Does the visual image come first - or does the visual representation arrive later to illustrate the music?
The music always comes first. My video art, however, has been driving new music out of me in my solo project. It's definitely more abstract and electronic. I do video installations in collaborative, multimedia performances. There are a few shows coming up, check out abstractmachines.net. That's me.
How has the Death Birds album been received?
It's surprising to us how much people like this record. We have received some excellent reviews. We had only played together for 10 months when we recorded it, and everyone except me, including our producer Rob, was sick when it was recorded. People would throw up in the bathroom and then lay down their tracks. It was recorded very quickly, probably 10 days total. It was our first record. A Romance of Numbers will be better.
What is the audience reaction to your shows. What feedback do you get?
A lot of people think we play to sequencing/programmed music. Menomena has also mentioned that a lot of people think they play to sequencing, when they just create a lot of sound for three people. A lot of people also think we hire a video artist or videographer. The video installation is much more stark and modern/postmodern, than psychedelic. It's all digital. It definitely looks nothing like 'trippy' or 'psychedelic' video. A friend described the video as 'metropolitan' looking. ha!
Has Oregon got a thriving experimental scene or are you out there on a limb?
It's weird booking shows because, we're ‘heavy’ and ‘experimental’ but also really ‘poppy’. A lot of bands do either/or. Touring, with current fuel prices, is very expensive, so you have to be selective.
There are a whole host of styles successfully meshed within the tracks from say, “You Give Yourself Away” to “Darkness is Light”, that has a lovely eastern vibe, ranging from multi-layered to minimalistic. What music and art are you particularly inspired by?
For me, it's impossible to separate concepts from the senses, visual to auditory and emotional. So far as influences, I can't speak for the rest of the band, but I'm influenced by Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Radiohead, Stereolab, Joy Division, Pink Floyd (Waters era), and art that is stark and modern.
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