Interview with The Upsidedown

We got the privilage of asking Sarah Jane from The Upsidedown a few questions. The Upsidedown is a band from Portland, Oregon on Beat The World Records - the label that The Dandy Warhols started. Check out the band’s take on working with The Dandy Warhols, their favorite things about touring through Chicago, and why the grape is the most important fruit in the fruit cup. The song is Silver Wind from the band’s new album - Human Destination.


Tell people who don’t know The Upsidedown about your music and your top influence.

The Upsidedown sound is a celebration and statement of the human condition. We use our voices and our bodies to make decadent, layered walls of sound and waves heart. Our top influence is the spirit’s desire to be heard and also to relate to the souls around it. We have a little something for everyone interested in the human heart and space/time travel.

Congratulations on releasing “Human Destination” last month. What was the writing and recording process like for the album?

We spent years on this record. Which was a complete blessing. The songs grew as the musicians did in that time. We had a little help from our friends. It was a very communal sort of recording process. It happened in several studios, including The Dandy Warhols’ Odditorium. That was so fun. Our friends stopped by and we recorded a rag-tag choir part and get a guest guitar spot in the same day.

Being on Beat The World Records – The Dandy Warhols’ label – must be super cool. What’s the biggest thing that being around the band has done for your music?

We are constantly learning from them. We’re good listeners and we ask questions. And they’re so supportive of us getting to the next highest status so that we can afford to record and travel, like they do. They keep us aiming high.

You’re currently touring around the country. What are your live shows like?

The live shows have been really good. It’s a shorter set so we really give it our all and make the biggest impact we can. The Canadian crowds are always really supportive. I think they appreciate the effort and the excitement of our live show. There’s lots of movement and dancing on stage that instigates a similar movement in our audience.

On this tour, you played the Vic Theatre in our neck of the woods. What was your favorite part about Chicago?

The deep-dish at Bochino’s, the bloody marys at Sterch’s and Oz Park at nighttime.

What about your hometown? What’s the music scene like in Portland?

There’s lots of music in Portland. With the huge migration that’s going on we have lots of big names there now, but there’s a small hometown feel still. A real large overall sense of community but with plenty of niches and small genres to keep things interesting.

What’s the best tip you would give an unsigned band to get their music heard?

Don’t stop talking, living, breathing your music. Do what you can to get your name out there and put yourself out there. People like a good human association as well as great music.

How did you come up with the name The Upsidedown?

Standing on our heads.

Where can people find your music, your show schedule, and more info on The Upsidedown?

Check out our blog at theupsidedown.com and our myspace.com/theupsidedown. We’ve recently inducted ourselves to the facebook community. We check all of those and we really love feedback. We even comment back when we can! Our new record is available on tour at the shows and we’ll have a larger pressing and distribution this fall. Until then it can be downloaded at emusic.com and itunes.

Random question to close out… What’s the most important fruit in a fruit cup?

The grape. It comes comfortable in it’s own skin.

Interview with Sangamon

Sangamon is a band that hails from Champaign, IL. We saw them live once, and thought it would be great to get to know them. They’ve just released their EP “The Right Way EP”, and James, the drummer, was cool enough to answer some questions about the EP, the Champaign music scene, and how to communicate with a fanbase without using smoke signals. The attached song is from their EP and is entitled “Follow Me.”

Tell people who don’t know Sangamon about your music and your influences.

We’re a piano-based, guitar-driven pop/rock quartet from Champaign, IL. Our writing process tends to start with a melody, then we work in textures, which allows our music to touch on a diverse set of styles…fortunately, Shay’s distinct vocals keep us identifiable. As for influences, at times we borrow straight-forward American rockin’ from My Morning Jacket, other times we borrow a darker vibe more reminiscent of Radiohead or Coldplay, and occaisionally we’ll put on the dance shoes and rock it Scissor Sisters style. We always strive to keep our music a little theatrical and highly-energetic.

You recently released your EP – “The Right Way EP.” Congratulations! What was the writing and recording process like?

‘The Right Way EP,’ is truly our baby…it was entirely written and recorded before we ever performed live. We own a studio (who doesn’t anymore)…so, we pieced things together one part at a time. Since we were left to our own devices, we tinkered with arrangements, transposed songs, changed instrumentation, etc… until we really felt that the songs were the strongest they could be. It’s a healthy process for a band to put down the instruments for a while and just listen and critique.

What do you think are the most successful avenues for distribution of an EP today, and how can readers find “The Right Way EP?”

I can’t say to be an expert on the topic, but getting our disc into the hands of CD Baby seemed to be a no-brainer. As independent artists, they give us some muscle in terms of getting on iTunes, Rhapsody, and most other online retailers, plus they allow us a way to sell the physical CD through the web. Although distribution is important, we pretty much operate with the realization that we’ll probably never profit a dime from music sales…if for every CD we give away, we gain one fan at one concert, we’d be happy. You can find the EP on iTunes…or you can buy the physical CD from our website, or through special order at your local music store.

You guys are from Champaign, IL which is home to a number of the bands on The Next Big Sound. What’s the music scene like in Champaign?

We love Champaign…our town has such a relaxing atmosphere and a positive attitude towards original music. Two of our favorite local bands, Shipwreck and Beauty Shop, have recently called it quits, which is extremely saddening…but, many others are pushing for greatness; Elsinore, Headlights and Santa to name a few. Champaign is also great to us in that it’s only a two hour drive from Chicago, St. Louis and Indy.

What’s your favorite venue in Champaign to play and why?

