Debonair Interviews-Vince Scheuerman from ARMY OF ME

Claudine Gumbel sat down with Vince Scheuerman of ARMY OF ME to discuss his most memorable day, what he is wearing, his source of inspiration and who he was in his previous life.

1. What are you working on?  What is taking up the majority of your time right now?

Tonight, I’m in Kansas City, I just played a concert. I’m currently on tour in support of a new EP that I just released on Oct. 27 called “MAKE YOURSELF NAKED”. So, it’s music that takes up most of my time. I’m a singer and a songwriter, and I play in the band Army Of Me. I’ve spent most of my life in the Washington DC area, but these days, I can more often be found making noise in some other town… When I’m not playing music, I’m probably eating something. Always hungry. My friends think I have a tapeworm. I hope not.

2. What are your favorite places to chill out + what cities are they located in?

Sometimes my favorite places to chill out are far away from the city. I love the city, and I live in the city, and wouldn’t have it any other way. But I like to get away at times to find peace and to be refreshed. One place that I visit from time to time is in the Amish country in Pennsylvania, a town called Quarryville. The combination of the people, the atmosphere, and the surroundings make it a very special place… Another favorite getaway place is southern Montana in the Yellowstone area, where I like to go during the summer to fly-fish. I will mention one place back home in DC that I love, though…the 9:30 club. I’ve played music venues all over the country, but it just so happens that my favorite one is right down the street from where I live.

3. Who is your best friend and why?

If I have to pick one person, I’d have to say that my brother Chris is my best friend. He’s a person in this world who I know would do ANYTHING for me, and vice-versa.

4. Do you believe in past lives and if so what/who were you in your past life?

I tend to believe that the glimmer in my dad’s eye was the first time this universe had ever heard of me.

5. What was your best trip ever and where do you want to travel next?

I feel like I have the best job in the world. I get paid to travel around the country, playing my songs for people. Each time I go on tour, there are new adventures and new disasters. It’s never boring. A couple of days ago, we stopped for lunch in Tuscaloosa, AL. I wandered over to the Best Buy in the shopping center and emerged with a new video camera. For the first time, I’m documenting these adventures and posting them on our YouTube page for everyone else to see. Once, I took a trip to Nice, France. Walking on the stony beachesthere wasn’t exactly as comfortable as a stroll on a sandy beach in Costa Rica, but the scenery & red wine more than made up for it. I rented a tiny car and drove into the mountains to the city of Grenoble. On my way back down the winding mountain roads, I was caught in a snowstorm and narrowly avoided plunging off the side of the mountain!

For my next trip, I might try to recreate the journey in Bob Dylan’s song “Isis” – head off to the pyramids with a crazy friend in search of a tomb or a treasure or something along those lines… I have a soft spot for archaeology…

6. Who is your favorite artist, musician, photographer – who inspires you?

I often find myself most inspired by my friends. They push me to be more creative, to work harder, and to try new things.

7. Do you have a photo you took or a link to a piece of music or a video that speaks to you? Will you share that with me?

Sarah Vaughan is the perfect singer. When she sings “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life”, it blows my mind. Here’s a link to the only version I could find on YouTube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoEfbrlraks

8. If you were stranded on an island what book would you take with you?

That’s easy.. I’d bring “Survive On A Desert Island” by Claire Llewellyn. Honorary mention goes to “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Capote’s unfinished “Answered Prayers”, “The Road Less Travelled” by M. Scott Peck, The Bible, & “Harmonica For Dummies”.

And who would you take with you?

I’d most likely take someone who looks good in a grass skirt.

9. Who inspires you fashion wise – what is your staple uniform?  If you had to live in one piece of clothing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I’m very fond of my House Of Cassette pants, lots of Ben Sherman, cardigans, white v necks (yes – I, too, got the memo about that), and my pink chuck taylor shoes. I visited 10 stores before I could find one that carried them in my size. Who would have thought it was so hard to find pink chucks in men’s size 10?

10. What was the most memorable day of your life thus far and why?

Today was pretty damned good actually. Tomorrow’s gonna be better.

Bonus question:
11. Leave us with a quote – something you make up or a quote that you just love to repeat

“Two souls too smart to be in the realm of certainty, even on our wedding day”. It’s from the song “Moment Of Surrender” on the latest U2 record. That line is profound. To me, it’s about having the wisdom to know that you have to step into the unknown in order to find your footing. Not the other way around.

Check out these links
website: http://www.armyofmeonline.com
http://www.myspace.com/armyofme
http://www.youtube.com/armyofme
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Army-of-Me