A Bit About . . . Frank Deresti

Mindy: Around Sault Ste. Marie you’re known for your music, performing with your band Frank Deresti and The Lake Effect, and your role as a beloved teacher. You’ve just finished recording with your new band 'Ontarians' in Collingwood, and soon you’ll be directing at the Great Lakes International Summer Music Institute.

Today, I’m interested in knowing a little more about the man behind the music. I just hope VH1 doesn’t mind me snatching that term. Shall we dance?

Frank: Sure!

Mindy: Okay, Frank. I’d like to start with a pretty heavy question, only because I think you can handle it. Simon or Garfunkel. 

Frank: Simon. Definitely. 

Mindy: I don’t even know why I asked a question there’s only one answer to. 

Frank: He’s the best.

Mindy: You’re a contrarian if you’re saying Garfunkel at this point.

Frank: I think so. 

Mindy: I respect Garfunkel very much but, Paul Simon…

Frank: Well, that goes deep for me. The problem I have with Paul Simon is, I feel he ripped off a couple of songs from me before I was born. 

Mindy: Right. Ugh, I hate when that happens.

Frank: But, yeah, I mean, he’s still great. 

Mindy: Okay, so, you’re ten years old. What are you most looking forward to when you get home from school?

Frank: When I was ten? Wow, am I so old that I can’t remember being ten?

Mindy: I felt like ten was the youngest age I could ask about that you’d still remember. 

Frank: Well, when I was growing up, there were like these bushes that you could go into. 

Mindy: Oh, gross!

Frank: Yeah, and like trees, you know what I mean?

Mindy: Wow! 

Frank: Honestly, my favourite thing after school was the way home. Especially if it was around May, and the sun’s out, and it’s beautiful. I liked riding my bike with a couple of friends and doing little jumps and things for fun. We didn’t just go home, we made our way home. I don’t know if people do that as much anymore. 

Mindy: I really like that your focus was more on the journey. 

Frank: I’m still like that, I don’t even drive home the same way every time. 

Mindy: Yes! I like doing that with walks. Especially if I’m in a headspace I really need to get out of, I’ll make a point of going a new route. 

Frank: Same!

Mindy: Alright, what are three popular T.V. shows you haven’t seen, but imagine are pretty good, if you’re into that sort of thing. 

Frank: Oh, that’s a great question, because people are always recommending things to me, but I don’t have a T.V. and I’m an ineffective fan of Netflix. 

Mindy: So you like Netflix in theory. The idea is great to you but you don’t actively use it.

Frank: Oh, I use it! I like cooking shows like Chef’s Table. I just never end up watching things I say I will when recommended to me. I forget to write it down on a post-it note, to stick to my phone later. 

Mindy: It is currently 1995. 

Frank: And because I forgot to write them down, I don’t have an answer to this question, once again. I’m always interviewed about this and never have a response.

Mindy: Everyday, I imagine. 

Frank: Last time we went to watch a movie, my four-year-old Eva said, “I just know you’re going to fall asleep,” and I said, “Why?” and my oldest Helen said, “Because you always do, Dad.” And I mean, we call a twenty-minute episode a movie, so, this happens pretty easily. 

Mindy: Aww! They know. 

Frank: I just wish Sarah & Duck was back on. 

Mindy: Is that a kid’s show?

Frank: Yeah.

Mindy: I don’t know that one, have you heard good things about that Pippa the Pig?

Frank: No, we know all about Peppa. 

Mindy: “We know Pippa. Don’t you dare doubt my family’s knowledge of Pippa.”

Frank: It’s Peppa, actually.

Mindy: Hmm. 

Frank: Yeah. 

Mindy: I’ve never watched. 

Mindy: Who would you put as a write-in candidate for the American Presidential election in 2020? It’s not allowed to be a politician.

Frank: Oh, wow, that’s so hard right now. Remember when it was easy to joke about politics? 

Mindy: I’m already upset. 

Frank: Any other time this would be an easy question. What if other people put in that person too? Anything can happen so it has to be good. 

Mindy: Right!

