SXSW 2015 Interview: Moon Duo
Moon Duo is prepping the release of their new album, Shadow of the Sun, and with that, they’ll also be coming into Austin to show off their new jams…based on this interview, you might get to hear them all. I highly suggest you check these guys out; I’ve been impressed both times I’ve seen them. They craft their shows specifically to fit their music, so you’re getting an experience, more than just a good old fashioned rock show. Check out what they had to say below.
ATH: I’m always interested in the stories of the influences are your album, like the Emerson nod for Circles. Was there a thematic decision that came to light before recording Shadow of the Sun?
MD: I was reading existential and dystopian fiction at the time. I think coming out of the winter, and also being on the road so much, I was having a bit of an existential moment. So I was looking for a little understanding in books. Simone de Beauvoir’s All Men Are Mortal made a big impact. And the song Ice on the album is a direct reference to Ana Kavan’s dystopian classic Ice.
ATH: This also appears to be the first album where you’ve got another musician recording the music with you, John Jeffrey. How has having a third influence changed the sound, or impacted the recording of the new LP?
MD: I’m not sure. We had become really comfortable working with John on the road, so it didn’t seem that different. I tend to write the songs around beats, so we weren’t exactly jamming things out. But he’s such a fantastic drummer, he was able to record very quickly, which we like to do, and was up for any challenge.
ATH: And…along the recording line…why always mix in Berlin? Is there a draw to the city, or a connection, or simply the best man for the job?
MD: We have our man there, Jonas Verwijnen at Kaiku Studios, but also I think going to a different place to mix is really helpful for us. Obviously the vibe is very different in Berlin, but also taking the time to travel, to get some space from the recordings. Also, we’ve mixed each of our albums twice. I think maybe we just need that extra step.
ATH: Traditionally, SXSW was a showcase for musicianship and discovery (not the alluded to party free for all it’s been labeled as of late). You’re likely to get 30-40 minutes to impress new fans…what songs from Shadow of the Sun make the cut in the live set? Or do you just blast through them all?
MD: I think we could blast through most of them! We’ll probably leave a couple out. Some of the songs are really jammers, and we like to stretch out a bit on those. We’ll certainly do Animal, Slow Down Low, Night Beat, a few more.
ATH: I’m a label junkie, so I love band’s that stay in a certain place (label-wise) for a long time. Do you feel a certain camaraderie to the other acts on Sacred Bones? Ever have a dream label you’d like to maybe do a one-off with?
MD: It’s a bit like distant cousins. I don’t think they have any other bands in our neck of the woods and we don’t get to NY that often.
Sacred Bones is our dream label! Really, I can’t think of a cooler label right now. In the past, maybe ESP-Disk or P.S.F.
ATH: The last time I caught you guys was at a festival (Psych Fest). What’s the difference, if any, to the connection you try to make with the audience depending upon the setting? Small venue versus large venue?
MD: At a festival so many things are out of our control, so it can be really good (which I think was the case at Psych Fest), or a disaster, depending on set time, stage location, general vibe, etc… For small venues, it’s easier to connect directly with the audience. I think it was Jerry Garcia who said about the Dead: we’re not performers; we do our thing and people can come along for the ride. For better or worse, we’re kind of that way. We try to create a certain atmosphere, with lights and video, then mostly focus on the music. Of course SXSW is a whole other animal.
ATH: And, since you’ve been to Austin before, are there any particular spots you’re looking forward to hitting up while visiting?
MD: We’re staying near South Congress, so I imagine I’ll walk down there and get a Belgian Bomber and some breakfast tacos from Jo’s, hit up some vintage shops for western shirts, maybe check out boots at Allen’s, then get sucked into Guerro’s for that queso dip. Would love any recommendations though, especially for good food!