A Spy in The House of Love with Drakes Hotel - An Interview

 

O TBTCI e sua incansável busca pelo pop perfeito parece que finalmente concretizou sua missão.

Drakes Hotel, pense em Chameleons, House of Love, Go-Betweens, Smiths, Teardrop Explodes e você terá a receita que o Drakes Hotel ou Amy e Chris nos prepararam para a seducão completa.

Simplesmente vá atrás de toda a discografia e deixe-se apaixonar pelo Drakes Hotel, e por hora veja e saiba mais sobre essa pérola.

***** Interview with Drakes Hotel *****

Q. When did Drakes Hotel starts, tell us about the history...
1. The band started when we met in a record store in Santa Cruz, California where Chris worked. Knowing we wanted to make music together we got engaged, moved to Seattle and started recording. We put out our first self recorded CD in 2004 titled Chains for Two. We've moved around quite a bit over the years going from Seattle to Omaha to Portland and back to Omaha where we've settled in. In that time we've put out a record on Reverb Records called Tell Me Everything in 2007, and followed it with two self released albums- Sparks that March in 2009 and Logic Adopts Senses in 2011.

Q: Who are your influences?
2. It's kind of hard to say. Chris loves everything from Chameleons, The Smiths, Teardrop Explodes, Psychedelic Furs and Killing Joke to the Cars. Amy likes Metric, Interpol, The Go-Go's, New Order and The Horrors. We're not sure how much of the music we like translates to our music.

Q. Made a list of 5 albuns of all time…
3. Chris: House of Love-Self Titled Butterfly Album, Psychedelic Furs-Forever Now, The Teardrop Exploders-Wilder, The Smiths-Self Titled, Killing Joke-First Self Titled

Amy: Interpol-Antics, Metric-Fantasies, The Cure-Disintegration, The Horrors-Skying, The Go-Go's-Beauty and The Beat

Q. How do you fell playing alive?
4. We love recreating our songs live as a duo. We love playing loud and surprising people with the scope of our sound.

Q. How do you describe Drakes Hotel sounds?
5. We're guitar focused with touches of retro electronics. We've been described as everything from Post Punk and Shoegaze to New Wave and Dance Rock.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
6. We have our own studio and it's a creative space where we can go in at any time and lay down tracks. We usually decide to put out a record when the backlog of songs gets too big.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
7. Current Bands in rotation:
Chris: I'm listening to Crocodiles (San Diego), New Canyons (Chicago), The Microdance (London). The new Boards of Canada is cool

Amy: Houses, The Perishers (Sweden), Alpine (Australia), Soley (Iceland)

Q: Which bands you love to made a cover version?
8. At practice we do, "Just Like Honey" by Jesus and Mary Chain, "Christine" by House of Love, "Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen and "Metro" by Berlin. We have fun with covers in practice but don't have space in our set when we play out.

Q: What´s the plans for future....
9. We're getting ready to release our next cd by the end of August and if all goes well we hope to release an EP every few months for the next year. We're gearing up to start playing live this fall and plan to throughout the year with a longer tour next summer.

Q: Any parting words?
10. Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you and we hope to see you out on the road sometime.

All The Best,
Amy and Chris
*
*
*
Thanks Amy/Chris

Players for Rain with Lenorable - An Interview

O lado sombrio e escuro do TBTCI sempre esteve visível, misturado as dissonâncias dos wall of sounds, as trippy sounds, mas a cold wave sempre esteve presente, e agora pra reforcar a tendência, Lenorable um duo de Washington DC, Ian e Lisa, pegam todas as vertentes que o TBTCI aborda e condensam em sua vertente mais densa, soturna e minimal.

O novíssimo Disconnect é um mix de shoegazer, minimal, cold wave e psicodelia totalmente voltado as sombras, um daquelas epzinhos que fica em looping na cabeca.

Simplesmente altamente recomendado, e pra ilustrar, como de praxe, o TBTCI convidou o Lenorable pra uma entrevista que saiu melhor do que a encomenda.