Frank: And it has to be American. 

Mindy: That may be the biggest downfall of this question. 

Frank: Are you an American citizen yet?

Mindy: No, I still jump between, so I get to complain and then do nothing about it. 

Frank: This is such a tough question. Can it be more than one person? Like a group?

Mindy: Oh, I like that, create a team of people to run the country. 

Frank: Yeah, I’d build a team, research thoroughly in the months leading to the election, have people submit applications, then whoever applies is immediately disqualified, and I’ll go from there. 

Mindy: This is such a great idea!

Frank: Weed out all of the people who really want the power. 

Mindy: Perfect. You can email me those names whenever you get around to it. 

Frank: I won’t.

Mindy: What are three of your favourite songs?

Frank: Favourite questions are just so hard for me. 

Mindy: I’m sorry. 

Frank: There are just so many great songs and you just keep hearing them. They just keep happening.

Mindy. It’s like music never ends. You just keep waking up to another song and it’s like - I thought music was done now, we’re still doin’ this?

Frank: It’s unreal. 

Mindy: We’ll just count this as your answer. 

Frank: Okay.

Mindy: I’d now like to do a little word association game. I just want you to know that the stakes are high, and I’ll be sending this to your family after. Other than that, let’s just try not to overthink it. First word - 'Who'

Frank: Meg

Mindy: Aww! Next word - 'Is' 

Frank: Are you going to form a sentence? 

Mindy: 'Is' 

Frank: Where are we going with this one? Now is the first word I think of. 

Mindy: 'She'

Frank: Who is she? My answer is 'can.' 

Mindy: Sorry, I was browsing my ex’s photos when I wrote these. Next word - 'Camp' 

Frank: Fun 

Mindy: 'Love'

Frank: Family

Mindy: 'Rock'

Frank: Lake

Mindy: Finish these sentences: My kids are always singing… 

Frank: That’s it, the sentence is over. They are always singing. 

Mindy: I was looking for a song but this is better. 

Mindy: I’d love to perform with my band in…

Frank: I'd love to go way up north and perform somewhere I’ve never been before. 

Mindy: Awesome.

Mindy: My favourite things in the entire world are…

Frank: Can I do three since I kept not answering those ones?

Mindy: You can do as many as you’d like!

Frank: I’ll do three. My kids, my wife, and water. 

Mindy: I love it. 

Mindy: Okay. Say I gained thirty pounds because reality started hitting me hard, and now I’m due for a passport renewal. Should I just do the five-year passport so I can replace the photo sooner, or do I take the ten-year, so that I don’t have to worry about it for awhile?

Frank: Ten. If you like your passport photo, there are some deeper problems there that should be examined. 

Mindy: Yes, narcissism. 

Frank: Ask for a twenty-year if you can. 

Mindy: To be honest, this was before my last trip and I chose the five-year for this reason. 

Frank: All passport photos are bad, you can’t even smile. 

Mindy: I just look so scared. Which I always am, but this was jarring, likely because I was so insecure about my photo being taken. 

Frank: It’s like, can you just put a chip in me so I never have to do this again?

Mindy: Yes!

Mindy: And lastly, you know what’s coming, the big question we all fear in life - what’s your favourite colour? 

Frank: Whenever I’m asked this, I just say blue and green. 

Mindy: It’s within the spectrum between the two for me sometimes too! Or would you say separately they both are?

Frank: Yeah, I like how they kind of go together, everywhere you go. You’re never gonna run out. If you need to see them, they’re good favourite colours to have. 

Mindy: Wow, great point. A colour like pink is a little more scarce. You really gotta seek it out.

Frank: That’s Helen’s favourite colour, and I’m like, “I hope that works out for you.” you know?

Mindy: She’s got a rough road ahead, for sure. 

Frank: I hope we don’t run out of blue and green. Feels like that would be the end. 

Mindy: Well, a great point to end this on I think. Thank you so much for meeting with me today, Frank!

Frank: Thank you! I hope it turns out for you, I don’t think I’m very good at this. 

Mindy: Life?

Frank: I hope that turns out too.