quarta-feira, 17 de fevereiro de 2016

All As It Is with An Occasion For Balloons - An Interview


A busca pela canção perfeita construída a partir de elementos de dreampop, um "q" de shoegaze, pós punk oitentista pendendo mais paro o lado de gente como GoBetweens, The Chills evocando por vezes o HOL, este é o Occasion for Balloons.

Nate Wagner comanda tudo em estúdio e ao vivo conta com inúmeros músicos para dar forma ao AOFB.  O debute foi lançamento ano passado, e o álbum homônimo é uma pintura de elegância e sofisticação, fazendo conexões sonoras com o Wild Nothing atualmente.

Eloquente e grandioso.

***** Interview with An Occasion For Balloons *****


Q. When did AOFB start? tell us about the history...
An Occasion For Balloons started as a recording project in my bedroom in late 2013. I recorded a few tracks with no real plans, then sent them off as a demo to French label Beko disques (The Bilinda Butchers, Memoryhouse), who then asked me to record an EP for them. That EP sold out lightning fast! Around that time, I began playing adapted versions of these songs with some friends. We’ve spent the last two years playing shows locally, though we’re all too busy with day jobs, university studies, and other bands to tour! Last August, I reissued the Beko disques EP with a slightly different track listing as a cassette on Little L Records (Ireland) and Citrus City Records (USA), labels run by good friends of mine. Currently, AOFB is playing a handful of shows around eastern North Carolina and working on a 7” release for later this year.

Q: Who are your influences?
I really enjoy the work of bands like Wild Nothing, The Appleseed Cast, Alex G, The Life and Times, Crooked Necks, and many more. I’ve also been on an ambient/experimental electronic music binge – I’m totally fascinated by artists such as The Caretaker, Jan Jelinek, and Olli Aarni.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time… I’ve been counting down my 100 favorite albums on FB this year, so this is a spoiler:
1 Copeland – Eat Sleep Repeat
2 Crooked Necks – Alright is Exactly What it Isn’t
3 Wild Nothing – Nocturne
4 The Caretaker – Patience (After Sebald)
5 As Cities Burn – Come Now Sleep

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Playing live is a lot of fun – AOFB usually plays shows with DIY touring artists, so each new gig is a chance to make new musician friends. Q. How do you describe AOFB sounds? The studio recordings blend pleasant synths and drum machines with shoegaze guitar and reverb-laden vocals. Definitely a mixture of dream-pop, shoegaze, and ambient. Live, AOFB tends to take on a more post-punk/90s indie vibe, with heavier guitars, live drumming, and driving basslines.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
Due to financial limitations, I’ve typically recorded straight to digital, in my own bedroom. I use Logic X and its various plugins to effect vocals, synth, and guitars, and in some ways, it contributes to a wholly unique sound. More recently, I’ve been exploring recording at least drums live.


Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
Definitely stoked on Camp Howard, Dear Tracks, Max Gowan, Adam Fenton, and the one-and-only Alex G. Most of those bands are working on their first full lengths, so definitely keep an eye on them!

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
AOFB used to cover “Mistaken for Strangers” live; we’re currently working on a cover of “Memory” by Alex G.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
I’ve got to record drums for the 7” – after that, it gets mixed, mastered, and pressed. Hopefully by the time that’s out, I’ll have the next EP or LP demo’d!

Q: Any parting words?
Thanks for inviting me to do this interview! This is a fantastic blog; I keep finding great new bands here.
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Thanks

https://anoccasion.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/anoccasion