#observerdrift

I'm sorry that I haven't made a lot of changes lately, I've been busy busy :S Well, here you have the playlist: 

1. We Looked Like Giants - Death Cab for Cutie

2. Warm Waves - Observer Drift

3. Towers - Bon Iver

4. The Sound of Settling - Death Cab for Cutie

5. Bloom - The Paper Kites

6. Na ślinę - Happysad

7. High and Dry - Raidohead 

8. Goembe - Zabili mi Zolwia

9. Misguided Ghosts - Paramore

10. Blue Jeans - Lana Del Rey

SITTING ON THE ASOUNDESIGN COUCH WITH OBSERVER DRIFT

Images of dreams and childhood memories are what influenced Minnesota-based musician Observer Drift aka Collin Ward on his latest album titled Corridors. After getting a chance to talk with Collin, I found out I wasn't far off in the imagery that seems to naturally accompany his music. “Warm Waves” inspired our design and found its way onto our mix in May, making Observer Drift our featured soundscape artist. If home is truly where the heart is, it's definitely obvious why there is so much heart to this album.

Collin's music defines the word soundscape with hazy reverb vocals and melodies you find yourself getting lost in. Cooridors is an album you put on repeat while it provides the soundtrack to flashes of your own past memories and the moments you anticipate for future ones. Grab your favorite beverage and take a seat on the asoundesign couch and find out more about Observer Drift and what inspires this talented artist.

How did Observer Drift start?

I started a band in high school and we did mostly covers, alternative rock and punk. That’s when I really started getting interested in writing music. I also had grown up taking piano lessons and that’s how I got most of my training. When my band broke up I started focusing more on the ideas that I had come up with, but never had the resources to record or finish. I started working on my own solo projects, just buying recording equipment and doing it from home. 

So you were kind of new to the whole process of bedroom recording?

Yeah, we never recorded anything with my last band. I knew some friends who had done it, but I had never had any experience with it myself. I basically jumped into it without really knowing anything. I just got it and started messing around and slowly figuring it out on my own.

You completed the whole album in only 8 months? How do you balance work, school and making music?

Yeah, a lot of songs had already been written, but I hadn’t recorded them. A lot was a combination of new material and some I had in my head that I hadn’t really been able to finish. During the summer I had a lot more free time and got a majority of the recording done for it and once school started back up just little bits here and there. It was about 8 months that I got it all recorded and finished.

The whole album has a real dreamlike feeling to it and each track just flows so perfectly into the next. How do you take pieces from dreams and memories to really create that overall picture and story from them?

It was really selective and the thinking was to choose memories from when I was really young that stuck out and translate them into lyrics and a song. The songs are just pieces of memories and nostalgic of looking back, being a kid and the other side of it is just from dreams. 

When recording it I would just really focus on my dreams that were kind of obscure and when I woke up I would jot them down and make a song because I just liked writing based on the things that might be non-existent just like a dream. Good majority of the songs are not necessarily about actual things that I have done, but just about interesting dreams I’ve had. It’s definitely a big side of the album and what I felt most comfortable writing about. I naturally just started looking back than forward for inspiration.

A lot of attention has been generating off of what you post on bandcamp and I noticed you had posted a song called ‘Hiding Place’ is that going to be part of something else going forward?

It was basically a B-side from the album. The reason I had put it up on bandcamp was it wasn’t completed, but a local radio station here called 89.3 The Current had been playing my stuff and wanted to know if I had any unreleased material they could premiere on their show. I had finished that song, and really liked it but I had never ended up putting it on the album. I released it as a single and they premiered it on their radio station so it was really cool. 

When describing music I like when people use descriptive adjectives not like oh, we sound like so and so. For someone who is new to your music-describe your sound in 5 words.

I guess the first one that comes to mind because based on what it revolves around is nostalgic is a good one, maybe cloudy, *laughs*, I’m trying to say what just comes to mind.. dreamy, kind of slightly unorganized, ambient, relaxed, no that’s kind of lame. Hmm. It’s hard. What do I have like 3?

No, I think you have five. Cloudy I think is my favorite. 

I don’t know it just kind of popped in my head and seemed to work. Drifty?

