Written by: Alex Green

Camera Obscura’s Carey Lander is Stereo Embers’ Scouting Report subject today.

A deeply talented singer and keyboardist, Lander joined the group in 2002 for the Underachievers Please Try Harder album and has been with them ever since.

We’re so happy that Lander was game for our questionnaire.

Describe yourself as a kid, we ask.

“Sulky drip,” she responds…

Enjoy!

FULL NAME: Carey Lander

NICKNAME: Larry (…happy as. Sarcastic.)

HOMETOWN: Glasgow

WEBSITE: camera-obscura.net

RECORD LABEL: 4AD/Beggars

DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN ONE SENTENCE: Beautiful whinging

PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: When there were fly-posters for My Maudlin Career in the lane behind my flat.

THE SONG YOU WISH YOU’D WRITTEN: “If You Leave Me Now”: by Chicago

FIVE MUSICIANS YOU ADMIRE: M. Ward, Nina Simone, Stuart Murdoch, Annie from St. Vincent, Cat Power

ALBUM YOU CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO: The Aislers Set—How I Learned To Write Backwards

DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A KID: Sulky drip.

THREE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT: Jabba the cat, emails from Frank, the manager, mortal fear.

LAST BOOK YOU READ: Tom Perrotta—The Leftovers

THINGS WE’D FIND IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR: Umbrella

HARDEST PART ABOUT YOUR JOB: Opening yourself up to criticism from everyone when you don’t feel so hot about yourself to begin with.

FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET TO A NEW CITY: Google for vintage and second hand bookshops.

WHAT WORD DO YOU OVERUSE IN CONVERSATION?: Totally.

WHAT WILL THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE?: My Maudlin Career

FAVORITE LATE NIGHT TV SHOW: “Man vs. Food”

DRINK OF CHOICE: Gin

BEST ALBUM TO PLAY AFTER A BREAK-UP AND YOU’RE HOLDING A BOTTLE OF VODKA AND SOMETHING SHARP: Richard Hawley—Late Night Final

INDULGENCE YOU REFUSE TO GIVE UP: Make-up, perfume and bubble bath,

WORDS TO LIVE BY: Don’t live each day as if it’s your last