What was your first introduction to Star Wars?
My brother Christopher saw Star Wars before me, and came home glassy-eyed and blown away. I went the next day, and came home the same way. Christopher and I used to play Star Wars in the street until well after dusk, and we would run from headlights, pretending the cars were Imperial destroyers!
Which Star Wars film made you become a fan?
The first film -- A New Hope -- made me a fan. It was just so visually amazing, especially for the time. I'd never seen anything like it. And the characters were great -- funny, strong, fallible, sometimes brave, and sometimes selfish.
Which Star Wars film scene is your favorite?
I wouldn't say this is my favorite scene, but one that stood out for me was Leia watching her planet explode. I remember being very shocked by that as a kid.
Which film have you seen most recently?
I saw Revenge of the Sith when it came out, with my nephew, who is a huge fan of the more recent three movies.
Which character do you find yourself identifying with the most in the entire Star Wars saga?
Probably Luke because he's always trying to figure it all out and do the best he can with new and confusing information.
As a kid did you ever dress up as a Star Wars character?
I didn't, but if I had, I would have gone with Leia in the gold bikini -- or maybe Chewie...in the gold bikini! My brother was a super cute stormtrooper once, but I think he'd resent that description.
Even after over 30 years, why do you think the Star Wars films are just as relevant and fun for the next generation of fans?
The Star Wars films are similar to fables and myths -- big stories full of good and evil and high drama. But it's all done through a handful of very recognizable and familiar characters. Fables help us learn to deal with the real evils we face. The humor of the earlier films was a draw as well, I think. These movies clicked so thoroughly with my generation that there's a huge loyalty and affection that lasts, and so we pass that along.
I love the music. It's appropriately over-the-top. My daughter, who hasn't seen any of the movies yet, already knows the soundtrack somehow. She sings the Death Star theme whenever something weird or mysterious happens. Movie music obviously sets a tone, and it pushes our emotional buttons.
Why do you think sci-fi and fantasy films like Star Wars are so important -- especially as a creative muse?
We can work out our ethical and primal human issues well in that form -- what is right; what and who are we responsible for; what do we believe in and what are we willing to do to defend that; why are we here, etc. Plus, the bad guys in sci-fi often turn out to have qualities that are redemptive, and the good guys are complicated and sometimes even unlikable, and people respond to that.
How has Star Wars, or sci-fi/fantasy films for that matter, influenced your music?
Maybe some of the spiritual elements of sci-fi find their way into my songs. I definitely view the cosmos with an anything-can-happen attitude that was probably influenced by my appreciation of sci-fi. That comes up a lot in my stuff.
Learn more about Tanya Donelly on her official site here. Listen to new music on Tanya Donelly Myspace page.
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