Archive for the ‘Features’ Category

An interview with Nathaniel Carroll

Indie pop musician Nathaniel Carroll performs in Hurricane, Utah / MusicGeek.org, Matthew MontgomeryNathaniel Carroll, indie pop pianist, guitarist, and vocalist, is preparing a new album for release at some point in the future. While awaiting the release, take a listen to two tracks, “You’ll Make a Killing” and “A Lie Worth Living,” which he provided for your listening. The tracks, among his most musically mature and best-recorded, feature Carroll’s signature genuine, heartfelt songwriting.

MusicGeek.org previously conducted an interview with Nathaniel Carroll in October, 2005. His music can be purchased at his web site.

Nathaniel Carroll — “You’ll Make a Killing” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/youll-make-a-killing.mp3]

Nathaniel Carroll — “A Lie Worth Living” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/a-lie-worth-living.mp3]

What’s the status on your new album?

Slow and steady wins the race.  I’d be vain if I told you that I planned on it taking over two years to record my new album, as if I’ve been carefully crafting some masterpiece in my secret underground lair.  In actuality, this album is one of many flaming chainsaws in my juggling routine.  I have the skeleton tracks (drums, piano or guitar, vocals) recorded for 10 songs, and I have 2 songs that are “good enough.”  I’ve enclosed them in this electronic correspondence for your leaking pleasure.  If track lists mean anything to anyone these days, here’s one that looks cool in my head:

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An interview with The Raintree

The Raintree / Photo courtesy of The RaintreeThe Raintree is a folk/acoustic artist hailing from Phoenix, Arizona. Ryan Osterman, once a member of The Maine, is now a solo artist with an incredible voice and amazing talent. With a hint of influence from artists like Bright Eyes, The Raintree won’t disappoint.

The Raintree — “Pairs” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/pairs.mp3]

Who are the main influences on your music?:
Well, honestly, just life and love — the people that bring about the sheer joy and accentuate the beauty in all of my surroundings. My musical influences vary and flux quite a bit and often, but I’ve always been a fan of Third Eye Blind, Goo Goo Dolls, Maria Taylor, Bright Eyes, Stars, Jimmy Eat World, etc. I could go on for a while, so I’ll spare you, but a lot of it has to do with what a band or song reminds me of. I embed memories within each song I listen to. Just about anything could influence me.

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An interview with Chairs in the Arno

Chairs in the Arno Chairs in the Arno, a synth-driven indie pop band in the vein of Barcelona, answer a few questions from MusicGeek.org regarding their music, their future, and the reception of their release, File Folder. Chairs in the Arno have previously been the subject of a MusicGeek.org spotlight.

Chairs in the Arno — “Size Thirty” | download
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/chairsinthearno-sizethirty.mp3]

You seem to occupy the same general music area as, say, Barcelona and Sprites. How much affinity do you hold to them, and how influential were they in your musical development as a group?

Jeff Excell and Becca Hsu: We are all really big fans of Barcelona. No other band was making such simple but genius synth-pop music. Their singer, Jason Korzen, who later went onto form the Sprites, basically made it seem “ok” to write lyrics about simple and enjoyable things. I would say they had quite an impact on the making of all our music. A couple years ago, Jason made a comment about how we were his “new favorite band” on MySpace. I think we all freaked out about it and almost peed our pants with excitement. Barcelona and the Sprites are WAY underated.

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Music Geek #3: Shoegaze, Famicom-style — The Depreciation Guild offers synthesizers with lush guitar work

Matthew Montgomery wears funny glasses in a Cedar City, Utah park.In the time since the writing and subsequent posting of my previous column, in which I probed for quality shoegaze, I have been offered a small variety of options by which I might discover more of this music I’ve found myself so enamored with.

First, I must offer my appreciation to those who answered my call; the suggestions have been greatly appreciated, and I’m putting effort into exploring these artists more.

In my own search, I’ve found some interesting things. The first is a group I discovered not terribly long after admitting to the internet that I was — and still am — on the clueless side of things as far as proper shoegaze is concerned. The group, The Depreciation Guild, is composed of two musicians and a certain device entertainment-happy children in the mid-1980s and, indeed, most anyone who’s spent time in the confines of American popular culture: the Famicom, or, as it’s more popularly known in the United States, the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The Depreciation Guild – “Butterfly Kisses”
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/butterflykisses.mp3]

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An interview with The Gorgeous Hussies

The Gorgeous Hussies / Courtesy of The Gorgeous Hussies, photo by Danny CarverThe Gorgeous Hussies, the previous subject of a MusicGeek.org spotlight, talk to MusicGeek.org regarding their music, their upcoming release, the recording process, and Salt Lake City.

The Gorgeous Hussies – “What Fool Would Feel”
[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/track4_what-fool-would-feel.mp3]

Most anybody can listen to music and appreciate it, but it takes a certain kind of person to desire to create it. What influences you to create music?

Ryan Smith: There are a couple of things that drive me to create music: First is desire to play in general. The energy and natural high you get from performing is addicting. In that sense it is more intense and especailly gratifying when you create the music yourself. Anyone can play covers, but playing music you have created, and that people enjoy, is the main reason for creation. The second reason is just to drive ourselves to be better musicians. I like the fact that in this band I can play a few different styles. We are a rock group and since so much has been done with that genre it is hard to come up with new and creative music. It is a great challenge we are taking head on!

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Music Geek #2: Does good shoegaze still exist?

Matthew Montgomery wears funny glasses in a Cedar City, Utah park.After writing a rather useless column — “Football and post-rock” — I thought it may just be time to venture again into the range of uselessness and write another useless column, so as I might best continue my run of things here.

Now, I hate to admit that I may just be aiming for something that’s not totally desirable: Uselessness, you might say, is bad. I’m not convinced, but for the sake of argument, let’s assume that, yes, things should have some sort of utility. I hope, then, that these columns, despite being useless on the very surface, will be found as something that provides at least something. What that something is, we have yet to see.

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An interview with Waxwall Afterglow

Photo courtesy of Waxwall AfterglowMatthew Montgomery interviewed Waxwall Afterglow, a band from Henderson, Nev.

Waxwall Afterglow – “Floating Family Tree”

[audio:http://www.musicgeek.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/floatingfamilytree.mp3]

How would you describe the music you create?
Very intimate. The music we write strikes very deep roots for me. I’d say it’s the closest thing to self therapy for me. Whether I’m writing about the monotony of everyday life that I see people living or about the end of the world or space both lyrically and musically, it’s all pretty much communicating my feelings about how I envision life and the universe. Weaving in and out of sci-fi and real life instances, and then there are just songs about people. I guess to sum it up, I just want to write the soundtrack to the world and universe.

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Music Geek #1: Football and post-rock

Matthew Montgomery wears funny glasses in a Cedar City, Utah park.So, I’ve spent a fair amount of time over the past few days at home with my parents, watching no small amount of television — rotting my brain, if you will. I’m not going to complain, as I do not often watch much television at all, so this break from my normally busy life has been much appreciated. Thanksgiving, thank you!

At any rate, much of the television I’ve been watching has been, well, football. Now, now, don’t fret — I haven’t been watching American football, or gridiron, as the Australian folks call it. No, I’ve been watching two forms of football I find quite enjoyable: association football, or, to most Yanks, soccer, and rugby union — as opposed to rugby league. (more…)