#quiethounds

Shake Don't Shatter

When we were originally concepting the theme of Shake Don't Shatter, we talked a lot about the distance that inspired these songs. So when set out to design the cover art, we looked to embody that idea, tossing around a lot celestial imagery and lots of canyon filled landscapes. After a ton of exploration, we thought we’d start from scratch and try the idea of transmission, trading files, and building songs. 

So I borrowed a camera from a good friend and drove south on the 101, 30min towards LA after work one day. Perched myself on some access road up in the hills until the sun started to set. There are these power lines as far as you can see. It was pretty spiritual just sitting there watching the light change, quiet breeze pushing the tall grass around… hoping nobody would pull over and shoot me. I tried catching the lines bouncing in and around the hills… only a few came out right.   

In the end, it felt like the power line thing wasn’t translating…  It felt too static, too literal. So I abandoned the idea after a cop pulled over and told me I wasn’t supposed to be there. I drove back up north and just as the sun was about to set, some pylon forms caught my eye. Veering off the highway, I drove up to some structure that was being built right across the street from my apartment complex.   

It’s not everyday you meet someone who wants to dedicate their time and expertise to help you fulfill your vision. Quiet Hounds has been lucky in this regard. Since the release of our first album Southern Charm in 2011 we’ve been embraced and uplifted by fans, supporters and colleagues alike. If it weren’t for all of you, we’d be hard pressed to execute on many of our lofty ideas.

Our earliest supporter was there before we even had a band name. Scott Lansing, the director of our Gigantic and Beacon Sun videos has been behind the scenes with a camera, encouraging words and his own artistic eye, helping propel the Quiet Hounds from the very beginning. Thank you Scott, our friend and comrade. See Scott’s work at sabotagefilmgroup.com

Where would we be without the Arias family? From the grounds of Andersonville Prison to the telling of Quiet Hounds Origin Zack Arias has been capturing our best angle with film & photography for the past 4 years. Then there’s Meghan Arias, our resident Hound-ette. We could write a month’s worth of blogs on all the things she’s done for us and the many hats she wears at any given time for the band. As the Phoenix of Swans & Embers to the writer and choreographer of The Last Days of Snake Nation, Meghan has always been elevating our art with her own and we are ever grateful. Their 4 amazing kids and their greater circle of friends have been invaluable to us. See the Arias perspectives at zackarias.com | meghanarias.com | dedpxl.com

You’ll rarely hear a Quiet Hounds set without the rich, melodic tones of brass. All we wanted to do was something different in the bridge of “I Get Up”. But afterwards we just couldn’t get these guys to leave… They keep sticking around making our music better with their writing, performing and friendship. Dave Daly, Russ Sauve & Umcollisi Terrell, thank you and we look forward to many more shows with you guys.

If you ever google Quiet Hounds, chances are you’ll stumble upon the writings of a one Krissie Callahan, known on the internet only as JrzyGyrl. Sounds like a superhero right? For the first time in our musical careers, which are quite long, someone finally put in to words what we’ve always wanted to read about our art. But not only does she get it and so beautifully narrate our history, Krissie has also been an unmatchable asset to spreading the word about Quiet Hounds. Thank you for all that you do. Read Krissie’s writings at: jrzygyrl.com

Our performances have been riddled with live acting. David Rogers and Michael Trotter have been pivotal in that endeavor. We’re always trying to to engage our fans in something more than song. Something that connects them to the story. These men have made that happen time and time again. Looking forward to the next one boys!

“I’m just here to do whatever you guys need me to do!” Countless times we have heard this phrase from Matt Rowles.

Just after the release of Megaphona in the summer of 2012, I ran into a guy on the grounds of the Goat Farm Arts Center. Literally… we ran in to each other. You see, Rowles and I are both always going at full speed which sometimes equates to a collision. And in our case that collision turned out to be destiny.

The band had been filming Beacon Sun and designing the concepts for what was soon to to be An Ode to Lost Souls. We knew we were on to something special and we wanted it to reach as many people as possible. After briefly meeting Rowles we exchanged contacts and agreed to reconnect. Our first phone call was about 2 hours long and by the end we both knew we were about to do something inspiring and it was going to sound really good! As it turns out it looked pretty awesome as well. Matt and his IndieATL crew of college students filmed, recorded and live broadcasted the entire event to great success. This was the first of many collaborations we would soon undertake.

I later remixed the audio from the show and Rowles did a video edit from the raw camera footage. You can watch I Get Up live from the Goat Farm here. While you’re there check out the great work Matt’s been doing with IndieATL for the past several years.

While celebrating the success of Ode, Rowles told me he had went to school for audio engineering and was a trained “Tape Op”. This was really exciting to me, I am always looking for new avenues to learn about my own craft. The idea of using analog machines and elevating the recording process to a new level was exactly what i wanted for the band. After more inspired discussion we decided he would be a part of the next QH recording process. That process became The Wild Hunt. I learned so much during the time we spent recording that album. From building an entire studio in an old farm house to live tracking in Southern Tracks to actually cutting the lacquers for our vinyl, Rowles has been there every step of the way.

Shake Don’t Shatter is no exception. Once again he and I built a studio in my house and pushed ourselves to make the best recordings we could make.

This is a picture of my father taken at the very first Quiet Hounds show by Zack Arias. It completely exemplifies him. Standing in the back. Quietly observing, looking deep for the truth of the matter while everyone else scuttles about. 

My family comes from music. My grandfather was a trumpeter in big bands his entire life. My father had a rock band in the 60’s in New Orleans. My brother is arguably one of the best drummers of his time. Music has defined me since I was to young to remember. And it all starts with my family. 

My father taught me all I know about the show. The performance. The connection with the fans. He instilled in us the notion that great music can change a person. A moment. Even a culture. 

He showed us that music and the performance of it were to be taken seriously. It was a responsibility, a job. He showed my brother and I what a true artist must take on to actually sell that truth. 

He showed us the back-bone of pop music. All the greats. The essence of what songwriting and performing are all about. 

He saw in my brother and I a great talent and he let it grow. He never stifled us. Never judged us. He allowed us to find our own path in our art. And most of all, he did and continues to, support us. Christmas mornings always entail new instruments. Letters written to our bands about new songs, performances, and next steps. Being at every show he possibly can. 

You see, for me music comes from within. Within my childhood and my family. Our music room we had in our home. The family band we formed when we were younger. My grandfather blowing his horn on the back porch when he came to visit. 

I wouldn’t be here without them. And this band would not have the knowledge my father has and continues to grace us with.