An Horse

Kate Cooper and Damon Cox make up the band An Horse from Brisbane, Australia. Mixing their blend of guitar and drums to craft songs that become ingrained in your mind, their style mixes in with different influences to create a soundtrack of the summer (winter or fall.) Kate was kind enough to take some time out to chat and discuss all things An Horse.


How would you describe the music scene in Brisbane compared to the US?

"Brisbane is a really small city, and has a very strong community; that's what Damon and I love about the states, it's really big and in the US you can tour and tour..."


Were there any other names for the band floating around?

"We didn't even think about it, it was good, we didn't have to have one of those -what should we call the band things." It was a name Kate used for solo shows around Brisbane.


Both Damon and Kate's previous bands had already broken up giving them the time to begin An Horse as more shows were being lined up as well as being asked to do the Tegan and Sara tour.

What is something valuable you learned or picked up along the way that you can use with the band now?

"To be honest, everything I learned about touring I've kind of learned in the last year. Touring in Australia you can tour 3 or 4 days; you could do a two week tour but they are really hard to do because you go to all these rural and outback places and it's kinda not worth it. I've really just learned from touring in the states."


Their former practice space was located in the record shop Kate and Damon both worked in. "The record store was a pretty cool practice space and soundproof and amazing." So nobody actually found out that you guys were practicing down there? "We were very diligent about hiding our stuff and putting everything back the way it was."

Previous jobs?

Damon worked in a pet store. "He got bitten by a rat, that's my favourite story." Kate used to teach media and journalism at a university in Brisbane among other things.


What made you decide to play music in the first place?

When Kate was 15, she went to "a really boring strict all girls school", and got taken out of school one day by her parents to go to a Rolling Stones concert. "I couldn't get a day off to save myself, if I was dying they'd still let me go to school, so the fact that they pulled me out of school was a really big deal. And I just remember watching the Rolling Stones and thinking this looks way more fun than sitting behind a desk. I actually believe my parents regret it deeply, but they're kind of coming around now."


What was the best part of making this record?

"The record was made in two parts, we made an ep, then we went to the label and they said we want some more. So we went again in a different session and made more. The first time we recorded, we knew each other very well when we made the first ep but still getting to know each other I guess kind of musically and we'd never been away together; we had to go away and stay at a studio. That was really exciting, I remember the first night actually staying in the same place away from home. It was just really nice to go, it's like an hour and half west of Brisbane, and to just hang out and make a record and feel really comfortable. And the second time was awesome again, I feel like it's a spiritual home out there or something, we hung out, no pressure, but we did have people that we could send stuff to or they could comment on it and send back. So that was kind of cool. The fact that we got to even go back and make the rest of the record is pretty exciting."


Were there any certain albums you listened to during the making?

"There were records we definitely referenced, but I think at the time I was listening to all the Silversun Pickups records, I remember talking about that a lot."


What is your favourite thing about playing live?

"I like playing every night, I love playing with Damon. I think we play really well together and it feels really comfortable.


Where do you come up with lyrics?

"I dont think there is any one way that it happens. Sometimes I sit down and play, I like to be by myself and play, sometimes I'll be driving along or doing something else and I'll think about something or I'll read something usually, and that'll kind of stick around in my head and comes back to me."


How was playing Letterman, were you guys suprised about being asked on that early in the band's inception?

"It's suprising, to say the least. We'd heard along the grapevine that there was a possibility we could be doing it in a few months, Damon and I kind of laughed about it, thought that was pretty funny and how hilarious that would be. Then we got a call or email just as we were entering Canada saying that Letterman had been confirmed so basically we only found out 3 days beforehand, which is just fine, i didn't want to be having to think about it for weeks and weeks out, 3 or 4 days to think about was more than enough. But it was heaps of fun, it was a lot of fun."


What do guys like to do in your free time or on days off?

"When we're on tour and we have a day off usually we sleep because we need to catch up. And we eat, eating is a big deal for me. Once we're caught up on everything Damon and I plan to watch a whole lot of movies. Also swimming.


What's something you miss most about Australia or look forward to when you get back home?

