terça-feira, 1 de março de 2016

Size and Scale with Whales - An Interview


Seguindo a tradição da guitar bandas dos 90´s, leia-se Yo La Tengo, Mazzy Star, Velocity Girl, e a lista poderia ser interminável, o quarteto de Chicago, Whales já tem um vasto currículo, com dois belos álbuns e alguns EP´s e singles em seus mais de 6 anos de trabalhos dedicados a purificação sonora de nossos tímpanos.

O mais recente é The Music of Sound, Ep, que segue a cartilha de seus trabalhos anteriores, guitarras e vocais em perfeita sintonia, destaque para a maravilhosa Strange Connection.

Uma iguaria sonora.

***** Interview with Whales *****


Q. When did Whales start? Tell us about the history...
We started in 2009 or 2010. It happened at a now-defunct DIY space in Chicago called Union Rock Yards. During a show my friend, Allen, noted that we should start a noise rock band. From there he brought in his friends, Mike and Maigin, and then things got a bit swirly. We started-off immediately paying attention to melody and traditional song structures with a spacey/psych angle instead of pummeling rhythms. We still fucked with the program, but added a lot of beauty into the mix with our self-titled debut, a few singles and sophomore full-length. Then came a change in lineup; Allen left, we picked-up Ryan, and The Music of Sound ep is a result of that restructuring. Life keeps on happening, though, and Ryan had to bail shortly after those sessions. We just picked-up our new and final guitarist, Michael Agustin, and we are over the moon to develop new material.

Q: Who are your influences?
We don't have any. Often we're accused of being "90s-sounding." I get it, what with the rock format, noisy guitars, and melodic hooks. There is a lot that happens musically in a decade; I'm just pleased that people react favorably to our business. We play what we want to hear.

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
The Flaming Lips - In a Priest Driven Ambulance With Silver Sunshine Stares
Yo La Tengo - Painful
Mercury Rev - Boces

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Onstage is where the happy accidents happen. It's a lot more freeing than being in the studio. I get very uptight in a studio. I also get uptight on stage, but performing live is natural for me. I'm just an uptight human being.

Q. How do you describe Whales sounds?
The sound of soaring from the top of a very tall building.


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
It's always different. The only constant is that the song will definitely change form in the studio. With, The Music of Sound, it was a very loose and whatever-happens-happens process. We are never prepared; it's part of our charm.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
The reformation of Air Formation is fucking right-on, and I am also loving Pity Sex. Other new bands completely deserving of your attention are The Rutabega, Lardo, Mint Mile, Out, Hungry Man, Motherfucker, Fake Limbs, Nonagon, Whelms...so many great bands making great music within the confines of rock, noise rock, psych-rock, and then obliterating them. Never has there been a better time to have a working set of ears.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
"Starchart" by Pasteboard. I would give that song the loving attention it deserves.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
As of this moment a third full-length and hopefully some touring behind it.

Q: Any parting words?
Serve the song.
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Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/WhalesMusic/
https://whalesmusic.bandcamp.com