Features / One Question Interviews

Tim Smolens (High Castle Teleorkestra – bass/co-producer) 
 
SPB: What stands out to you the most, today, when you listen to your first record?

Smolens: My first album was with a band we called Don Salsa which was my high school band. The album was called Koolaide Moustache in Jonestown. Some of the members of Don Salsa went …

Antti (Mustasuo)

SPB: How do the folks from Mustasuo react when they hear the kind of music you play under the moniker of their district?

Mustasuo: I doubt most people in Mustasuo (the district) have even heard of our band, or if they have, they're keeping their opinions to themselves. I actually know just one guy who lives …

By The Spirits

SPB: Prior to putting this re-release together, when was the last time you revisited the bonus tracks that you ultimately chose to include?

By The Spirits: Bonus tracks included in the re-release of “We Are Falling” before the actual release were just sketches created after the original release of We Are Falling back in 2018. …

Sarah Mary Chadwick

SPB: Do any of your musician friends have tinnitus?

Chadwich: Tinnitus? I barely knew him!

Cédric (Icare)

SPB: Charogne was written to be played live. Playing a 43-minute piece live seems like quite the task. Was the song intended like this or did it evolve into one epic piece (and a real challenge to be played live)?

Cédric: Charogne was always meant to be made up of one song only. At the end …

Inkswel

What are your favorite music mediums/rank the following: cd, vinyl, cassette, digital, (other)?

Vinyl: 

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with vinyl for over 20 years. I used to be a vinyl-only DJ, I used to work in record stores, and now I run a record label. Vinyl has such an authentic and beautiful quality to it, …

Shaylee

SPB: What song would you want played at your funeral?

Shaylee: Hmm, my funeral? I've never given it much thought, but the first one that comes to mind is "Motion Picture Soundtrack" by Radiohead. The organ on the track feels very reminiscent of a funeral procession, and the lyrics about how "it's not like the movies" would …

Gus Englehorn

SPB: Assuming the album name, Dungeon Master, is a D&D allusion: what is your favorite pop-culture reference during the recent D&D revival?

Englehorn: I got the name for the album from this guy who came up to me after a show I played. He told me that my lyrics reminded him of playing Dungeons and …

Vanum

SPB: Is there a particular record you’ve heard this year that surprised you? In a good or a bad way?

Vanum: The Vanum group text thread is a real treasure trove for sharing exciting records that we find (generally older stuff), but I don't think any contemporary record has elicited as much collective excitement as The Higher …

Daniel (Love Forty Down)

SPB: What is the meaning behind the band name?

Daniel: Our band name is quite obviously a reference to a Frank Turner song. Love Forty Down is the score in a tennis match (0:40). It means, that our opponent is only missing one point to win the game but we have not lost quite …

LonelyTwin

SPB: What venue is your favorite to play and why?

LonelyTwin: I haven’t played a lot with my project yet unfortunately but I’ve played guitar with a lot of other artists, mainly here in Stockholm and I think my favorite is Debaser Strand. It’s one of the oldest spots here and it just has a really great …

Aaron Charles (Falls of Rauros)

SPB: What is your favorite part of the recording process?

Charles: Recording is probably my single favorite part of being a musician. You not only get to hear tangible results of your hard work, but there's also a chance to indulge in some off-the-cuff creativity in the studio. I love the whole experience …

Doe Paoro

SPB: If you could experiment in any one genre that’s far removed from what you do now, what would it be?

Paoro: If I could experiment in any genre that's far removed from what I do now, I think I would play with country music. I imagine that I would learn a lot from a songwriting …

Ben Wixson (Bend – bass)

SPB: What model of bass do you play and how did you choose it?

Wixson: For the past 20 years or so I have sworn by the Music Man Stingray bass, which has been made by Ernie Ball for decades. The first time I ever heard one of these basses live was watching …

Teddy Panopoulos (Dead Waves)

SPB: Tell us about how you captured the sound on Abandoned Children.

Teddy: Like usual, we wanted to use everything we own on this new Dead Waves release and brought back some acoustic drums and percussion which our last release didn't have.

For the first picture, I have my Ancient Lyre - …

Vali S.C (Kenny Elkin)

SPB: Is there any vinyl you own strictly for collector’s purposes but don’t listen to? 

Elkin: I do have an unopened dead kennedys “singles collection” on vinyl. I received it as a gift and don’t really feel the need to ever open it.

Tony Ash (Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends – bass)

SPB: Tell us about your bass tone and how you set things up for your work in Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends?

Ash: I want to preface this by saying, this is the moment I've been practicing for throughout the entire existence of Conan Neutron and the …

Jiffy (Night Court)

SPB: What was the first show you saw after lockdowns (any emotional takeaways)?

Jiffy: I’m actually pretty sure the first show I went to after the lockdowns was our first show so I’m gonna go all oral history here as it was definitely a memorable one for other reasons as well. 

First, I have …

Kyle Green (Bend - guitar/vocals)

SPB: How has your musical taste evolved over the years? Do you think your “high school self” would appreciate the music you make now?

Green: My musical taste is ever-evolving. In high school I was into a lot of punk and ska. I also had a huge obsession with Kurt Cobain. The music …

Sean Frasier (Wise Blood Records)

SPB: Do you accept demos? What is the most surprising demo you’ve heard?

Frasier: When I launched Wise Blood Records, I knew I wanted to support and encourage new projects along with established bands. It can make a huge difference to a band when someone is paying attention and assisting in those first …