"I miss my niece, I miss her a lot, that's probably it. I don't miss a whole lot also I've been there for so long that it's really refreshing to be elsewhere. I guess I miss my family, my friends, I miss having breakfast at some of the spots I used to have breakfast at and I miss going to the beach a little bit. It's always there and it's not that far away, technically..."


Is there an item that you can't get in the states that you miss?

"There are a few things actually...This is going to sound cliche a little bit, but I did actually bring vegemite with me. There's this throat gargle that's like magic, you gargle it when you're getting a sore throat and it kills everything. You know what? American chocolate is very different than Australian chocolate. I eat a lot of chocolate, so I'm trying to adjust." Is it a good different or a bad different? "I don't enjoy American chocolate as much, I have to be honest. I think it's because you guys use corn syrup and we use sugar, I'm not sure, I'm trying to get to the bottom of it. ..but it just tastes different. Also it might be a temperature thing, like you know it's really hot at home, it affects the chocolate, i don't know! I mean I'm adjusting!


Best show seen:

"I feel like every time on tour with Tegan and Sara, I don't always watch the bands we're playing with every night, but every night I watched their set. The way they perform and the way they write songs, every night they would blow me away; I'm sure one of them is one of the best shows I've seen." Playing her first solo show as An Horse, Kate says opening for Katie Davidson was another, "The show was absolutely mind-blowing, the way she handled the crowd and the sound of her voice." "Also! The Silversun Pickups played in a mall as part of a music celebration we have - The Valley, which was packed and people were hanging over the sides of the balcony and that was amazing and they played really well. And I've since spoken to the band about the show and they said it was one of the best shows they've ever played."


What was the last show you actually paid to get into:

"My mom took me to see Neil Young for my birthday and she paid for those tickets, but its kinda shitty because the day of the show our record label in Australia rang us up and said they have a whole bunch of Neil Young tickets you guys wanna go? And Damon decided to go and his tickets were right at the front and I had to sit with my mom because she saved up and was really excited and I had to pretend that it was amazing, but it was a good show.


What are some bands/artists that you're listening to lately?

Silversun Pickups, Julie Doiron, Trail of the Dead, Telekinesis, Kevin Devine.


What are some old favourite albums?

"Lately in the van we've been listening to a lot of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tegan and Sara, The Frogs, we've been listening to a lot of audio books, also been listening to Nina Simone and just this morning Damon put on Billie Holiday, very varied. All our favourite records are so hard to nail down, so many of them. Oh, and the Gaslight Anthem."


What was the last movie you guys saw?

"When we're flying together we like to watch films at the same time, so we time it so it plays together that way it's like a shared experience, we watched - I don't even know what its called (Flash of Genius-ed.)- it's like the story, it sounds really boring but it's amazing, but it's the history or the story of the guy who invented the intermittent wiper on cars, who got ripped off basically, it's really good. Before that it would of been something in the cinema and I have no idea what it was I cant even think - oh I think it was maybe was Vicky Christina Barcelona. I'd seen everything in the cinema so I just went to watch that over and over again because I liked it.


The difference between US and AUS coffee?

"In Australia you can only get espresso pretty much, they don't do black coffee. It's a lot stronger at home." So what is your favourite? "At home i would say a flat white, i guess the equivalent would be a latte. Or a long black."



http://www.myspace.com/anhorse

Tilly and the Wall

Bright. Colourful. Fun. Tilly and the Wall, the five piece based out of Omaha are compromised of Kianna - vocals/bass, Neely - vocals/bass, Derek - guitar/vocals, Jamie - tap dancer/percussionist and Nick - keyboards. Mixing harmonies, beats, and melodies, Tilly and the Wall create a dynamic sound that is perfect for singing (or shouting) along to, tunes that are wrapped with ample amounts of exhilarating energy. Here, Kianna shares some details surrounding the wonderful world of Tilly and the Wall.


1. Did you always have the intention to use tap dancing as a form of percussion or incorporate it into the songs somehow?