Which speaking of I really like how the name came about. I read that it came about in a class that you took?

Yeah, I was in a psychology class at the community college I go to in Bloomington, MN. My teacher mentioned the term from a text book called Observer Drift and it caught my attention and sounded really cool. It was right around the time I was finishing some songs and trying to think of a name. I really liked the definition of what it means. From a broader perspective it’s when two people start to agree more and more on a certain subject, basically just unity. It seemed like a cool concept and I also really liked the combination of words. I started scribbling it all over my notebook. It really fit with what I was going for and seemed like the perfect title. 

Do you feel your music evokes a certain “soundscape” or imagery as someone listens? Or do you get that when you play or record the songs?

Yeah, for me personally, definitely as I listen to it I know exactly what the songs are written about so it brings up those childhood memories for me. A lot of people who have listened to it said it has this whole exploring through the woods, going on an adventure innocence feel to it. 

Is there one track for you off the album that has the biggest soundscape or imagery attached to it or do you feel they all kind have that overall feel to it?

I would say the track “Home Video.” That one definitely sticks out the most to me. Just because what I wrote it about and basically the time when I was writing it, when I came up with it and what the lyrics are about. A lot of them do and the whole album means a lot to me, but that one in particular. It means a lot to me lyrically and what it’s about. 

What soundscape would that be, is that the one about your grandpa?

Yeah, it’s really simple and there are only two lines of lyrics in that song and the parts repeated and originally I was going to try and expand on that song and take it a little further, but I liked the simplicity and what it stood for. What it stands for without it saying what it stands for. It’s about my grandpa who passed away about 8 years ago and memories of him going fishing and just doing a lot of fun stuff with him because I was really close with him growing up as a little kid. It stands out to me a lot.

If your music was a color what would it be and why?

I would say sky blue because when I listen to it I can imagine just lying on the ground outside and watching the clouds going by. 

What would be your ultimate space to either write or record in? Unless you have experienced it already.

The only place I have recorded is at home and I think it is my favorite. Even if I were to go to a studio I still think recording at home just has a certain comfort. It’s really easy to expand on ideas without feeling you have to make the music a certain way and if people will like it. It’s a lot easier to make the music exactly how you want it to be. I’m way more at ease when I'm writing and recording at home. I’m on my own time and by myself which makes it a lot easier. 

Sitting in your perfect place at home--paint me a picture. What does it look like?

I’ll start with my room, where most of it was recorded. I just have a small room with a twin bed, and a little desk that’s right in front of my window and it’s really messy. I’ve got my laptop in front of me, and some picture frames and string lights. It’s just really simple and normal...my own little space.

Is your room your go to place just to chill out?

Yeah, usually. In my room or in my basement. Not too long ago I changed a room in my basement into an expanded place to play music and record. A lot of my newer stuff I’ve been working on has been down there. I just set it up the same way as my room, but its more geared toward recording and having everything need in that space. 

What was the concept behind the album art?

I had seen a lot of my friend Cayan Brock’s photography before and when I started writing I just naturally asked her. We walked over to the woods by my house where I grew up playing in as a kid and spending tons of time so there was definitely a connection.The shot kind of came out of nowhere and took maybe an hour or two. We didn’t really know what we were aiming for, but just kind of messing around with locations and random stuff. The picture that I used I didn’t even know she was taking it! It was one she took while I was looking around and thinking of things to set up. It seemed to fit because it was spontaneous. I didn’t even really know what I was looking for, but when she showed me the photo I just knew.

When you’re not writing and recording what do you like to do in your free time?

I like to skateboard a lot. Especially in the summertime I like to be outside and doing a lot of active stuff. It’s kind of nice when I’m not recording then I can spend more time outside being active and hanging out with friends. I also like to paint and draw a lot and do other kind of design. 

What is in store for Observer Drift?

Right now I’m working with my brother putting together a live show with the goal for shows soon. It’s kind of a difficult process trying to translate the songs into a live setting. It’s a lot of fun and cool how it’s turning out. I’m looking forward starting to play some shows this summer, but definitely still taking my time with it. Also, working on new material for another album. Keep working at writing better, new music and expanding on my sound from the first album. 

http://observerdrift.bandcamp.com/album/corridors