***** Interview with Lenorable *****

Q. When did Lenorable starts, tell us about the history...
Lisa and I started making music together in the summer of 2010. It took us a while to find the right sound -- there are some videos our friends and fans put on YouTube that show some of our first shows, chronicling the growing pains. We had no idea what we were doing. It was a lot of fun, trying new sounds and learning to use and play along with a drum machine. After maybe a year, we started to use synthesizers and the music got darker and more intense. That's what you hear on some of our demos online and on The Prince EP, which we recorded in 2011 and self-released (with help from our fans and Kickstarter) on vinyl in 2012. A sort of growing darkness.

Q: Who are your influences?
We're both big fans of the Cure, Joy Division, Clan of Xymox, Siouxsie, Bauhaus, Echo and the Bunnymen, a lot of those classic goth and post-punk bands. Screen Vinyl Image is a big influence locally and otherwise. I've been listening to a lot of coldwave, bands like Xeno and Oaklander, Eleven Pond, KaS Product, OTO. The French are really good at electronic music.

Q. Made a list of 5 albums of all time…
In no particular order:
- Beatles Revolver
- MBV's Loveless
- Joy Division's Closer
- The Cure's Disintegration
- Beach Boys' Pet Sounds

Q. How do you fell playing alive?
Playing live is one of my favorite things. I'm definitely a shoegazer, I sort of fall into my own little world for each song, staring at the floor and spacing out. If I'm not careful, I'll forget where I am and miss a chord change or step on the wrong pedal. There's kind of a hypnotic, psychedelic element to our live performance, at least for me.

Q. How do you describe Lenorable sounds?
Goth/gaze, darkgaze and deathgaze are all terms we've used. The guitar sounds are very goth-meets-shoegaze. Cold, sharp, but very big and noisy. We keep the electronics sparse -- heavy bass, synths ranging from ghostly ethereal sounds to icy stabbing sounds to walls of noise. But Lisa's vocals really define our sound. Her lyrics and singing give the songs some urgency. She adds the drama and tension.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording Disconnect?
Disconnect was definitely a process. It's the first EP we recorded on our own. Originally we had planned to only release a single, for Halloween 2012. Then we wrote a new song. Then we wanted to record another song. Then we wanted to have some friends do remixes. Then Halloween 2012 became spring 2013, which became summer 2013, and here we are.

Recording was pretty painless, but we did a lot of pre- and post-production. Had we been paying for a studio by the hour, we probably could have recorded most of the vocals, synths and guitars in a day, maybe two.

We spent a lot of time mixing, trying different effects, tweaking arrangements. I spent a lot of time experimenting with guitar sounds, both live and with modeling software, trying to match what I play on stage with what would work on a recording. I'm glad technology has evolved to where it is, because Ableton Live makes my life so easy once everything is tracked.

We were also touring and playing live a lot, so recording sessions were few and far between. I try not to rush things, but I also know that spending too much time on something can make you crazy. Disconnect took a lot of time (our first songs were recorded last fall), it was a very deliberate, relaxed process.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
There's a lot of good, dark music coming from Washington, DC right now. Pleasure Curses, Technophobia, Motion Lines, No Paris. Of course, Screen Vinyl Image, they're great. I just saw Ars Phoenix for the first time a few weeks ago, they were very good. Last Remaining Pinnacle was amazing live, too. I haven't seen Glitterlust live yet, but I want to. I've only seen pictures and their stage show looks wild.

Q: Which bands you love to made a cover version?
It's safe to say we have a pretty unique sound, and I love taking other bands' songs and making them our own. We've covered A Forest, by the Cure (there's avideo from a fan on YouTube that's pretty good). For Halloween 2011, we covered Bela Lugosi's Dead. A Forest and Bela Lugosi's dead are fun to play, but they aren't that far off soundwise from where we are. It's more fun for me to take a song from a completely different genre and make it ours. We recorded a cover version of Wham!s "Last Christmas," I think it turned out well. People have told me they can't listen to it in the house because their girlfriend says it's too scary for Christmas music.