Not really, it's just something Jamie had done in prior bands and used at the first Tilly practices to keep a beat. We never really discussed it but it just stuck! It was totally meant to be... kismet.


2. Team Love and Saddlecreek records both seem like very tightly knit and nurturing labels; how has that been working within that environment?

It has been totally awesome! Team Love is the most artist friendly label ever. They let us do whatever we want and trust in us. We are very lucky to call them home.


3. How did Tilly and the Wall first form and what other bands were you in prior to this one?

Well the boys had just moved to Omaha from Atlanta and was hanging out working on songs with Jamie who had befriended them. Jamie and I had been writing songs together too ever after our other band broke up. So we just decided to all work together! Then we called Neely because we wanted harmonies and wanted another female singer, we just knew she would be perfect! And then we were Tilly!


4. What is the songwriting process like for you guys or does it usually vary?

Most times one person will write a song and bring it to the rest of the band. Then everyone starts working on it together. We all really understand each other really well and can kind of feel what each other's songs are asking for. It's great because that's how they end up a Tilly song and not a Kianna or Nick (or whoever) song!


5. What are some things you like to do after a show or on days off?

On our days off on tour we LOVE going to the movies together! Especially if there's one out that we have all been excited for! Ones I remember are The Dark Night and The Black Pearl, the Pirates movie! Actually, we cherish these things like you couldn't believe cuz they are so rare and we don't mess around. I bitched out some teen brats' parents at the Pirates movie because their girls wouldn't shut up when the movie started and we were all so pumped about it! HAHAHA!


6. Who would you like to collaborate with?

I think I can speak for everyone when I say Missy Elliott or Michael Jackson.


7. What is your favourite thing about touring? Least favourite?

To me, the best thing about touring is playing the show. That one hour makes all that driving and heavy lifting worth it. Also, those are the worst parts... the driving all day and the loading in and loading out again at 2 a.m.


8. You're known for your happy, fun, bright overall presence...how important is that to convey? Also, where do you usually find/look for your outfits? Are there any particular style 'icons' you look at for inspiration?

We don't make a conscious effort to BE fun or whatever but we just HAVE so much fun doing what we're doing that we can't help it! I will however say that when the band first started it was clear we weren't interested in making sad folk songs... I personally look to my friends for inspiration regarding looks. My friend Peggy Noland is a designer in Kansas City and she makes all of my stage costumes. She always has amazing ideas and I trust her crazy ass! She knows I will wear anything!


9. Who and/or what are some influences or inspirations for the band?

We are all so different it's insane but we all find inspiration from daily life and everything contained in it. It's hard to be specific but anything from a book or a story you hear on the news can spark inspiration. As far as influences, I would say most music you hear sticks with you somehow... subliminally sometimes!


10. What are some bands you are currently listening to?

Currently I am listening to Fever Ray! It's Karin from the Knife's solo project and it's just as haunting and beautiful as the slower songs the Knife had. Also, can't stop listening to the new Animal Collective... I generally get really obsessive about repeating albums I love. This is the case with both of these albums!

Some old favourites/favourite records?

I love listening to old Of Montreal records and reeeally old Desmond Decker records! The Israelites is BANGIN'!

Anything you're looking forward to being released?

The new Grizzly Bear! I can't wait!!!

Last cd/vinyl/digital purchased? I got a cd of a band called Borg from my favorite mail order site/store AquariusRecords.org. It is pretty good! Also, just ordered Night Control's new cd from the same website! That site offers the most incredibly honest reviews and also streaming songs from the artists they carry.

Last movie you saw & show you went to?

Last movie I saw was Coralline in 3D! I went to it two days in a row because I could not get over how trippy and beautiful it was. It was even better the second time.



http://www.myspace.com/officialtillyandthewall

Wintersleep

A five piece from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Wintersleep are made up of Loel Campbell - drums, Paul Murphy - guitar/vocals, Mike Bigelow - bass, Tim D'Eon - guitar/keys, and Jon Samuel - keys/guitar/vocals. Meshing the heavy with the light to find the right amount of each colliding together, Wintersleep's music can start off in one direction, while smoothly leading up to another by the end of it. This mixture forms their sound to balance out what doesn't go missing within their music. Here, Paul delves into Wintersleep's core for a bit of insight.


