SXSW Interview: Colourmusic

Long have we supported the guy sin Colourmusic, and as they get ready to release their new record, My _______ is Pink, we were excited to get a minute of their time before they head down to Austin for SXSW.  Here’s some solid answers from the gentlemanly Colin.

ATH:  So, you guys are preparing for the release of your new album, Pink.  What was the recording process like with this album, as opposed to the last album?  Did Nick (not Ley) have anything to do with the writing on this record? 

Colin: Nick Turner was definitely a part of the songwriting process for “My _____ is pink.”  When we began recording in January 2009, Turner was still in the states, as we had just finished touring America.  He was here until May, which was when we first toured England, so we had five months to squeeze as many ideas out of him as possible.  By the time we left for England, we already had the foundation for the majority of the songs ready to be expanded upon and then, once we felt like a song idea had become more realized than when Turner had last heard it, we would email him the track and he would reply with his critiques/ideas for development. 

Also, songs like “Beard,” “Jill & Jack (A Duet),” and “Dolphins & Unicorns” had been around even before our debut record had been released, albeit quite rough versions.  So obviously Turner played an integral part in those songs, as well as “Mono,” which Turner had written before colourmusic even existed.

As far as comparing the recording process of this record to the previous, the two are pretty much night and day.  About 90% of our debut was recorded before Nick Ley and I had joined the band and was written entirely by Ryan Hendrix and Turner.  Colourmusic had also not played live before the recording of the debut album, which helps explain why there is such a darker, denser quality to this record.  We realized during the evolution of our live show over the last five years that we enjoy high energy, somewhat brutal live shows.  I think this realization is a major part of this record, which was non-existent in the previous.

ATH:  Since you first began in Stillwater, OK, your sound, as well as your live shows, have changed drastically.  What do you attribute that change to? Was it a conscious decision to alter either of those facets?

Colin: Like I was saying during my answer to the last question, the live show simply evolved on its own and was in no way a conscious decision, other than my bringing distortion to the bass to help emphasize the low end.  It’s funny to think that our first handful of shows had no distortion on the bass – and now I can’t imagine our set without it.  As far as the theatrical side of our early live shows are concerned, we simply felt like continuing those themes with this record would take away from the music, so we decided to take a break from all of that.  Maybe one day we’ll go back down that road – perhaps not. 

As far as recording, after touring for a few years and coming back to the studio, we were all quite aware of the direction “My _____ is pink.” was heading.  We knew we wanted to make an aggressive record that still had pop-like musical qualities, and that we wanted it to sound and feel like it was a living organism, expanding and contracting. 

ATH:  Right now, what are your expectations for the new record? Do you even care, in so far as you can’t really change anything…with press and all that being mostly out of your hands?

Colin: We definitely care about how the album is received, but at the same time we keep our expectations quite low.  The reason I say that is because with our debut, the label and everyone around us were quite confident in the record becoming a moderate success.  That didn’t happen.  This time around, we’re all very proud of this record and it’s like a child to us.  You don’t want people to pick on your kid, but it’s a part of reality that it will happen.  People are going to love this record and others are going to hate it.  I can’t help that.  Honestly, I’d like it to do well enough that I could quit my job, but I’m not holding my breath, simply because I don’t want to get my hopes up at all.  I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens…

ATH:  You’re recording your solo project, and the rest of the band is busy.  What musicians do you call in to play bass/guitar/drums/keyboard?

Colin: Actually, the idea of a solo project has been put on hold for the time being.  We decided to simply move forward and start recording the next album, inspired by purple.  We’ve been working on it since May of 2010 and have around 14 demos ready for revision.  We’re hoping to have this one out by early 2012, so everyone can have a colourmusic soundtrack to the end of the world. 

When I finally do find time to work on my solo project, I’ll definitely be playing a lot of these instruments myself, but the colourmusic boys will obviously be on there, as well as our friends Other Lives.  All of these musicians are too good not to get them on there.

ATH:  We know you’ve come into Austin for SXSW many times before.  What is a Colourmusic must when you head into town? Other things you have to accomplish when you’re here in town, besides take over SXSW?

Colin: Other than hanging out with my friend with a true man-voice and his cohorts, I love going to Waterloo Records, Book People, The Clay Pot (Pit?), and this Thai restaurant on 6th Street whose name I can’t remember.  Those are my only musts, the rest of the time I just enjoy whatever Austin and its inhabitants throw my way.  It’s such a cool city, there’s always something new to check out every time I’m there.

ATH:  2011 looks to be a really exciting year for Colourmusic.  What do you guys already have planned out, and what are you most excited about, be it as a band, or on a more personal level?

Colin: Well we are planning on going to Europe in May, which is very exciting.  Hopefully when we get back and the record’s been out for a month we’ll be touring America shortly thereafter.  I’m ready to get out there and see all the friends we’ve made while on tour, plus our friends we grew up with that live in other parts of the world. 

I personally am excited about finally holding a vinyl copy of our record, which is hopefully going to be printed on pink vinyl.  I think that’s when this whole process feels real and official for me:  being able to hold my own vinyl.  Makes me smile just thinking about it.

ATH:  Looking back at your career, either as a band, or a musician, what are some of the things you’re most proud to have been a part of, or other such highlights?

Colin: The obvious is being in this band.  I never thought when I started playing guitar 16 years ago that I’d actually be crossing an ocean to tour a record I helped create.  I hoped for such things, but I never thought they would manifest into reality. 

I’m also proud to be a part of the new Other Lives album, which will be coming out this year.  Jesse Tabish, the helmsman of the group, asked me to sing backup vocals on a few songs and I absolute love being a part of such a remarkable record.  Quite the honor.

ATH:  A lot of people probably don’t know that despite being a small college town, Stillwater, for the most part, has had a vibrant music scene for some time.  How do you think its managed to survive in such a small town? And, what’s your favorite part of being one of the band’s in that scene.

Colin: I think the reason a scene has been able to survive in this town is hidden in the town’s collective mental state.  It’s a college town that has no idea it’s a college town.  The majority of its citizens and students are conservatives who like to go for broke all week, then feel shameful on Sundays; but then you have these small pockets of forward-thinking, artistic students (basically the philosophy/english/art majors) and townies (deadbeat musicians) who survive together in such an environment as conservative Stillwater. 

Another reason I think Stillwater is such a creative place, especially for musicians, is because there is nothing else to do in this town but be creative.  This is a main reason why I love calling this town home.  Because there is so little going on here, you have to entertain yourself.  So I go downtown and work on music.  That’s why bands still come out of this place.  To keep your sanity, you have to write and create and perform.

You can catch these bros Wednesday, March 16th @ Friends @ 9 PM