Local band Pony da Look's Temple Bates -- who was living in Winnipeg at the time of this interview -- says the long-distance song writing process since the band went on hiatus last fall was an interesting one. There is a sordid tale that deals with at least three defective pawn-shop tape decks in attempts to transfer her four-track demos to cassettes for the rest of the band. The women of Pony Da Look -- and their very long list of all-around-arts-accomplishments impress Randy Ray, who tried desperately to electronically extrapolate the collective answers of a band that haven't seen each other, let alone played together, in over eight months.

How many drummers have you had?
Catherine Stockhausen: I usually date guitar players.
Temple Bates: Rebecca has been our only drummer from the start and she's still kicking as much ass as ever -- more even!

Describe Pony da Look's ideal date (with who, where, activities, etc.):
Rebecca Mendoza: With my boyfriend at the beach -- popsicles, ghetto blaster, swimming, badminton, drive-in movie. Shediac, NB.
Amy Bowles: A man with extraordinarily large hands. He smiles wide and excitedly and plays instruments of all kinds. We sit in the open air at night while he plays and we watch every known insect that flies and glows but doesn't bite.
CS: My ideal date would be having a laugh with Owen Wilson, and maybe some smooching too.

What are the best/worst things about:
Toronto?
CS: No lakes to swim in (I'm a Halifax girl).
RM: Easy to cycle/all bikes are stolen.

Montreal?
CS: I don't speak French.
RM: Pretty city/too fashion forward--where are the ball caps?

Winnipeg?
TB: Winnipeg blew in the winter, but it was especially good for song writing. My apartment was so quiet that I could hear songs in my head all day and night...
RM: Good dancers/cold.
CS: I hear it's damn cold.

What is Pony da Look's favourite: Colour?
RM: Walls: Seafoam Green. Cotton: Brown. Spandex or Suede: Teal.
AB: Purple (it always has been).
CS: My favourite colour is purple.

Animal?
AB: All of the cat family (because they are soft and strong).
CS: Cats (boring but they're so cute)
RM: Pony, duh!

Season?
RM: Fall, for leaves and smell of wood stoves. I like spring for the smell of worms too.
CS: Summer.
AB: In the UK, summer and first snowfall. In Canada, autumn and first snowfall.

Four favourite bands somewhat like Pony da Look:
AB: The Stranglers, The Cure, Uriah Heap, Kraftwerk.

Four favourite bands seemingly nothing like Pony da Look:
AB: Kevin Ayers, Roy Wood, E.L.O, Vollrath.

What's so good about music?
AB: There's nothing else like it.
RM: Everyone loves some kind of music. Even two painters, a photographer/TV producer, and a dancer can make some pretty cool songs.

What are your upcoming plans?
CS: Remembering all my PDL parts.
TB: After an eight-month hiatus, we will be reuniting to record some demos and play several shows in Toronto and hopefully Montreal this summer. We're hoping to record a new album this fall.