1. How do you feel/think being from Halifax differs or compares in terms of the setting and interaction with other bands, than say more mainstream or popular Canadian cities such as Montreal , Toronto or Vancouver ? Or do you think there even is a difference music wise?

Halifax has a bit more of an insular music community than those other cities I think.. Kinda keeping to itself a bit but I think not necessarily in a bad way.. I think it is a good city to develop in as a band/human... People care about local things generally whether it is local food or stores or bands or local art, etc.,, I think the music scene is a bit closer knit because of that general mentality. A hard part about it is that it is kinda isolated from the bigger touring circuit [ Toronto , US ] so Halifax bands don't tour as much as they probably should or would if they lived in a city like Montreal or Toronto or Vancouver .. It's that damn 12 hours between here and Montreal !! Rrrg.. :)


2. Obviously you know/are aware you won the Juno for new group of the year - how was that and did it change anything for the better or worse?

I think it has only done good things.. A nice way to get acknowledged..


3. Who are some influences for the band?

I think we are really influenced by our friends and families and great bands [from Halifax and beyond:)], good books.. Nice landscape.. Touring..


4. How is the songwriting process like for you guys?

We all write parts and bring them to the jam space where they either become something great or get chewed up and left for dead, a pulpy and indistinguishable mess.


5. Do you find it difficult to adjust to life on the road and touring and then getting off tour and heading back home?

It is actually quite difficult to find a balance depending on the length of tour. I think the hardest thing is not really having a home base.. I don't really feel like there is a place I actually call home. Enter the violins upon sad bastard staring into his laptop at 7:38 am just yearning for a home:)


6. How do you describe your music to someone who doesn't know or hasn't heard it?

It's just delicious. Like the best apple you've ever eaten.


7. Where do you find out about new music/bands?

Mike Bigelow tells me about every band I'll ever wanna hear. My brother Mike is also a good source.. Loel..


8. What are some bands you are currently listening to? El Perro Del Mar, Handsome Furs, Dog Day, John Lennon Plastic Yoko

Some old favourites/favourite records?

Love Tara Eric's Trip, Green Mind Dinosaur Jr.. Buddy Holly Greatest Hits, Johnny Cash,, Hank Williams, also greatest hits.. Neil Young Harvest. Sonic Youth Washing Machine

Anything you're looking forward to being released?

Too much

Last cd/vinyl/digital purchased?

Damien Jurado Caught in the Trees, White Birch Come up for Air

Last movie you saw & show you went to?

That Benjamin Button movie



http://www.myspace.com/wintersleep

The Whispertown 2000

With their free flowing melodies and harmonies, The Whispertown 2000 are a four piece based in Los Angeles; made up of Morgan Nagler, Tod Adrian Wisenbaker, Vanesa Corbala, and Casey Wisenbaker. They mix retro classic sounds with a twist of folk to create their own sound. Their first album - Livin' in a Dream was released in 2006, while their current record - Swim, was released in 2008. Morgan was kind enough to take some time to give us a peak into The Whispertown 2000.


1. How is a song created and what sort of approach do you take?

Usually, I write the song on guitar and bring it to the band, where it then tuns into what it is by everybody's shaping and morphing.


2.Do you prefer to play to a smaller or larger audience or venue?

I like a little room packed in where I don't know anybody.


3.Having known Blake and Jenny, what kind of advice did they give you as far as writing and preforming goes?

Well it was Jenny that somewhat insisted that we move forward and unlock our dreams, as she's done in all aspects of my life, and both her and Blake have been extremely supportive .. Just do it


4.Who are some people or bands you look up to as inspiration or influence?

Jenny Lewis, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Benji Hughes, and Bill Murray


5.What do you enjoy most about performing, or even least about it?

I enjoy feeling like the soundtrack and connecting to people, I do not enjoy messing up and if no one likes it. :)


6.How did Whispertown 2000 start?

