Divine Magazine is pleased to bring you an interview with Shishi. Benadetta, Victoria and Maria Rosa (these are definitely not their real names) are a trio of Lithuanian mermaids who create “zero-waste trash music” under the name “shishi”.
They sing about how it feels to be living in times when nothing makes sense anymore. Their music is perfect for people who care about what’s going on, but don’t really know what’s happening.
Tell us a bit about your company and why you do what you do.
Victoria: We are shishi the band and we’re swimming in the cold waters of Lithuania. The music we play is mermaid rock, which is influenced by all the possible events happening in the world and inside of our heads.
What makes your business different from any others doing a similar thing?
Maria Rosa: We are letting ourselves to play, to look silly or childish sometimes and not to take ourselves too seriously (at least when we’re being shishi: ) Apparently this helps us to be spotted as different as people in the music business are so serious about everything.
If you had a magic wand, what would you change in the world?
Victoria: I would stop wars. Feed all the hungry people and animals. I’d stop the world from being assholes to nature. Give everybody as much as they need to live an okay life on the planet. I’d make sure everyone is heard and understood and hugged at least 8 times a day.
Do you have a motto or a mantra you apply to work, life, or both?
Maria Rosa: Yes, I do! My favorite one that works for both is: People are stupid. And it doesn’t mean I don’t like people or that I am better than them. It’s just that when you want to communicate your message or show something that matters to you. It is very important to do it as clearly and as straightforwardly as you can. Everybody is so focused on their own lives, and problems and they don’t necessarily see the world the way you do.
How do you cope with stress?
Victoria: Cry a lot then breathe in, breathe out, talk to myself, and if I’m lucky enough – I take some time off, so I can stay alone and put my thoughts to the right drawers.
Benadetta: when I spot that I’m getting tired of stuff, I make sure to get at least one free day. Eating tasty food, watching TV shows and being with myself on that free day helps a lot!
Give us some details about a typical day in the life of *YOU*
Benadetta: I make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep, I get up, do some yoga, do a short
meditation, do my skincare routine (very important!:D), eat breakfast and watch something while I’m eating (yeah, I know it’s bad). Then I usually go to rehearsals with myself or with a band, when it’s not summer I also go to music academy lectures. After all of that is done I do homework or some work that needs to be done on the computer and then just chiiiillll. When I put it like that it sounds kind of boring 😀
What trait do you think most benefits you in your line of work?
Benadetta: being able to prepare and time planning.
What do you think is your greatest success in life?
Victoria: “JUST TO LOOOOOVEEE AND BE LOOOVEEED IN RETURRRRNNNN”. Also, have
the time to go for a walk in the forest with no rush or business to think about.
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
Benadetta: when I was still in school I would definitely practice more on my instrument and maybe party a bit less 😀
What is one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with most strongly?
Benadetta: people say something like: “Do what you love and you’ll never have to work.” Yes, I do what I love and I make money from it but it’s not always fun. It still has some elements that I don’t like, I still get tired of it. Of course, I enjoy what I do but it’s not all unicorns and rainbows.
What was your biggest mistake? What helped you to identify it? What helped you to get over it?
Victoria: I guess the biggest mistake is always fear. Fear of failing, fear of being judged. I got
tired of feeling that, so I guess I just stopped naturally throughout the years. Identifying fear is normally very easy as it is a really strong feeling.
Maria Rosa: Yes, totally agree! Also, wondering “what will everybody say or think?” Most of the time the answer is – nobody really cares because they all think about themselves and “what will everybody say/think?” : )))
If someone was going to make your life into a movie, who would play you?
Benadetta: In a perfect world I would love that to be Jennifer Lawrence. She’s just so beautiful, funny and a great actress.
What would be the ideal food to have cooked for you on a date night?
Benadetta: I’m not very picky, as long as it’s vegan and with good company.
If you had to describe yourself as a flavor, what would it be?
Maria Rosa: I could be a sweet and sour salad dressing. Not the most important meal or
flavor, but things get interesting when it’s around 😀
Which fictional character do you wish was real?
Victoria: Albus Dumbledore.
Benadetta: Klaus Hargreeves.
Would you rather be the one in a movie who gets the hero/heroine or the baddie with all
the good lines?
Benadetta: the baddie with all the good lines for sure.
What makes you nostalgic?
Victoria: haha, that’s easy – everything 😀 I’m a good friend with feeling nostalgic.
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
Benadetta: Did you become a successful and professional drummer??
As a kid were you ever frightened of a monster under the bed or in the cupboard?
Maria Rosa: Yeah, I was always sleeping near the door and not the window, because I thought the burglars would come through the window by night. My brother used to think just the opposite – he chose the window because he was sure they would come through the door. Lucky us, they never visited somehow…
Which is cooler? Dinosaurs or Dragons?
Maria Rosa: Dinosaurs!
If you could learn any language fluently what would it be?
Victoria: Croatian.
What’s your favorite board game?
Maria Rosa: My recent discovery (well… it’s kind of 5,000 years old : D ) – Backgammon. Looove it.
Do you have any lucky items, objects, or traditions?
Victoria: I’m into stones. I like to find a comfortable stone to keep in my hand, when I feel
stressed out, hit by anxiety, or sad.
Do you have any superstitions?
Victoria: Yeah, I ignore black cats close to the roads in case they decide to cross the road.. 😀 also, I spit through my left shoulder and knock on the woods three times just to make sure – the bad thought wouldn’t happen in reality.
Do you shout out the answers on the TV whilst watching quiz shows?
Benadetta: for sure! I sometimes shout even wrong answers ‘cause I don’t know everything 😀
