Interview: Taryn Manning of Boomkat
By Matt Kautz
Noisetap Contributer
Within less than 10 years, waifish beauty Taryn Manning has had memorable roles in over 30 films including
8 Mile, Cold Mountain, and Britney Spears starrer,
Crossroads. She is also an accomplished musician and dancer, forming the band Boomkat with older brother Kellin in 2003. Their debut album Boomkatalog.One’s first single "The Wreckoning" hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts, and is on the soundtrack for hit film
The Italian Job.
Not contented to stop at triple threat, Taryn is the co-creator of popular clothing line Born Uniqorn whose designs have draped popular celebs such as Lindsay Lohan and Tori Spelling.
In 2006, Taryn was nominated for Screen Actors Guild and Washington DC Area Film Critics Association awards for her breakthrough performance in Oscar-winning film
Hustle & Flow.
Noisetap caught up with her on the set of the
music video for "Runaway," the haunting first single off upcoming album
A Million Trillion Stars. Even in the midst of the madness on set, Taryn was calm and charming, open and honest about topics ranging from her creative process, to the madness of Hollywood, to her tight, toned abs.
So, "Runaway" is really a beautiful song. Awesome, thank you!
What was your creative process? How did it all come together?Well, I was at kind of a low point, and down on the music business, and I started listening to some of my brother Kellin’s old beats and this one really hit me. So I sat down and started writing and this song just kind of flowed out.
Is that how most of your music comes together? Do you start with the beats and then write lyrics that match? Or was that unusual? Sometimes. It all depends. Sometimes that’s how it works and sometimes it’s the opposite. It’s just whatever hits me, you know?
What had you down about the business?I’ve just been around this business for years and have seen how fucked up it can be. My dad was a musician and I saw what it did to him. He was always trying to work and it really got him down when he couldn’t. That’s why I’m so hungry – I’m always out there hustling, hustling, trying to do something.
Speaking of how difficult the business is, you did Crossroads with Britney Spears…Yeah…
What do you think of her…Cracking up?
(laughs) Yeah.Honestly, I feel really badly for her. I mean, it would drive anybody crazy having that much attention focused on them – everywhere she goes she’s just… hounded! I mean, what little of that I’ve experienced… I can see how she’d lose her mind. Like, I was just out getting coffee the other day and this chick sees me and screams, in the middle of the busy coffee shop, “Holy shit, you’re that chick from
Hustle and Flow!” And I’m just like, do you really have to scream at me like that? I love hearing from my fans, but, you know, you don’t have to be a jerk about it. And that’s the kind of stuff she’s dealing with all the time.
So, as someone who is an actor, singer, dancer, fashion designer… what do you do for fun?Well, Born Uniqorn is kind of a hobby. That’s something I do that’s purely creative and fun for me.
But then it turned into a successful business. Do you ever just want something silly you can do for fun?No, that’s how I like it. I’m glad it’s successful, and I like being busy. I’m a hustler! [laughs]
Which came first in your life, music or acting?The music came first. But then I started getting work as an actor so I got into that. But music definitely was first, and is first, for me.
Final question: I heard a couple of the costume girls talking about your abs, saying…My what?!
Your abs… your stomach? They were commenting on what good shape you’re in…They were?!
Yeah.Oh God… thanks, I guess…
What’s your secret?Um, I don’t know. I mean, I exercise, or whatever, but I’m an eater, I mean, you watch me eat, I’m not turning anything down. I say bring it on. I’ve just always been lucky, I guess…
Right on. Hey, thanks very much for your time, Taryn, it was a pleasure.Thank you!
