Freelance Whales: Lush Pop Sounds.
The Freelance Whales are an up-and-coming band from Queens, New York. Their debut album "Weathervanes" is out now. Multi-instrumentalist Chuck Criss recently wrote in to discuss the band's production methods, how dream logging inspires their lyrics and how they approach a remix.
How did the Freelance Whales first come together?
The band got together around two years ago. We all had various music projects posted online and we all found each other through that. Judah had some amazing demos mocked up, and we all kind of rallied around that.
What do you enjoy most about the music scene in New York City?
I guess what I enjoy about it is the huge availability of music that is out there. I can't think of a single night where there isn't a good live show going on somewhere.
How does your production process work?
It's very meticulous. Our current record was very studio based. Building lots of little parts into something grander.
What was the first song you created for your debut?
The songs all came together relatively quickly around the same time. "Broken Horse" was a little more completed before the project started, so I would say that song.
Are there any albums you listened to a lot when crafting "Weathervanes?"
Hard to say, we listen to a lot of records. Around the time "Weathervanes" was coming together, we listened to a lot of Iron and Wine, The Annuals, Stars. I think Le Loup's "Throne of the Third Heaven...." record had just come out. We were excited about that one.
How has your approach to production grown over the years?
I think we have a lot more confidence in ourselves as producers. We'll probably produce the next record ourselves as well, except be more ambitious with recording techniques. The biggest thing we'll want to do is utilize a lot more natural room sounds and reverb.
What inspires you lyrically?
The lyrics on this record were all inspired by Judah's dream logging. He had been writing down his dreams for about a year, and the entire story and lyrics on the record are all based off that.
On average, how long does it take to create a track?
It depends. Some take longer than others, for whatever reason. Whichever song it is, it isn't the creation that takes long. The editing and little alterations are what take the longest.
How does your live setup differ from your studio setup?
The live setup is a lot louder and more brash. If you catch a show, you will notice we do a lot of multi-tasking and instrument switching.
Have you had any challenges translating the lushness of your album to a live show?
I'm always kind of disappointed when I catch a band and they sound exactly like the album. It kind of makes me feel like I could have just listened to it at home. Our live show changes up the feel of the record quite a bit. We have extra parts on some songs, and a lot of songs that are subdued on the record have a lot more energy and aggressiveness to them. That's not to say that aren't lush moments either, it's just that we've never compelled to have a live show that sounds exactly like the record.
What is the hardest song on "Weathervanes" to recreate live?
I think they were all pretty hard to recreate when we first started, haha. It was like a puzzle trying to figure out who would play what, and changing certain parts up because they worked well on the record, but not necessarily ideal for a live setting. They all took a bit of work. I think "Great Estates" ended up taking the longest.
Are there any artists you would like to remix?
We just did a remix for our freinds in Jukebox the Ghost for their song "Empire." It should be online somewhere. It's our first remix, and we're really proud of it. As far as future remixes go, I don't really have a specific artist in mind, but I have this idea to do a remix for someone where I would take the stems and just re-track the entire thing and turn it into intricate folk jam. If anyone wants us to do that, we're totally down!
For more info on the Freelance Whales, check out http://www.freelancewhales.com/
|
