Olivia & Steph of Big Wish

Big Wish performing live; Photo by Walter Wlodarczyk

underdog__ (x+c): What is an underdog?

*Olivia: someone who's not expected to win as much as humans love stability and status quo, we also love stories where the underdog does win.

*Steph: Someone with big goals who relentlessly does their thing despite not getting credit or recognition initially or maybe ever.

__underdog__ (x+c): Are you an artist? Why or why not~

Olivia: I guess so. yes, I am. I have major impostor syndrome that makes me feel unqualified to call myself an artist but truthfully I put elements of design and sensory beauty into everything I do.

Steph: Yes, sure. I am a person who creates things to convey feelings that i can not express conversationally or in any other way. Sometimes it’s totally only for me, sometimes i'm thinking about the audience, sometimes i’m thinking about money but at the end of the day it’s just something I can't help but do with or without an audience.

__underdog__ (x+c): Are you part of a “scene”? What is the scene and how do you view it?

Olivia: with some incredulity but yes I am. there are fellow artists and musicians who like what I create and we support each other and pay attention to each other's projects and styles.

Steph: It’s a total mish mosh ‘scene’ that I engage with and more of a community than anything. I find myself around a lot of harsh noise people and queer club kids and other people with unnamable style who are all so sweet and supportive. Even if I don't always love the music i am so grateful for everyone hanging out every night and booking and playing diy shows.

__underdog__ (x+c): What do you believe in?

Olivia: do no harm but take no shit. it is perfectly acceptable to steal from large companies and cheat the MTA. balance one's cynicism with compassion always.

Steph: I believe that agent Mulder was sleeping with both Assistant Director Skinner and Alex Krycek

__underdog__ (x+c): Is there a philosophy you apply to art making or life in general?

Olivia: better save that, it could be useful.

Steph: Yes, being adaptive. Being ready to make changes on the go, not holding on too dearly to a plan.

__underdog__ (x+c): Where does your work come from? What drives you and your practice?

Olivia: the urge to design, collect, and arrange creeps through all my work. not simply to make things neat and pleasing, but to bring out the bizarre singular life in everything I use, and to illustrate the beauty in decay and the uncanny which are all around us. this is part of my deep need to connect myself and others to the natural processes within our bodies, the cycles of water, gases, heat, and growth that are extrapolations of the cycles of the planet we live on.

Steph: For me the work comes from memories or old feelings that have been taking up emotional space in me, sometimes it just comes in a burst. It’s all very unplanned. Something that keeps me interested in the practice is all the fun in the fine details and flavoring of song production.

__underdog__ (x+c): What challenges do you face and how do you deal with them?

Olivia: my own procrastination and avoidance are my greatest problems. truly I am my own greatest impediment because I'm very lucky and privileged in a lot of ways. I'm trying to cultivate more discipline and dedication to my own projects so I can honor my own creativity.

Steph: Literally 100’s of things daily. All our gear is old and heavy and busted. Sometimes my body does not cooperate, sometimes a show is so unorganized and has horrible sound. I try to be adaptive and expect to have to problem solve quickly. I usually will play through physical pain, logistics and technical nightmares etc.

__underdog__ (x+c): Please share any biographical or identity information you’d like us to know.

Olivia: lesbian 💜

Steph: Trans woman from NY. I like bugs, I make clothes, I put out mine and my friend’s music through Open Heart Collection. OpnHrt.bandcamp.com

__underdog__ (x+c): Is your work important? Explain?

Olivia: oyyyy I don't know if I get to decide this. ultimately there are plenty of other independent florists, performers, and musicians who are doing what I'm doing, but better and deserve their recognition.

Steph: Nah, lol it's important to me and my friends but it’s not trying to be much more than that. My work (with or without Olivia) is small scale, hyper specific and personal.

__underdog__ (x+c): How would you describe your work to someone who can’t perceive it with the main sense it applies to.

Olivia: the music I make with Steph sounds like if a bunch of woodland creatures, lost toys, and faeries had a tea party in a sewer drain. For my floral arrangements, I wish I could encourage every person to rub their hands and noses all over them but alas, they are fragile and fleeting. I would try to capture the arrangement's personality as if it were a person to describe it to someone who couldn't see it.

Steph: This Big Wish EP was an exercise in mood conveyance more than anything. I hope it’s immersive and does not require context. It's totally patch-work & sloppy. organic, digital and analog coexisting. I think it's spooky & pretty. It has dark moments and cute moments. we recorded vocals in a field, we pitched down all the final mixes. It’s veiled and dense- It’s very layered and smeary.

__underdog__ (x+c): CATS OR DOGS?!?!

Olivia: there are no true binaries in nature.

Steph: both

*OIivia's name is typed here in a pale teal color and Steph's name is in purple, to help some readers distinguish between each of their responses and our questions. If you have suggestions on how we can increase the accessibility of our "questionings" or any content on our website, please email us at: underdogmagazining@gmail.com.