#shunklings

First of all, I really like your most recent EP. To me it recalls post hardcore/90s indie bands like Slint and Fugazi. But it definitely has some Pink Floyd too. If I had to place it in the contemporary music landscape I’d put it in the company of the Parquet Courts. How’d I do? 

What are some of your biggest influences for this record?  Which band would you most want to open for on a national tour?

I'd definitely want to open for The Yellow River Boys. We're into Pink Floyd and Fugazi, but more directly influenced by Lightning Bolt, Jay Reatard, Pusswhip Bangang, Neil Young, Screaming Females and the Flaming Lips.

Henry Nye said he thinks Bowie's Low album was the biggest influence on this one.

How does this differ from last years Down To Clown? That record was you and Henry doing everything. This one seems to have involved more people. What was the thought process there and how did it affect the final product? How did the recording process evolve between the two?

The last one we recorded in Henry Nye's basement a couple hours a week over a long period, because we basically had to build the whole studio every time. This one we did at the band Yabadum's practice space over two days. Henry Nye wrote, sang, and played bass on the last song for the first time in this band. We also had max Beirne Shafer as a member on this one. Way more synths.

Plus we had the honor of featuring the legendary Max Rebo and the signature Nalargon sound, on his custom Red Ball Jett Keyboard. It's this crazy circular organ that he sits in the middle of. He came up leading the house band at Jabba's Palace. Everyone should check him out.

3 Simple Tips was recorded in two days, is that right?  It’s definitely got a live raw feel to it.  Did you record the basic tracks live?  Did you use a click-track ever? How’d you do the vocals? Were there punch-ins?  Were you limited in how much overdubbing you did?

We did all the basic tracks live, I don't know how to set up a click track. 8 tracks on the board so that was the extent of the instrumental overdubs. 4 drum mics, 1 guitar, 1 bass, so there's room for two extra things per song, besides vocals which we did in Logic later. We basically get everything done, kind of forget about it for a few months and rush the rest. We basically did all the vocals and mixing in the past two weeks.

Did you use any software or plug-ins or is all the sound from real instruments? What kind of synths did you use? You’re good at the Mbira.

We mainly used my Arturia Microbrute, and Charlie from Yabadum's Sequential Circuits Six Trak, a little Casiotone and this electric thumb piano device I found. Jerry Natter used some compressors and delays when mixing it, but thats it.

Similar follow-up questions, you recorded to tape with your tascam 388’ but did you also use a computer? If so, how? How’d you mix it? On the tape machine or did you upload the files and use a program? Did you get it mastered?

It was mixed in Logic, not mastered.

How’d you decide on “3 Simple Tips” for the album title? What are the three tips?

We uploaded the album and didn't have a title and saw one of those ads. I love those ads. Don't read into any of this too much.

Where does the album art come from? It’s really beautiful and bizarre.

Same story, had songs done day of the release and realized we didn't have a cover. Henry sent me that pic he took on a mountain in the clouds in Sicily, I sent to Max and He added his drawing in the middle.

Tell me about covering that unreleased Beatles instrumental track. Where’d you get the idea to do that?

We liked the song. It’s not actually unreleased, it’s on Magical Mystery Tour.

I love the energy and the feel of Splinter of the Mind’s Eye. It’s my favorite track on the record. When did you write it and how did it evolve? What is it about?

Got the title from the first Star Wars Expanded Universe book. It’s not the best book but I liked the name. Wrote the music a month before recording, wrote lyrics when we were recording vocals.

Any plans for the record? If and how you’re going to promote it? Did you look into pressing it— what are you thoughts on cds vs vinyl vs tape vs digital only? Did you approach any labels? Are you going to make a music video?

I'll dub some tapes probably.

Is there a record release show happening?  When and where? I’d love to come.