Fan of the Month!
Interviewed by Kayt

For the record, what is your name? Maya Belen Swainson, a.k.a. Skoomaqueen I was born in Oakland California, and grew up in Tucson Arizona, I have lived in Ventura California for the last four years but have now moved back to Tucson. What were your main interests, entertainment and otherwise, growing up? Any obsessions you don't mind people knowing about? Besides Red Elvises? I currently obsessively play PYRAMIDS in Yahoo games, one day I became addicted and now I belong to a league and even run tournaments. I have always loved listening to great music, something my father taught me to always appreciate and surrounded me with growing up.

Tell us about your musical endeavors and any musical instruments you play…
Hmm..I endeavor to see as many Red Elvises shows as I can...heehee...But really I have never put enough effort to any of the instruments I have played, even the ones I played well growing up...flute and violin...I haven't touched [those] in years and would laugh if someone asked me to play again. I am much more interested in blasting my stereo with some Red Elvises.

What accomplishments are you most proud of at this point in your life?
I am proud of the fact that I help people for my job. I work as a paraeducator for Special Education. I work with young adults with disabilities teaching them skills for life including learning to go places in the community, cooking themselves a meal, or even just getting them interested in music or games for leisure activities. We help our students go to college classes and learn job skills. This is the most rewarding job in the world to me....As far as school for myself, not quite done with that yet.

What are your favorite movies?
Six String Samurai, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Labriynth, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Lost Boys, Legend The Princess bride, Kill Bill, Donnie Darko, Heathers, Desperado and everything by Tim Burton.

Do you have any favorite books?
My favorite book of all time is SWAN SONG by Robert McCammon a crazy story about the lives of people in America after a nuclear attack...Hmm, sounds a little like a movie I know of :) I also enjoy almost everything I read by Stephen King, My favorite of his being The Stand.

What music are you into, in addition to Red Elvises?
Rock, Goth ,Blues, Rockabilly, Reggae...well just about everything.

When, where, how, etc. did you first hear and experience Red Elvises?
Where I learned of most great music, from my Dad! He showed me this CD, Better than Sex, and asked me to listen with him and of course instantly hooked me too. I am sorry to have lost him last year he was my hero and I miss him very much, but has left me with a lot of great music and memories. Everytime I came for a visit he had another Red Elvises album for us to hear...Welcome to the Freak show...Bedroom Boogie. My father was very sick for years before he passed away and listening to Red Elvises brought him a lot of happiness in days that were mostly filled with pain, so that is something special I think about as well when I listen to Red Elvises...all the time!

About how many times have you seen them?
Twice, The first show, I took a girl ( my client) I worked with that has Downs Syndrome, and she was rockin' and dancing like crazy, it was awesome. We both had a wonderful night. It was at a carnival night at Ventura Harbor, and she was even photographed for the newspaper dancing. Also I have just seen them now in my home town Tucson, AZ which was an absolutly awesome show.

What is it about Red Elvises that draws you to them, that you like the most?
Everything! The humor of the songs, the fact that you can dance and have a good time when you listen to them and it's always a good beat!

What’s the farthest you’ve traveled to see them? And do you have a good story around that?
Well I am hoping that I can see at least one other show( if Knoxville is still a go) while I am on vacation in the next few weeks.

Which show is your favorite of the Red Elvises shows you've seen?

Well this last show in Tucson was definitely my favorite, It was so cool to see a packed club full of fans. I had the best time. Any other standout, all time great memories of shows you’ve seen so far?
Chillin' with Oleg between sets, getting pics taken with the guys... [The Tucson show] was all great memories! Now if I could only get those pictures off my cam and onto the computer... :P

What are your favorite Red Elvises songs?
Well this could go on awhile... Kegga beer and potato chips, Closet disco Dancer, Everybody Disco, Boogie on the Beach, Love Rocket, Hanky Panky kinda love, Tango, Lovepipe, 200lbs of Pure Love, I am sure I could keep going if it wasn’t so late...

What would you like to see them do in the future? Any ideas? Anything you’d like to say to the band?
I just want to see more of the band, and of course many more great albums ...You guys are absolutely my favorite band!

Okay, last question… Do you have anything you’d especially like to say to all the fans?
I just love all you great people with fabulous taste in music..keep Rokin!

...Thank you very much, Maya, for being Fan of the Month! I'm sure you'll enjoy seeing Red Elvises wherever you roam. Keep rocking!!