Hmmm…tough question…honestly, this town is loaded with great venues. I’m always proud to show-off our hometown venues to out-of-town acts. We had a band, Belikos, from New York, on a bill with us last week at the Highdive in downtown Champaign…they were raving about the venue, the sound, the way they were treated; it makes you realize that Champaign does it right…at least most the time.

What have you found to be successful in growing your fanbase outside of your hometown?

That’s another tough one…but, the best way we’ve found is to jump on a show with a band who is well known in that city, put on the show of your life, then give away a bunch of CDs. Otherwise, you can try to get some press in the local paper, harrass some DJs to play your music on the radio or litter the town with fliers?

How do you guys communicate with your fanbase?

Smoke signals have become frowned upon by the environmentalist, so we now prefer updating our website with news and sending e-mails to our fans…also, we bombard our myspace friends with enticing bulletin subjects…’OMG…Sangamon live with Free Booze, and KY Wrestling!’

Where do you find new music to listen to?

Honestly, some of our local stations play some pretty hip new stuff. Also, Champaign plays host to some great music, so it’s pretty often that we’ll see a great band at a show, then become fans.

What do you think bands should do today to have a successful online presence?

What we do is just try to have at least some presence on every site that allows it…as I stumble upon a new site, I sign us up. There are so many new sites popping up all the time, it’s impossible to keep up. On our website, we have links to our profiles with youTube, JamBase, Flickr, MySpace, Facebook, and Blogger; but, we have profiles with probably 10 other music sites, too. I don’t know…the web willl make you go mad! To answer your question, bands should just spend all their free time taking cool pictures of themselves and promoting themselves online.

Where can people find your music, your show schedule, and more info on Sangamon?

www.sangamonmusic.com or www.myspace.com/sangamonmusic

And The Next Big Sound’s closing question… How did you come up with the name Sangamon?

After we realized that the name ‘Pussycat Dolls’ was taken, we landed on ‘Sangamon’…it’s a Native American term that is relatively unique to our region, we want to be identified with our area.

Interview with Frankie from The Safes

Hello All,

We’re starting a bit of a new thing at The Next Big Sound and interviewing bands about their music, their shows, and their strategy to get heard.

The fun kicks off with Frankie from Chicago’s own - The Safes. The Safes are making new music and currently out touring, so check their schedule and go see them live. The mp3 is “Sight of All Light.”

1. Tell people who don’t know The Safes about your music and your influences.

Our music is real! We mean it. It sounds fun and you can shake butt and sing along or just put your hands in pockets and try and look cool! We don’t care!

Influences vary and change like the weather around here. I know Patrick’s really big into Elliot Smith, Spoon, Dr Dog, The Bee Gees and Zeppelin. Michael’s usual listening to Wilco, Rancid, Louis Jordan or Sam Cooke. I love everything! And we all agree that The Flat Duo Jets, Magic Sam, Fetchin Bones, Guadalcanal Diary, Fats Domino, Joe Jackson, The Andalusian Dogs, The Kung Fu Monkeys, ELO, Material Issue, The Cramps, The Lovin Spoonful, Syd Barret, Bob Wills, The Rondelles, Ringo Star, The Soft Boys, The Gossip, The Shakedowns, The Differents, Mahler, and Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant are the best ever.

2. I see you guys have a full schedule on the road. How would you describe your live shows?

Yep can’t wait to hit the road, playing live is the best!!! Our live show is high energy fun! It’s kinda like one of those church services where the people became possessed and everybody’s sweating and singing as hard as they can and really feeling the spirit! Like if an old soul band from the 60 took a time machine to today and played power pop songs through totally cranked guitar amps! Hyper space with a kick ass beat.

3. What have you found to be successful in growing your fanbase outside of your hometown?

Throwing down the live set from town to town is doing the trick for us. After that our work is done and word of mouth spreads!

4. The Next Big Sound is located in Chicago, and we love the music scene here. What’s something about the Chicago music scene that people from different cities should know?

I think people from everywhere should know these great Chicago bands, The Sonnets, Big Buildings, Patty Elvis Band, Penthouse Sweets, The Andalusian Dogs, The Black Belts, The Cavity Creeps, OSTELLO, The Chivalries, The Glass Trees, The Bon Motts to name a few.

5. What’s your favorite venue in Chicago to play and why?

That’s an easy one. Cal’s!!! Hands down, infact it is my favorite place to play on earth. Still trying to figure out why exactly. There’s something magic about that place man! I love playing there! I think bands in general play better there. It’s real, you can’t hide behind a monitor or blame the sound guys or whatever, you gotta bring it to Cal’s!

6. What are you currently listening to?

Exploring music with Bill Mclaughlin

7. Where do you find new music to listen to?

I’ve always had such good luck in this department when I was really young I could always count on my cousin Billy, my brother Sean and my friend Joey to turn me on to the coolest new stuff.

Now a days, Patrick’s is usually the one telling me about the stuff that flys under the radar.

Oh and touring!! I guess it should come as no surprise that while driving around the country playing music how many killer new bands you find!!

My friend Erika is also always mailing me the hip new stuff too.

8. How do you guys communicate with your fanbase?

I’d say splendidly! You can count on a conversation from me, if stop to say hello at a show.

9. What do you think bands should do today to have a successful online presence?

Write great songs!

10. Where can people find your music, your show schedule, and more info on The Safes?

http://www.thesafes.com

http://www.myspace.com/thesafesmusic

Download @ iTunes-Rhapsody-Napster-Emusic-SonyConnect Buy cds and vinyl with Paypal, @ Insound…. http://www.thesafes.com/buy.html

11. And the closing question… How did you come up with the name – The Safes?

In our sleep I think!