Soundset: Our interview with Grieves
Through the hustle bustle of the festival we took some time to meet up with one of my favorite artists at the show. Though he went on stage just minutes after the interview, Grieves was happy to oblige in answering some questions before his set. So we headed over to the press tent for a quick Q&A.
Q: I’ve read the punk band NOFX was a huge influence of yours, so how would you say that influenced or translated into your own music?
A: Well, when I was listening to them it was important to me because of the way they incorporated melody into a more progressive art form, it was really cool to me. I think at the time my friends didn’t really think it was coolest thing in the world, but I fuckin loved it. I don’t know, I always loved the punk rock music and stuff like that, but to have the melodies that like my pops and all that shit kind of raised me on, with the harmonies was just beautiful. So, I will always be a sucker for that.
Q: What is your writing process?
A: It’s always about the music first. I’ll sit down and once I got something made I like the lyrics just come to me. The music sets sort of a mood or an atmosphere, it’s definitely not normally lyrics first for me.
Q: When you come to Minnesota, are there any of those places you tell people “man you have to go there when you are in town” or just places you frequent when on tour?
A: Oh for sure, I mean there is always Fifth Element, if I’m ever in the cities I have to go to Fifth Element and pick myself up some CD’s or something. Also for me, you guys got awesome food out here, a really good culinary scene. There is a guy named Mike DeCamp out here that is pretty popular and is the chef at La Belle Vie, so I always try to stop in there to sit down and see what he’ll make me. It’s always pretty cool. Last time I was out here he took me to different restaurants and we did a course at each different restaurant. We did a five course meal over five different restaurants.
Q: What is your favorite venue to play when you are in town?
A: First Ave man, always First Ave. Good staff, good history, it’s just an all around good place man I love that spot.
Q: Being I represent what is partly a tech website and myself being a total nerd, what kind of stuff do you use to work? Do you prefer hardware like an MPC or Maschine to produce, or do you rely more on computers and software?
A: I pretty much use everything, I am a tech nerd myself and went to school for all the music stuff. Really anything that can make a sound I am pretty interested in, but as far as software I like to use Reason by Propellerhead. As far as gear goes I am a big Dave Smith fan. They’re the keyboards I use on stage and in the studio, I don’t know I just like the way they sound. I know a lot of people try to go for the Moog and stuff like that, and the Moog is great, but I don’t know I’ve always just loved the David Smith stuff. Their monophonic and polyphonic sounds are great. I do have a Maschine from Native Instruments and I’ve done a lot of work with Best Buy out of here with their whole musical instruments thing, so they hook me up with a lot of new gear that I get to test out for them.
Q: So what about your day to day tech? Are you into all the cell phones, tablets, and all that?
A:I have an iPhone 5…S or whatever, I like to take photos with it and shit like that. I try to stay up it, but I’m not gonna like fight the hoardes, I ain’t waiting in line for shit. Just if I can get it I’ll get it.
Q: So iPhone, iPad, you’re an Apple guy then?
A: I’m an Apple guy. I got the G5 at home for the studio, an iPhone and Macbook Pro on the road with me which…is kind of an expensive Youtube machine but whatever, it works.
I figured I would make the last question a total curve ball and I am pretty sure I took him totally off guard with it.
Q: What is your spirit animal?
A: My spirit animal…Um, I have a very bizarre attraction to bears. (I reply, “Oh yeah?”) Yeah I don’t know I love bears dude. Pretty much all my merch for the past however long has had bears on it, I named fuckin tours after bears, I’m a bear fan.
Q:Why then the new album Winter and Wolves? No bears?
A: Game of Thrones!
Ben Johnson
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