Thao & the Get Down Stay Down are a staple indie rock band who got many of my friends (and probably your friends) through college. Her blend of bright, quietly explosive instrumentation and existentially focused lyrics are perfect fodder for hanging out with like three other friends on bean bags in a kitschy apartment and thinking about life. In so many words, we love her music.

This is why we were especially fortunate to sit down with Thao Nguyen herself at SXSW. I invited her over to our Airbnb (which I have dubbed the Bubbe Palace) and we got to talking about her brand new album, A Man Apart, as well as more philosophically ridiculous subjects. For instance, did you know that she had a pet chicken named Jennifer who met a a tragic demise at the hands of an evil raccoon? Or that she used a little robot man as an instrument on her latest album? Or that she likes Seinfeld better than Frasier? Blasphemy. Definitely watch the video above for some very more strange facts about this exceedingly talented musician.

And while you are at it, listen to her new album below! tUnE-yArDs’ Merrill Garbus helped with production on this one, and it really shows in the eccentric instrumentation throughout. This record is a must-listen and will surely pop up again and again on springtime playlists.

What do you think of Thao & the Get Down Stay Down’s new album? Let us know in the comments below!

For our complete SXSW coverage, click here!

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Matt Grosinger is the Music Editor of Nerdist and right now he drowning in a vat of BBQ sauce. Send help. JK (but seriously). Follow him on Twitter (@MattGrosinger)