Jenny insisted I started performing and brought Tod and I together, the 3 of us played a few shows together, then Tod and I continued acoustic through mountain and valley and ended up in a family affair with Casey, Tod's brother on bass, and Vanesa Corbala singing harmoniously, getting tambourine bruises.


7.On the road, what did you discover that you weren't quite aware of before?

California really has the best produce.


8.Do you do much preparation for a show?

Most prep work goes into writing and arranging new stuff, then we just need a run through or 2 :) So we think..


9.Who would you like to go on the road with?

Bob Dylan, The Black Lips, Dr. Dog, The White Stripes, Lucinda Williams...


10.What are some bands you are currently listening to?

Benji Hughes, The Black Lips, and The Staple Singers

Some old favourite records?

John Prine-John Prine, John Prine,-The Missing Years,Tom Waits- The Early Years Vol. 1 and 2, Built to Spill- Perfect From Now On, Townes Van Zandt- Flin' Shoes, Paul Simon- Negotiations and Love Songs

Anything you're looking forward to being released?

Michael Runion's new record

Last vinyl purchased?

Neva Dinova- You May Already Be Dreaming.... a diamond in the rough

Last Movie you saw and show you went to?

Role Models, She and Him



www.myspace.com/whispertown2000

Mika Miko

Infusing sounds and clashing noises, Mika Miko are a five piece band based out of Los Angeles California. The band includes guitarist Michelle Suarez, bassist Jessica Clavin, drummer Seth Densham, and duel vocalists Jenna Thornhill (also saxophone) & Jennifer Clavin (also guitar). Their music combines influences and beyond to create a wild ride of ruckus. With a new album to be released soon, Michelle took some time to answer some questions about what makes up Mika Miko.



1. Can you tell us how the band came about, where everyone is from and the drummer changes..

The band came about in 2003, sometime. We are all from southern California. Our dummer...is new! And a boy. It's a boy!!!


2. Who or what are some influences for the band?

We all really appreciate music. All of us have different influences: people, music, food, clothing, books, etc.


3. What is the songwriting process like for you guys?

Usually one of us comes up with a riff and we piece it together at practice. Piece by piece, brick by brick.


4. What is your favourite song to do live and why?

I like doing Business Cats because sometimes people know the words and it's really something to see people sing along.


5. How would you describe the band to someone who had no idea what you were about?

I hope that they would believe me when I said...A PARTY! AN AWESOME PARTY.


6. Besides this band, are you involved in different projects?

I think we are all doing our own thing. It's a mystery. I do not really know my bandmates.


7. What's the best & worst part of touring?

Sometimes, the worst makes for a great story. And the best is when you have enough money to go eat at a restaurant together and brush your teeth in the restroom.


8. Apart from the band, what do you do for fun, do you have separate jobs?

We do all kinds of things. Some of us are working outside of home, and some of us work from home.


9. Are Mika Miko currently working on any new material?

We are releasing a new record very soon. Mayish, I believe. It's getting mastered today.


10. What are some bands you are currently listening to?

Currently, I am listening to Stickmen with Rayguns.

Some old favourites/favourite records?

Old favorites....Misfits. Definitely.

Anything you're looking forward to being released?

The Remo Voor 7". I heard it's going to be really good.

Last cd/vinyl/digital purchased?

I got a copy of the SCREAMERS demos LP with red ink, not blue. But really the last record I bought was for someone else. For Jennifer's birthday, I gave her a Barracudas record.

Last movie and/or show you saw?

Last movie I watched was Beethoven's 2nd. It was really retarded but cute. I also just started watching Lost and it is REALLY COOL!



myspace.com/mikamiko

The Octopus Project

The Octopus Project are a four piece band made up of Josh, Yvonne, Toto, and Ryan. Blending contrasting sounds, experimental noises, and various instruments, The Octopus Project create a fun and happy atmosphere. Known to switch instruments around, their music encapsulates tiny melodies bursting with fervor. Josh was kind enough to share some info on the band from Austin, known as The Octopus Project.


