#371: Blonde Redhead

Kafir Yogurt, Chausson Au Pomme, Caponata, and more.

Perfectly Imperfect is a newsletter offering “A Taste of Someone’s Taste” from guests like Charli XCX, John Cale, Julian Casablancas, Lena Dunham, Mac Demarco, Dasha Nekrasova, Tim Heidecker, Ayo Edebiri, Michael Imperioli, Rayne Fisher-Quann, Mel Ottenberg, Chloe Cherry, Matty Matheson, Anna Delvey, The Dare, Caroline Calloway, Snail Mail, and more. Check out our full archive here.

Cool people like cool things, which is why we asked Blonde Redhead to share a taste of their taste on Perfectly Imperfect.

Blonde Redhead are a New York City-based alt rock band comprised of Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace. The band met by chance at a restaurant in the early 90s and have been perfecting their dreamy shoegaze sound on albums like Misery Is a Butterfly and 23 ever since. Over the last few years they’ve received a whole new wave of attention after their 2000 song “For the Damaged Coda” (which some of you may know as…“Evil Morty Theme”) became an unexpected viral meme format. After a series of intimate dinner parties in America, Europe, and the UK, Blonde Redhead is back with Sit Down For Dinner, their first record in nearly a decade, and it’s among their very best. Lucky for us, Kazu, Simone, and Amadeo are here to tell us what they’re up to. 

Without further ado

Kazu

🐚 My Hair

i lived in a remote island called Elba and i was intensely happy by the mediterranean sea and was convinced that this is my permanent address. we made a album film for ‘adult baby’ (my solo) there too. long story short, pandemic happened and i had to leave abruptly and unwillingly like 3 days before italy went lock down. we all had plans didn’t we?

 but ever since i feel that my hair is the last connection to the life i had there and if i cut it i would lose my tie to the island for good. of course i created this whole thing in my head but now if i am naked i feel my hair on my bum.  thankfully i don’t have rear view mirror so i don’t have to see it constantly but…

the world is full of hairdressers (especially new york the mecca of HD 💈) and i still look like a beach bum that i was back then…

but we just made a video for ‘sit down for dinner’ and it is a hair video. it adds so much emotions so who knows it is maybe something more than just being body fiber. 

🥛Kafir

i love yogurt so much especially redwood goat kafir.  i like to put it on everything . sweet and savory . with fruits with soup with eveything! 

i also love white mustache yogurt with dark cherries. i feel like an addict. i taste them when i am all alone in complete privacy 

sometimes i imagine if i cut myself, there will be yogurt running through my vein not blood. 

🌸 Orchid

i grow orchid. even tho i spend my lifetime in transit, i still grow them. i think i see myself in them they are so weird and goofy. they are epiphytes meaning  they don’t like to be buried under the earth because they need lots of oxygen. they need air water and sun…you can hang them in the breeze and they are so happy just slightly moving in the winds. i wrapped them in sphagnum moss which is my choice of medium. i love working with them, it is air light and fairly like. 

orchids like water but they don’t like to stay wet for a long time. beautiful roots are happy orchids.  they don’t like direct scorching sun but dappled sun all day long. they are head heavy so they have leaning problems. they can look quite ugly but when they bloom woah and lots of them have beautiful perfumes. 

🍵 Matcha !

i was born and raised in kyoto & nara. 

both my grandma and mama was tea ceremony instructors so this is also in my vein. wherever i go i bring my whisk & matcha 

‘ippodo’ serviced  my family back in japan and they are available outside japan too but right now ‘kettl’ nyc caters my teas and i am pretty impressed with them. i let you in on my favs in order of $-$$$ 

hanaka: very reasonably priced but it covers all that you want from matcha in a basic level. especially if you are new you can enjoy them until you are ready to explore more. 

 hibiki: not cheap but not expensive. mind you matcha is very expensive in japan too and we don’t drink matcha like it became in us or eu on daily basis. it is a ritual and we don’t just grab it in latte style that is maybe a cardinal sin to some traditional tea people in japan

kiwami: i am speechless thinking about this tea. 

and in japanese kiwami means ‘ultimate’ basically peaking !

one common feature in all three and is a must for me is the creamy foam when whisked  … this is important for ‘urasenke’ and not so much for ‘omotesenke’ 

there are a few different school of ceremonies in japan. but that is obviously tmi in this context ! 

🫶🫶 Isabel Marant & Jerome Dreyfuss

 they are my second family and i spend most of my time with them when i am not working. they are artists and craftsmen.  they make things with their hands!!! 

i dress almost entirely in her creations except my bikinis …i call them ‘armor of love’ becaue on tour the clothing becomes your home and i feel inspired, strong and protected on stage in her clothes …being away all the time and missing people i love but i keep her close to me this way. 

i carry jeje’s leather goods. l can lose everything and i have such anxieties and insecurities about that and jeje really takes good care and listens to me how i lose my things and what i need in order not to lose them. 

he thinks about every details and i have to say i have stopped losing things that i really care about since i carry his bags and wallets. 

his jitoumi is one and i started using jerry which straps around my waist which i don’t take it off until i am ready to go to bed ! 

Amedeo

🐈 Colette

My dog, she is nearly 19 and a papillon who flew herself to NYC at 4 months old from Sweden. She has a temper and gets her anger out daily which probably explains her lastingness. She is the best and the worst.

🏞 Non Sono Una Signora by Loredana Berte

A song I grew up with which brings me to a very happy time of my life. Free and  in the mountains surrounded by friendship. Amazing how music has the power to do that.

🗽Chausson Au Pomme

When I go to France I make it a point in having a pastry called chausson au pomme for breakfast accompanied by a double espresso with a splash of cold milk. They make it so well. Crispy buttery and delicious. 

The statue of liberty should be holding a chausson au pomme.

Simone

🤌 Speaking with your hands

There should be a collection of emojis just for Italian hand gestures. Fortunately, this one covers the basics.

🇮🇹 Caponata 

My grandma used to make caponata and when I was a kid I couldn’t get enough of it. The closest I’ve come to hers was at the Ballaro market in Palermo. When we have people over this is one of my signature moves, but it’s crucial to make it the day before.

Bonus recommendations for paid subs from Blonde Redhead below! ⚽️🏊☕️

Kazu— ⚽️ Being a Jock

i am a jock at heart. when i was little. adults were always worried about me because i was so introverted and nerdy reading obsessively. today they would just diagnose me as OCD dyslexic etc 

the books were banned on me and put me in all kind of sports club and i excelled. even tho i was not competitive at all. i suppose i function quite well in that environment. 

today i am just a huge sports fan. mainly soccer and equestrian.

Amedeo— 🏊 Swimming in salt water

I so wish it could be a part of my life and each day when I most need it I would be able to jump in the sea. It heals me and takes me away from my mind to a better place. 

Simone— ☕️ Abraço olive oil cake

Abraço is my favorite coffee shop in the city. They have a great olive oil cake that I like to have with a cortado. Good vibe, good music vinyl collection, and a really great bunch of people.