SXSW Interviews: Ceramic Animal

SXSW is underway, and with that, we’ve got one more interview to get up for you. Today we’ve got Ceramic Animal answering our questions. The band just dropped their great new record, Sweet Unknown, last week, which you can stream right below. Indulge yourself, then read more about the group after the jump.

ATH: Whats the name of the band/group? Where are you from?

CA: Ceramic Animal, from the lovely, historic Doylestown, PA.

ATH: Describe your groups sound.

CA: An exploration of 70s psych & glitter rock with hints of Nashville twang and a splash of soul.

ATH: What was your most recent release? Any planned releases for 2022?

CA: Our 4th album Sweet Unknown comes out this week March 4th, 2022 via our label Easy Eye Sound.

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?

CA: We caught the eye (ear) of Dan Auerbach who signed us to his label: Easy Eye Sound. Chris got to fly down to Nashville a handful of times to write with Dan and other awesome songwriters. Then we got to spend a couple weeks in Dans Nashville studio recording the tracks with Dan (the legend himself) as producer.

We feel blessed to have had that much time to work with Dan and the Easy Eye gang on this album. If it werent for Covid slowing everything down, I dont know that we would have had the same opportunity.

ATH: Why play SXSW? Whats the draw for the band? What about this festival will bring you to Austin?

CA: SXSW is such a great party. Playing showcases, catching up with old friends, meeting people with real passion for music and the music business, drinking Lone Star its a fun week. We have played SXSW a couple times before and it has only worked out well for us.

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 antsy. How would your band deal with such a situation?

CA: That lineup sounds familiar…were you at our 2018 showcase? (Just kidding)

We put on our best suits and do knee slides while we play thee greatest set of all time.

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?

CA: It could be cute to have Ceramic Animal, Glass Animals, and Animal Collective all play Get it? because ah never mind.

ATH: What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?

CA: Audio books are big right now in the CA van. Its a good chance to learn some new perspectives, ruminate a bit, and gives us all something to talk about in the green room.

Also Before I knew it by Mason Ramsey.

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?

CA: Well, a whole heck of a lot more people have heard our music because of streaming platforms than would have without them, so for that we are quite grateful.

ATH: The band gets to create their own food truck to take on the road. Whats it called, and what are you serving?

CA: Its called the Wiggle Wagon and it only sells bread.