1. How did the band come together and where is everyone from?

Yvonne, Toto, and I have known each other since we were 18, and were in bands together throughout college. Yvonne and Toto grew up in Houston, and I lived there for high school. Ryan grew up in Austin. Around 1998/99, we (Yvonne, Toto, and I) were all going to college at UT in Austin, and playing together in a band called Hidden Speaker. The band was led by a friend of ours. He wrote most of the music, and at some point we decided that we wanted to break out and do our own thing. So, we quit that band, and formed our own. Ryan joined up with us last year, and it’s been great!


2. For anyone who may not be familiar with the music, how would you best describe the style?

Loud, fun, and colorful.


3. Was it always your intention to be an instrumental band? Have there been considerations to add vocals at some point? Do you also feel there may be limitations with mainly being instrumental?

We never really made a conscious decision to be primarily an instrumental band. We just started writing songs, and let them develop naturally. We definitely weren’t concerned with singing. Instrumental bands weren’t as popular back then as they are now – I think Tortoise was really one of the only big ones. But, it just felt right. The songs that we were writing felt finished, so we never really talked about it. However, we’ve never ruled out vocals. We don’t have any rules in this band. We just take things as they come. And, lately we’ve written a few songs with vocals. The last song on our most recent record has the three of us singing on it. We also put out a single in the UK earlier this year which has two vocal songs. It’s pretty exciting to have a different tool to use, but I don’t think we’ll end up making every song have vocals. We’ll see! As far as limitations… I don’t think there are any. If anything, being instrumental opens up a million new avenues.


4. How did the name come about and do you have a set meaning behind it?

The name comes from a little-known experiment performed by the Japanese government in the 1950’s. I think it was called “Tako Kei Kaku,” which translates to The Octopus Project. But, basically, the army was attempting to build an enormous, robotic octopus (similar to a submarine) that could make manned missions to the bottom of the Marianas Trench. The details are fuzzy, but something went horribly wrong with the experiment, and the government abandoned the project after the robot was lost deep in the ocean.


5. Who or what have been some influences for the band?

It’s kind of hard to pinpoint because we’re always listening to so many different things. But, generally, I think we all like stuff with a little bit of grit on it. – sounds that have a personality. We have a tendency to be drawn to stuff that sounds interesting or exciting. I think that the best combination is amazing sounds + great music. Sonic Youth, Satyajit Ray, Madlib, Alice Coltrane.


6. What was the experience like working with an outside producer for the current record as opposed to primarily working on it your own?

It was definitely different from how we’d worked in the past. It was really fun, but also tough sometimes to find the bridge between our two ideas as to how things should work. We were coming from an unstructured, anything goes recording style, whereas Ryan Hadlock came from a very structured, professional world. We chose him because we wanted that mix of a crazy yet professional sounding record. And, I really like the way it turned out.


7. Do you guys ever just improvise on a song while playing live?

We have a bit of improvisation, but for the most part, things are pretty laid out. Many of our songs are played to sequenced beats and sounds, so it’s hard to change things around in the middle of a song. Some songs are loose, though, and we like to just see what happens.


8. How long does it take to get the stage prepared with all the decorations, etc...and do you feel that it is part of the overall setting of the music and goes hand in hand in a way?

We’ve gotten the stage setup down to a science, and it doesn’t take long at all. Touring so much, you have to be as efficient as possible. It’s taken us a few years to get it down, but lately we’ve figured out a good way of doing things. Most of our decorations, etc. are either built-in to our gear, or are things that can just be thrown up at the last minute. I definitely feel like our stage decoration goes hand in hand with our music. We’re all extremely excited about making things, and love any opportunity to get crazy. Being in a band is an amazing opportunity to let your imagination run wild visually as well as musically. But, being in our band specifically, I feel like we tend to veer toward sounds that are more colorful, or themes and ideas musically that might evoke certain visual themes and ideas to pop into your head. To me, the music and the visuals are all a part of the same entity.


9. If there was one person you could work with, who would it be?

Werner Herzog.


10. What are some bands you are currently listening to?

Other than the previously mentioned folks…. Clipse, The Tammys, Caribou, Fela Kuti, Deerhoof, all of the Stones Throw stuff, lots more.

