What's on your rider?Fruit, yogurt, red wine, whiskey, vodka, champagne, still and sparkling water, a good meal with a choice of meat, fish or vegetarian. We are a lot of people and the majority Finnish!
What’s your pre-gig ritual/ routine? I try to relax after soundcheck, hopefully take a nap. I try to have a small meal so I’m not overtired with digesting. Pep talk with the guys.
What's the best gig you've been to?I have a couple of favorites: The Birthday Party in the mid '80s because they played at this New York venue, Danceteria, which probably held about 200 people max. We were at the front of the stage, and there was the amazing Nick Cave. Then this Stereolab gig in Union Square. They built up their set until it was really cooking, great dancing music.
Who is the most famous person to have shown up at one of your gigs?Forest Whitaker, Michael Douglas.
Most embarrassing on-stage moment?You know, you just shake it off. I haven't puked or had any bad illness on stage.
Chatting between songs – good or bad?If you feel comfortable talking then why not? Some people feel like banter is important. I think I prefer to do what comes naturally, so if I'm feeling up for it then I may chat a bit. Otherwise we try to keep the feeling escalating during the set, and be about the music.
Groupies. Would you?LOL, no sexual favors, I'm a monogamous married woman – been married for 13 years.
How many roadies does it take to change your lightbulbs (ie, how big is your entourage)?We have a sound engineer. On occasion we've had a tour manager, but lately just our sound guy so I consider us low maintenance. Would be great to have my kids travel with me sometimes. We'll try that when they are older.
Have you a special stage wardrobe?Something nice like a dress. That fits.
Do you like to meet and greet fans after the gig?Sometimes I sell records and sign them. At times fans have sought me out, or people try to get me to go to an after party somewhere. I can have a couple of glasses of wine and stand around for a while, but soon I want to go to bed.
If you could be in any other band, which one?I don't know. I don't really have these unrealistic fantasies. Oh yeah, maybe those Gordy boys, LMFAO. They seem to be having fun.
In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea. Nicole Willis plays Beck’s Vier Rhythm Weekender in Dublin next Thursday
