Aside from our mutual love for rhythm sections and fellow music whores, Chad and JT of Paper Route and I have a lot in common. After a lil drama with the my backstage pass (it happens), we got settled in their trailer and talked about their current tour, their solid EP, 'Are We All Forgotten,' and the full length album that they are hoping to release early next year. I just hope they weren't offended by my potty mouth...I do that a lot.
KTM: I know you guys are working on new album and touring for the latest EP. Is the band's writing and recording process any different this time around?
JT: We used to do a lot of live writing before. We were more focused on our sound. With the addition of Gavin, our new drummer, the whole process is more of a collaboration. We're writing more as a group.
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KTM: You guys have been doing a lot more touring recently. How has the whole experience been for you guys? Is there a show or venue that stole your heart and has become a favorite?
Chad: We've had the opportunity to play and visit a lot of cities that we haven't played before. One of the most memorable shows we played was Emo's in Austin. The energy was amazing.
JT: It's been really cool. We've noticed a lot of people singing along to our songs.
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KTM: I immediately fell in love with your sound. It's really killer delivery of trip-hop and shoe gaze music, in my opinion. Does this comparison bother you?
Chad: No. We LOVE it. We're drawn to music that you can day dream to and get lost in. I think both of those genres are natural to us. We're huge fans of old school trip hop artists like Bristol and Portishead. It's more about mood and not the style. We have a lot of respect for the integrity that they posses.
JT: When they're singing, they're actually saying something. When they're not singing, the music swallows you - without any lyrics.
Chad: We love beats!
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KTM: How long have you guys been together?
Chad: We've only been together for about a year and a half.
KTM: Wow. I'm impressed. You guys have gotten pretty far in that short amount of time. How has the journey been for you guys so far?
Chad: We started at home with our laptops in our bedrooms. It later evolved into playing shows. We've pretty much went into the studio and tried to teach ourselves how to record. Maybe in a year we'll try something bigger. It's a challenge.
JT: Yea. It was like, "Okay, go and figure it out." (laughs) Then, it was like, we actually have to figure it out! (laughs)
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KTM: Have you guys had any formal training as musicians?
Chad: I grew up in a musical family. I got my first keyboard when I was 14 and I'm still playing it. Same one. (laughs)
JT: I'm pretty much self taught. It definitely has its pros and cons.
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KTM: I'm not going to lie - I thought the line up tonight was a joke. I thought, "A band this good CANNOT be playing with these bands! (bands shall remain nameless because I'm feeling kind of nice today)." But I understand that this is a pretty nice tour to be on and it will, hopefully, expose you and your music to some listeners with good musical taste. How's it been for you so far?
Chad: This is our third show into the tour. Eventually, we'd love to open up for like Sonic Youth or something... or like the bands that we liked in high school and middle school that are still doing their thing today, like Radiohead. We're kind of in discovery mood with our current tour mates. It's been cool.
KTM: Dayum. You don't fuck around!
(laughs)
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KTM: So you guys are a pretty young band. How important do you feel it is for you, or any band, to have the team of managers, PR camp and label support?
Chad: I don't think a label is necessary. They definitely can fast forward things, but for us, it's been great. We're in complete control.
JT: It's the first time that these things have been an option. We just have always gravitated towards people that have been really excited about the music. That's what counts.
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KTM: Lately, it seems like a lot of artists are making their money from licensing their music. How commercial do you feel your sound is? Do you feel like you guys can bank on that?
JT: We're like a pop version of a lot of the old school trip hop bands. I don't know if we'll fit in. It's weird. I remember when I first heard Nirvana on the radio. Things are not like that anymore.
Chad: "Pop" music used to have a lot of integrity. We have no predictions on what will happen for us, though. If something changed, we'd be happy.
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KTM: How's the new album coming along? Are you mixing down and mastering the tracks yet?
Chad: We're still writing and recording.
KTM: Are you guys able to get some writing done while on tour?
Chad: No new material has been written so far. It's hard with the schedules we have.
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KTM: So what's the deal with these lil YouTube commercials you have up?
JT: I've always wanted to put as much visual art up as possible.
KTM: Why these shorter commercials versus music videos?
JT: I just think it gives the listeners what our vision of the song is and still gives them the chance to day dream to the music.
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KTM: So who do you want to reach out to with your music?
Chad: (slowly pointing to me) YOU!
KTM: I don't count. I'm a music whore.
(laughs)
JT: Well, then people like you.
KTM: So whores like me?
(laughs)
Chad: Yea! We've actually been a little surprised at the age groups that we've been attracting.
JT: I would have to say college age group. You know, people our age that are falling in and out of love. People that are still trying to figure out if they believe in God and religion.
KTM: My fave track on the newest EP is "Are We All Forgotten" - what's that about?
JT: Andy wrote that. He's talking about how hard it is to actually believe in God.
Chad: We talk about heavier subject matters and issues.
KTM: Keep talking honey, 'cuz I'm listening!
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