On Disconnect, we recorded a version of In Heaven, Everything is Fine, from the movie Eraserhead. I'd like to cover "I'm Waiting Here," the new David Lynch/Lykke Li track. That one would be fun.

Q: What´s the plans for future....
We have some remixes for Pleasure Curses and Glitterlust that we've been working on, those should be done in a few weeks.
We have a few shows left this summer. We'll be at the Elephant Talk Indie Music Fest in Atlantic City, New Jersey, August 4. After that we're playing with Technophobia for their live debut, August 17 at Black Cat in DC. I think this fall we'll start working on a new single or EP. Book some shows and hit the road a bit. Hopefully a Halloween show, those are always fun.

Q: Any parting words?
I want to say thanks to my lovely wife and bandmate Lisa, for putting up with all of the stress she didn't know she'd be facing when I said "Hey let's be a band!" Thanks to all of the bands I've mentioned, our friends and fans, and our family for their support as we've evolved into the band we are today. You know who you are.
*
*
*
Thanks Ian!!

https://www.facebook.com/lenorable?fref=ts
http://music.lenorable.net/

The Ghost In You with Prevrat - An Interview

Dreampop, synths, ambiência 80´s com roupagem moderna, este é o Prevrat que apresenta Symbols lancando em Abril deste ano e que chega ao TBTCI através de contatos imediatos através das redes sociais, um debut brilhante e delicioso pra se ouvir cuidadosamente, saboreando cada elemento contido na obra.

Talvez um dos melhores albuns de dreampop lancando até então neste grande 2013.

E obviamente que o TBTCI apresenta em primeira mão quem, e o que é o Prevrat, deixe-se seduzir.

***** Interview with Prevrat *****

Q. When did Prevrat starts, tell us about the history...

I started working on music again in 2008, after a break of some years with school getting a PhD in physics and getting a job going. It took me quite a while to get my songwriting and playing skills back up to where I was happy with them. Released my debut album as Prevrat, titled "Intelligent Discontent" in March of 2012 to modest reception. My sophomore album Symbols was released on April 9th this year and it has really made me happy with how it has been received. Has been featured by over 30 blogs and that is continuing to grow.

Q: Who are your influences?
My influences are many and varied. They include the Velvet Underground, XTC, Ultravox, The Psychedelic Furs, The Jam, The Clash and Brian Eno.

Q. Made a list of 5 albuns of all time…
In order of when they were released it would be:
The Beatles - Yesterday and Today
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced
Velvet Underground - White Light White Heat
The Clash - London Calling
The Decemberists - Crane Wife

Q. How do you fell playing alive?
I love to perform live and have a pretty cool show. Half my show is electronic based and half is guitar based. Use samples from my recordings to get a full band sound and have very cool lighting from behind with many beams going all over the place. Have a 50 inch video screen in front of my electronics table showing incredible computer graphics.

Q. How do you describe Prevrat sounds?
My music is a blend of influences from electronic, post-punk and new wave that is woven into songs ranging from synthpop to indie rock.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
I have a fully equipped Protools studio in my house and do all my recording there. I have seven guitars, four synthesizers and lots of outboard gear. I write my material in the studio and having unlimited time makes it a very organic process. Just a wonderful creative luxury.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
I'm glad you asked this. There are two Brazilian artists I like quite a lot, The Sorry Shop and Gimu. I also really like Can Can from Ecuador and I Am Genko who is from Lima, Peru. I would encourage your readers to check these artists out on their Bandcamp pages.

Q: Which bands you love to made a cover version?
While there have been some covers I really like, for myself it is just not something I want to do. I also don't sample other people's music and I'm not into remixes. Just a personal thing. For me creating music is a very intimate experience and there is still stuff inside me I want to get out. Maybe if I hit a time where my writing hits a wall I'll think about doing a cover. For now though it's just not something I find compelling.

Q: What´s the plans for future?
Am doing some touring to support "Symbols" and I have also started working on my next album, but that won't be released for a year. I operate a small indie label, Russian Winter Records and that takes some time to nurture. Have signed a great post-rock cellist, David Downing, and we are preparing his debut album for release in early July.

