Lisa Molinaro is the lovely and utterly inspiring viola mastermind/multi-instrumentalist in Modest Mouse, which means many nights are spent sleeping on a moving bus, “feeling like you might die,” she says. Lisa joined Modest Mouse full-time in 2012, after years as one-half of the avant-instrumental duo Talkdemonic (a local Portland favorite) and touring stints with the likes of the Decembrists. Although she's a seasoned road veteran, “I just don’t sleep well on the bus, so it takes about two weeks and then I’m completely exhausted," she says. Back in Portland, Ore., in the cozy and eclectic home she shares with Isaac Brock and her “little boyfriend” Norson the cat, she’s got her nighttime rituals down. Warm, gracious and utterly charming (and maybe a little mischievous?) we've admired Lisa for years and were beyond excited to spend a winter afternoon in bed with her. See more of Lisa here and on her Instagram @norsehorse.
HOW DO YOU GET READY FOR BED?
I like to get spooky before bed. Lately I’ve been reading a book called The Enterprise of Death [by Jesse Bullington]. I’ve been reading it for 6 months now because I don’t want it to end! I also like to listen to true crime podcasts, like murder podcasts. I’m addicted to Casefile, it’s so captivating. Or I’ll watch Twin Peaks or The X-Files on the TV. (Right now I’m re-watching season 4.)
SLEEPTIME SCENTS?
All my favorite candles are from Catbird in New York. I light a little incense cone, and we have a few nebulizers. I use a blend from doTerra called Serenity.
WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO BEFORE BED?
Really, really mellow stuff, like classical music. It can’t have a melody. As soon as it has a melody, I latch onto it, so it has to be really amorphous. I have a really great thunder App—Sleep Machine is the App, and it’s called “Distant Thunder"—and if you put it on real speakers, it’s so good. I’ll blend some thunder with some wind chimes, get some crickets in there...you can stack. I need comfort when I go to bed. For me, it’s nostalgic, the sounds of childhood, home in Florida. And thunder at night is really special. When you wake up to thunder it’s so good.