Some old favourites/favourite records?

We’re all totally obsessed with the Beatles and Led Zeppelin.

Anything you're looking forward to being released?

I just got the new Deerhoof and Dead Science records, and they’re both pretty stellar.

Last cd/vinyl/digital purchased?

CD – The Paris Sisters, “The Complete Phil Spector Sessions” Vinyl – The Kinks, “Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One” and John Cale, “Paris 1919” Digital Purchase – Deerhoof, “Offend Maggie” and Dead Science, “Villainaire”

Last movie and/or show you saw?

Movie – ‘Hausu’ Show – ‘Mad Men’



http://www.myspace.com/theoctopusproject

The Faint

The Faint are compromised of Joel Peterson, Clark Baechle, Dapose, Todd Fink and Jacob Thiele; and within that combination, juxtapose their music just as so. Their latest and current release - Fasciination, displays their mixing and fusion of different styles, into creating a sound and style all their own. Jacob was cool enough to take some time out to share some insight into the band from Omaha, known as the Faint.


1. How was the entire process of this album different from the previous albums?

We combined methods from all our previous albums, starting first by simply playing the songs and then realizing that we could do more by recording the songs as we went, once the studio was finished. The end result is something we're very happy with, and I think we've come closer to creating a scientific method for making music than on previous records.


2. What do you feel the (major) differences are between the last records compared to the new one?

The sound of the record is different because we made it ourselves. Doing this also allowed us the chance to experiment a lot more, like trying different keyboards for each part and declaring one superior to another! I think the lyrics are a little more straightforward.


3. What brought on the label change or made you guys leave your old label and release this new record on your own? Was blank.wav started as a result?

We knew we wanted to do something different for this record, and after doing almost everything else ourselves, it seemed like the right time to finally release our own music on our own label. So yeah, I guess it was started as a result. Hopefully one day we can put out other people's albums as well!


4. Being on your own label, what have been the biggest differences you've encountered?

Well, there's nobody to blame but ourselves when things don't go right! I suppose in many ways, it's the same as being on another label. We hired the same publicist, we hired radio people and all that too.


5. Would you consider the band an electronic(a) or dance band? Or how would you define or describe the band?

Kind of both. We don't really try to define ourselves by genres. When we meet somebody on a plane or somewhere who has no frame of reference we say that we're an electronic rock band that plays danse music for punks.


6. Do you have a favourite city to play, and what makes it a favourite?

We don't have a favorite city to play. Of course playing our hometown, Omaha, is a lot of fun, but it's always hellishly hot in the venue we play there! It's always fun to revisit a city we've been to before, but we also like to play new places.


7. What do you find to be the best/worst thing about touring?

Being away from loved ones is the worst. But meeting new people and seeing the world are the best! Also playing shows is lot of fun.


8. What's your favourite song to do live?

It used to be Paranoiattack, but lately it's probably Psycho because I get to do a wild keyboard solo in the middle of it.


9. Who and/or what have been some influences for the band?

Right now we're writing an article about Aphex Twin. He's always inspired us in different ways. Old punk stuff like Wire and old new wave stuff like the first couple Human League albums. We're big fans of bands that play by their own rules like Fugazi and Sonic Youth as well.


10. What are some bands you are currently listening to?

My favorite new band is probably Late of the Pier. I saw Midnight Juggernauts at a festival in Ireland and they were great!

Some old favourites/favourite records?

It's been fun revisiting Aphex Twin's catalog. I like David Bowie a lot. The Kinks, T. Rex, Brian Eno.

Anything you're looking forward to being released?

Hmmm. I'm looking forward to our next single, Mirror Error, because we're hoping to get some great remixes!

Last cd/vinyl/digital purchased?

I bought a Konono No 1 12" that has some locked grooves on it. Pretty rad stuff.

Last movie and/or show you saw?

The last movie I watched was "We Jam Econo" the Minutemen documentary. I had seen it before, but we were all watching it on the bus because some people hadn't seen it. It's great!



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photo courtesy of Bill Sitzmann.