Kim Gordon has never had much of an appetite for convention. And that goes for the faux niceties of the PR game, too.
From the moment she was pigeonholed as ‘the girl in the band’ – aka the driving force behind Sonic Youth’s enduring cult status – her patience for poor questions has wavered from mid to low. And it’s not hard to see why.
For an artist who thrives on improvisation, dropping new art and music projects to great clamour unannounced, the media’s capacity for re-running the same predictable, tired old lines hits with the dull thud of a sledgehammer to the head.
In the world of the press junket, booby traps abound. There’s the mansplaining pundit who will kick-off every question by recounting your own history as if it’s fresh news, and the live Q&As that are more awkward than a family dinner in the nude.
But for anyone willing to put in the work, a Kim Gordon interview can pay dividends in the end. Marc Maron, the podcast juggernaut who has a talent for turning static sit-downs into conversations that feel intimate and real, calls Kim his toughest but most rewarding subject.
So, how do you interview an artist who hates being interviewed? You don’t. You interrogate them.
The Interrogation of Kim Gordon, an original Huck Film, is directed by Isabel Freeman and Jamie Brisick.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck
Inside the world’s only inhabited art gallery
The MAAM Metropoliz — Since gaining official acceptance, a former salami factory turned art squat has become a fully-fledged museum. Its existence has provided secure housing to a community who would have struggled to find it otherwise.
Written by: Gaia Neiman
Ideas were everything to David Lynch
Dreamweaver — On Thursday, January 16, one of the world’s greatest filmmakers passed away at the age of 78. To commemorate his legacy, we are publishing a feature exploring his singular creative vision and collaborative style online for the first time.
Written by: Daniel Dylan Wray
“The world always shuns”: Moonchild Sanelly on her new album, underground scenes and abortion rights
Huck’s January interview — Ahead of ‘Full Moon’, her most vulnerable project yet, we caught up with the South African pop star to hear about opening up in her music, confronting her past and her fears for women’s rights in 2025.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Krept & Konan are opening an “inclusive” supermarket
Saveways — With 15,000 sq. ft of space and produce from across the world, the store will cater to Black, Asian and ethnic communities in Croydon.
Written by: Isaac Muk
This erotic zine dismantles LGBTQ+ respectability politics
Zine Scene — Created by Megan Wallace and Jack Rowe, PULP is a new print publication that embraces the diverse and messy, yet pleasurable multitudes that sex and desire can take.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As Tbilisi’s famed nightclubs reawaken, a murky future awaits
Spaces Between the Beats — Since Georgia’s ruling party suspended plans for EU accession, protests have continued in the capital, with nightclubs shutting in solidarity. Victor Swezey reported on their New Year’s Eve reopening, finding a mix of anxiety, catharsis and defiance.
Written by: Victor Swezey