http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,244-2001291310,00.html Times Online 2001-08-24 By People "Björk online Q & A" The Times Online received more than 1,000 questions for Björk's online Q&A. This is a selection with Björk's answers. You are opting to play in smaller venues for your current tour. Do you not feel that you may leave many fans disappointed as they scramble for and fail to get tickets? Martin James, Brighton I'm trying to accommodate two things with this tour. The first is to perform in the most beautiful, small, intimate venues where I can sing without the use of a microphone. This is the ideal situation to hear the music from Vespertine. The second point is exactly as you have said, it is difficult to cater for the demands for tickets. I'm so immensely honoured that so many people want to come to the shows, thus I am playing in some larger theatres, halls and opera houses, again in venues that sound as good as can be. It's taken me almost one year to try and find great places to play. So I have a small show and a larger show. Hopefully as the music grows the venues may be able to grow toO, perhaps into a different show for next year. You often sing about beards and pipes. Can you explain why? Is it a fetish or some hoary symbol of something? Patricia Ramos, Milpitas, California, USA It's about enjoying being alone and using the stereotype of the old hermit with the beard and his pipe as an analogy. You once said that in life all we do is get drunk, fall in love and cause little catastrophes every now and then. What's the latest catastrophe you've caused? Simone Sartirani, London You can have catastrophes every day of your life and they can be the best things. Some of my best work has come out of catastrophes. My last catastrophe was having my computer stolen from my luggage. I got a new one that could do a lot more than the last one, thus it's opened up so many new doors for me in my work. What is your association with the swan about? Tom Dahlen, New York City, USA I see Vespertine as being a musical progression for me as well as a departure from my previous work. The swan is an appropriate symbol for this move forward. Would you like to work with Kate Bush? I see a lot of parallels between you and her. Rudi De Jong, Westervoort, The Netherlands I like Kate Bush very much. Regarding working with her, I've thought about it in the past but not recently. I guess the obvious parallel is the fact that she is an artist who wrote and produced a lot of her own material. You say that you support downloading music on the Internet. Did you mind that Vespertine was downloadable almost six months before its release? Kristopher Kelly, New York City, USA It leaked out before I would have liked to but ultimately I think I have such a loyal audience that they are just so curious to hear new music as soon as they can and that is a good thing. I also feel that no matter how many people have downloaded the music that the majority of them will still want to have the CD. Perhaps I'm naive to think that people still enjoy holding the CD box, looking at the artwork and reading the lyrics as they play the CD. I like to do that and my friends do too. If I could control when the music went online I guess it would have been online for perhaps three months instead of six. Will any of the live shows be filmed, for those of us who couldn't get tickets? MK, Cardiff I hope so. Nothing is planned at this time but I would like to do it as this show is such an ambitious project for me. It would be a shame not to, especially for all the people who are on stage performing with me. If you hadn't been given the gift of song, what career path would you have chosen? Jacqueline, Rothfork, Lake Forest, California I cannot even imagine this. What music are you listening to at the moment? Tammye Lopez, San Diego, USA Missy Elliot, Oval, Squarepusher, Plaid and Michael Jackson. I'm looking for new music all the time. Any recommendations? Why don't you wear shoes at your performances (are they really that uncomfortable)? David Wlodek, Vienna, Austria I'm most comfortable that way. Madonna stated a few years ago that you are one of her favourite contemporary artists? What is your opinion of her music? Stephen Booth- Davison, Manchester I think she is so great at what she does. I'm pleased if she likes my work. Are you a dog person or a cat person? Marisol Grandon, London Neither I'm afraid. I'm allergic to the hair. Which Latin American singer would you like to sing with? Juan Rubio, Bogota, Colombia Milton Naciemento, Elis Regina. Both have such beautiful voices. You have often made reference to your grandmother. What impact has she made on your life, and your music? Natalie Edgar, Toronto, Canada She is such an inspiration to me. Quite a lady. How do you come up with the titles of your albums? Peter Schluter, London As the music takes shape during the recording process the titles very much suggest themselves. What advice would you give to someone like me who wants to be "different", but lacks the courage of his convictions? Robert Johnson, Harlow, England You don't have to try to be different. Just be yourself. Do you believe in fairytales? Lune Demeulemeester, Tielt, Belgium Of course.