1.0 – What’s the best thing about your latest release, the new The Pear Traps EP, Elsewhere?
It’s different than our previous EPs. The first 2 were home recordings that we did by ourselves which is mainly why they took on the lo-fi sound. Elsewhere is our first “studio” recording and although we kept it uncomplicated, it’s easy to hear the difference.
2.0 – Did you have a sound in mind when you starting recording it or did it evolve?
We completed the songs before actually recording them and knew how we wanted them to sound through our amps/drums/etc, but did not have any idea how it was going to turn out after recording.
we did the recording and mixing ourselves on the early recordings, so we had total control of the sound. This time we had someone else (Jamie from Carterco here in Chicago) do the recording, mixing and mastering on legitimate equipment (as opposed to our karaoke microphones) and it was definitely a change.
We finished recording in 2 days and then Jamie spent another day or so mixing. During the mixing process Jamie was definitely leaning towards a cleaner, more professional sound and then when we heard the early mixes, we were always like “put more effects on that, make it more lo-fi!” I think in the end it actually did evolve into a very happy medium and we could’nt be happier with Jamie’s help and input to give Elsewhere its full sound.
3.0 – Do you consider branding & image as part of the artistic process?
In my opinion branding and image are part of the business process, not artistic. If you know us or have seen us play a show it’s pretty easy to see that we put zero effort or thought into branding and/or image. We are 5 friends playing music together because it’s fun and we like playing. Not to try and make money or get big or anything like that. Probably because we’re old enough to realize that we do this to have fun at practice every week and play out. If we ever decided to start focusing on our image or try to be anything other than what we are, I think the enjoyment of us being in this band would go down dramatically.
4.0 – When did you start writing songs and what was your first?
I started writing about 3 or 4 years ago, right before we became a band. I’ve always been a guitar player and never really thought about singing or writing songs – I actually prefer just hanging out and playing guitar in the background. But over the years I’d come up with ideas for songs that I thought were OK, run them by the singer and nothing would ever come of them. After not playing in a band for a little while and not finding anything that I was very interested in I started trying to complete ideas for songs by myself and eventually started singing. I figured out how to program drums, record/mix audio, and just started messing around with songs in my apartment. My first finished song was called “Ways to Doubt.” It’s actually not that terrible and the thought of giving it a shot with The Pear Traps comes up every once in a while.
5.0 – Do you have a philosophy when it comes to writing?
No, not really. If I’m ever at home not doing anything I’m usually messing around on my guitar. If something happens to sound all right I record it. Or tell myself I’ll remember how it goes but then usually forget about it. If I come across the recorded guitar parts again (sometimes days or weeks later after I’ve forgotten I recorded anything) and it sounds decent I’ll try to put lyrics to them. Very little effort or thought goes into the lyrics. To me vocals are primarily just another melodic part to the music. Ideally the lyrics end up clever or interesting but as long as they don’t seem extremely contrived or cheesy I’m usually OK with what comes out.
6.0 – And what about the stage and playing live?
Stage presence is another thing we don’t really put too much effort into. It’s kind of the same thing as image, if we ever had to try to act or be a certain way on stage that wasn’t natural to us, I don’t think we would want to play out. We have fun playing shows together so I imagine that comes across to the audience, which is all I would really hope for.
7.0 – How did you catch the rock & roll bug originally?
Possibly a little cliché but it was when I heard “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. I think I was in 4th grade and had always really been into music but when I heard that guitar intro it just blew me away. I think my actual logic was that if I learned how to play guitar I could learn those songs and then I could hear them whenever I wanted to instead of waiting for them to come on the radio. My dad was very musical and supported my interest in learning an instrument but we didn’t have much money so he made a deal with me that for every chore I did I got a dollar saved towards my guitar and after 100 dollars were saved up he’d buy me one. Couple months later I had myself a very cheap, used white electric guitar and I was ecstatic.
8.0 – Did you have to work at it or does it come naturally?
I was not natural at all, it took a lot of effort for me to be a passable guitar player. I’m just very stubborn.
9.0 – What’s your favorite record of all-time?
Possibly another cliché but I’ve honestly got to say The Beatles’ White Album. It was kind of funny because when I was younger I literally went through my Beatles phase in chronological order. At first I really liked the poppy mop top love songs even though it was completely dorky and my friends would give me shit for it. Then heard Revolver and thought it was just amazing. Then got my hands on an Abbey Road tape and would listen to it on repeat. Then one year for Christmas my mom bought me the White Album. I remember listening to it lying in bed and feeling disgusted at how perfect everything they did was- no matter what genre they played in. I actually remember hearing Dear Prudence for the first time and wanting to quit guitar because I knew there was never any way I could play something that great.
10.0 – What was the first concert you attended and what do you remember most about it today?
This one is not so cliché. My dad liked country and about the time I was listening to Nevermind over and over he took me to a Randy Travis concert. I actually had tears in my eyes because I hated it so much.
CHICAGO 'N BEYOND 