? I have a few.
Oh, yeah. I love listening to Harry Nillson songs when I'm really lovesick. I have the most tortured taste sometimes. I like to really commiserate with myself. Songs like "To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees or "Crying in the Rain" by Carole King, which just slays me every fucking time. I love that song!I think people need emotional songs.
My go-to song when I'm feeling really exalted is "Make Your Own Kind of Music" by Mama Cass. Well, hers is a cover, but it's the best version. That song really blows my skirt up!Do you think being Southern gives you a different kind of relationship to music? I mean, you guys know how to write the good shit in Nashville.
Being Southern definitely has its own unique voice in my life, as well as the broader story of music. I grew up in the Bible Belt—Nashville is the "buckle"—so that old time religion has definitely carved a deep river into my psyche. Wes' too. We write songs about undoing a lot of that psychological abuse, for sure. And of course, Nashville has such a long history with songwriting. If I may be nationalistic for a minute, I do think we live in a city that is home to the best songwriters and musicians in the country. Living here is a constant challenge to want to be better than you are as a musician.
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Well, everyone is so good that you can't ignore it. Being around people who are better than you will make you better if you have reverence for their talent, which I do. It's competitive here because everyone is a musician, just about. But, it never seems cut-throat. I don't mean that. People are kind and the bravado of those who are better than you—which is every other person—is generally a mark of confidence, not viciousness.Because you are on double duty with drumming and singing, do you wear one of those McDonalds headset microphones to sing live?
I didn't have a Britney Spears mic, but if you're suggesting it, I'm open to the possibility.I think those things are crazy, but you could start a new trend. It could be cool with the punx.
Punx love Britney, right? They at least like Madonna, and she made that shit cool. So why fucking not, right?I love Britney. She's so butch. She's the Queen. Plus, she's very emotional.
The women of Birdcloud use those mics and it's so good! They look rad! Oh, I love Britney, too! I have a huge space in my heart for pop music. I was so excited for her big comeback! "Butch," huh? I'm curious… I've never thought of her that way, but I'd like to now.I just mean like her body is super athletic and strong. She doesn’t have a typical hourglass frame. She's strong and butch and she looks good. I follow her on Instagram, so I look at her constantly.
There's nothing sexier than a butch-bodied woman to me! I am going to follow her Instagram now, thank you.@myszkaway