Q: Any parting words?
A big thank you to Renato and The Blog That Celebrates Itself for the opportunity to let your readers get to know me and my music. Até mais ver .
*
*
*
Thanks Ric

http://prevrat.bandcamp.com

http://facebook.com/Prevrat

http://youtube.com/user/prevratmusic/videos

Insect Guide with Suzy Blu - An Interview

Sem muito blá blá, o Insect Guide simplesmente despontou há alguns anos atrás como um dos prediletos deste que vos escreve, vocais sexies, guitarras barulhentas, ambientacão dark, um verdadeiro pout pourri para admiradores do shoegazer e pos punk, mas simplesmente sumiram, desapareceram e ficamos orfãos.

Mas, eis que Miss Suzy retorna com seu mais novo projeto, Suzy Blu, menos barulhento, mais dancante e tã o sexy quanto o Insect Guide, agora Miss Su vem mais provocante, mas não se engane o barulho que a garota faz continua sedutor.

Leia e apaixone-se

***** Interview with Suzy Blu *****

Q. When did Suzy Blu, tell us about the history...
I think I've always been SuzyBlu! Whatever band I play in and whoever else I work with and whatever style of music I need to make, I am always me. my style shifts and adapts based on what is happening in my life and to the people around me. My world is really important to me and I find other people very interesting to write about. I love the way they interact with each other and the relationships they have with me so writing music and poetry to reflect that is the only way that I know how to express all of those stories and emotions and passions. With this Suzy Blu stuff I'm really enjoying making good dark electronic pop music...I'm not sure what that says about my world at the moment!

Q: Who are your influences?
Like most artists I've got broad tastes. I find it difficult to believe that you could possible be creative if you're narrow minded. Musically the things I've listened to in the past week are Sonic Youth, Team Ghost, Leonard Cohen, OMD, Cyprus Hill, Blondie, Pink Floyd...that will all change next week though!
My current reading is 'Careless People' by Sarah Churchwell, 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks and I dip in and out of the writings of Dorothy Parker constantly.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
No! I can't do that. It's too difficult. I've been raised around music, my dad collects music and we have a room in my parents' house called the Record Room where there is nothing but music, so for me I've always been surrounded by songs and albums. To narrow it down to five albums would be far too difficult for me! I would be filled with regret the second I listed anything.

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Playing live is such a thrilling part of making music! Songs change over time when you play live and take on a bit of a life of their own. Naturally the expression of songs changes as our lives change and thats exciting. Plus there's nothing better than getting out there, nice and close to the audience, sometimes too close!

Q. How do you describe Suzy Blu sounds?
Electronic dark pop gaze music? I tend to let other people decide what it sounds like..unless they're wrong! Then I'm mortally offended. I can be very difficult!

Q: Tell us about the process of recording songs?
For me it starts with a poem and an expression and someone's story. Stan and I write the songs together. We hole up in a room and make sounds till we're happy and excited. If we're not excited then we write something else.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
Team Ghost from Paris. They play amazing songs and when we supported them live in Leeds they played a drum machine with so much passion it made me want to get on stage and join in (don't worry I didn't!).

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
We recently did a cover of Last Night by the Strokes because we were playing a tour on the East Coast of America and we wanted to pay tribute to a song and a moment in history. We play it differently to them but that's an accident! It was a lot if fun playing it live on tour and it's a nice moment when an audience suddenly recognises that you're doing a cover version.
http://suzyblu.bandcamp.com/track/last-night-2

Q: What´s the plans for future....
I want to play lots of gigs all over the world and spend lots of nights writing songs with Stan whilst we drink rum and my dog runs around us. I'd like a new drum machine as well (not a hint!)

Q: Any parting words?
Now I'm going to play music you can dance to...and you should.
*
*
*
Thanks

http://suzyblu.tumblr.com
http://youtu.be/ELPntLFpfVs
http://suzyblu.bandcamp.com