SXSW Interviews: Babehoven
Hang on to your hats ladies and gents! If you thought we hit you last week, well then get ready for even more previews and interviews this week as we draw ever closer to SXSW week. Please tell me you’ve started to make a list of bands you need to see? Of course we will have you prepared either way so no worries. Today I am happy to share with you an interview from Hudson, NY based outfit Babehoven. Hit the jump for the full interview and some tunes.
Band members Maya Bon and Ryan Albert both answers our questions.
ATH: Whats the name of the band/group? Where are you from?
BH: Our name is Babehoven. We are based in Hudson, NY.
ATH: Describe your groups sound.
BH: We are an indie rock band with twinges of country, lofi, and experimental sounds.
ATH: What was your most recent release? Any planned releases for 2022?
BH: Our most recent release was our single “Get Better”, which we released February 8th. We will be releasing our upcoming EP, Sunk, on March 4th with Double Double Whammy!
ATH: Everyones been focused on the negative aspects of the last few years? What are a few good things that came about for you as an individual or the band as a whole during the last two pandemic-stricken years?
BH: The past few years have been very important for us as a band; because of quarantine, we were able to record Nastavi, CalliopeandSunkin near total isolation while we lived in Vermont. Since we were able to devote so much time to these EP’s, Ryan (my co-producer and partner) and I learned a lot more about recording and producing together and felt that we were able to find our groove in a totally new way.
ATH: Why play SXSW? Whats the draw for the band? What about this festival will bring you to Austin?
BH: We are so excited to play SXSW! This is our first year playing and we are feeling very grateful to get to be included in such a special festival. We are most looking forward to showcasing our new EP, hearing lots of new music, meeting new friends, and exploring Austin!
ATH: Lets say your band has booked an official showcase at a pop up venue somewhere in the middle of 6th street. The lineup features thrash metal, hip-hop, spoken word, and you. The sound is horrible, the lineup is not your style, and the crowd is growing ancy. How would your band deal with such a situation?
BH: We would probably be bummed but we’d try to put our best selves forward and bring our all to the performance.
ATH: There are tons of bands coming into town, but if you could create your own perfect festival, who would you have playing? Would it have a sick name? Where would it take place?
BH: Festival name: “Big Time House Show Fun Day Festival Music At Our House.” We would have a festival at our house because we love to be at home. We’d have all of our friends from all over the country come play. Headlining would be: Dur-Dur Band, Duster, Big Thief, with a fire side performance by Mount Eerie.
ATH: What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?
BH: We’ve been listening to the new Big Thief album a lot. We listen to our friend Douglas Lee’s albumThemes for Falling Down Stairswhile we play games at home. We’ve been listening to John Martyn a lot, especiallyCouldn’t Love You More.
ATH: Theres been a lot of discussion about Spotify and streaming and all that these last few monthswhere does the band stand? Whats your solution?
BH: I feel conflicted around this issue because I obviously agree that streaming implies that music doesn’t have the inherent value that I believe it does have, but I feel very grateful for streaming platforms like Spotify because they are, in large part, the reason we are relatively known, especially given that for a few years we were not able to perform live. That being said, I think that the streaming dilemma is a microcosmic example of the ways that capitalism is a snake eating its own tail and we will constantly be undermining ourselves and our worth in a system that fundamentally focuses on finding ways to cut corners constantly.
Thanks again to both Maya and Ryan for making the time for us! See ya’ll in March.