We reviewed this album a good while back. I’m consistently apologizing for being late with everything. This happens to have happened at the worst time because this album is out and probably on your record player as we speak. My severe delay on getting this interview finished has nothing to do with how absolutely brilliant this release is! I have listened to this album end to end, over and over, for days at a time, and I appreciate it more and more each time I listen.
There is a “pocket” of creativity that exists when I think about Subdivision Records and the musicians involved within that community. There are so many notable bands affiliated with the label, and in many respects I think they come out with the most honest and “new” sounding music around. Stranger Kings carries this creativity forward with a record that is compelling and moving musically and lyrically, but even more than that it is emotionally charged as if the music and the lyrics hang on each other and create a truly unique experience for the listener.
I had the opportunity to catch up with Herb Grimaud (bass) and Eric Campuzano (guitar), and then got in a few questions with Holly Nelson Anderson who sings vocals in the band. For fans of The Lassie Foundation, or Herb Grimaud’s The Sound Gallery, there is plenty of great stuff in here. We also got the goods on Holly’s upcoming release… so, thanks for your patience, and follow the links at the bottom to purchase and check out all things Stranger Kings.
Steve Ruff: I’m assuming Jesse and Sam played drums on certain tracks, can you tell me what role R, Dylan and John played?
Herb: Jesse Nason played drums “Lay Low”, “All of Everything”, & “Katherine.” Sam West played drums on “Lacuna.” Steve R engineered a few songs, did some analog modular stuff on “Lacuna” & “We Are,” & was the hero for “Imagination,” the Xymox cover we did. We’ve been very fortunate to have some friends offer up their time to this record. Dylan has been an inspiration on a few tracks. Playing drums while Eric & I work out song ideas. John was working with Eric before I came along. He was a great asset to rhythms, keys, & melody ideas. He’s also great at making his own beer.
We also had a lot of help from Jeremy Wood, Andy Prickett, & Jared Rich. Brady Esquivel has been a permanent member for a couple years now.
Campuzano: I echo what Herb has said. Stranger Kings has been blessed by our good friends; whether it be a drum track or a random acoustic guitar part. We’ve been very lucky to have our friends play on our record. In regards to Steve R., while wearing our tin foil hats, he never gave up hope and more importantly never gave us hope. We carry our own cross. He was our Steve Albini in this process. We sink or swim on our own merits.
Dylan… the Boy King. John Hertzberg and I go back a long time. He made my band’s first demo back in ’85. Since then, he has always been a part of my life and my music. I remember sitting in his garage and he played the new “Ministry” record… Still don’t get it, but he was one of the first person’s that exposed to new music that wasn’t U2 or The Alarm. We used to exchange mix tapes and he was the one that turned me on to Xymox. Lastly, while working construction, my ghetto blaster does not play cd’s, so I was only left with talk radio or cassettes. I found an old mix tape that John made for me. And there it was, Xymox’s “Imagination.” Perfect for Stranger Kings. Hertzberg, amongst others, have been a huge influence and contributor to Stranger Kings.
To say the least, we have had a lot help from our friends on this record. They have been the biggest influence.
How did the band come together, and what is the process of songwriting that happens?
Herb: SK came out of The Lassie Foundation. The guys in TLF were moving to other things & Eric gave me a call to come down & help out with some demo material he was working on. It just seemed like Eric & I were on the same page for doing something new & it just fell in line.
Our process always starts with Eric or myself playing some kind of melody that happens in the moment. Other than “Law Low” I don’t believe there’s been a song someone has come into practice saying “hey I’ve got an idea.” It’s all started in the moment.
Campuzano: As Herb mentioned, Stranger Kings was born out of The Lassie Foundation. Wayne left for New York and Jeff left for the Smashing Pumpkins. I had some songs and still wanted to play guitar so I needed a bass player. It’s funny, I can tell you the first time I met Herb, at Joy Bells, but I cannot recall how or when we became friends. He’s a hard ass. He’s only made me better.
After a few weeks, we agreed, there was something here and wanted to explore it. The only caveat from Herb was “No shitty music. If I don’t like it, I won’t play it.” I loved it. There will be no conceding to band politic or emotion; just best we can do. We asked Holly if she was interested on singing on our jams… She said yes… and you got Stranger Kings. It took us 20 years and 20 bands to find our voice.
Are all you guys in the same general area? Didn’t R move away, or am I imagining that for some weird reason?
Herb: Yes. No one’s more than 20 minutes away from the studio. He (R) did move east a couple years ago. His input & conversations are missed.
I know both you guys have a pretty eclectic taste in music…Herb has turned me on to more bands than anyone I can think of, and I generally associate elements of his projects with the same music that he has turned me onto. There is a huge mix of ambient/shoegaze/post punk and goth music in his music library, and I find all 4 of those elements in Stranger Kings in varying degrees. There is a definite 80’s vibe as well as a very current energy that I can’t compare really to anything else. How do you guys sum up the style that you’ve created as Stranger Kings, and who/what would you say some influences on the music are?
There’s no doubt we’re influenced by the music of our youth & John Hughes movies. We all have a lot of common ground when it comes to taste in music. I think what takes the lead in SK is melody & textures.
I have read via various social sites that the songs “Steppe” and “Safe Word” are in the works?
“Safe Word” & Steppe” are just working titles for future releases. There’s talk about maybe doing a 7″ split with another band or maybe another SK full length. We’ll see when we get there. We’re still happy writing together so hopefully it will keep going for a while.
There will be a total of 9 remixes available for the digital release. There’s remixes from Jeremy Wood, Steve R, Jeff Schroeder, Ojo Taylor, Robert Gutschow, Greg Hobgood, & a few others. Everything from strangerkings.bandcamp.com & the EP offered at the live shows will all be released with the full length.
In regards to the lyrics, where do you draw the most inspiration from?
Holly: I’m not sure there’s a “most.” Anything that makes me wonder, I guess. If there is a “most,” it’s probably love. That seems to be a loaded and inexhaustible topic. It would not surprise me if a few other songwriters are inspired by love, too… that and the question of how many vegetarians secretly eat bacon.
The lyrics seem very poetic in a sense. Do you also write outside of music?
Sometimes I’ll write.
Sometimes I won’t.
Sometimes it rhymes.
Sometimes it don’t.
One of the things that strikes me the most in regards to the lyrics and the music is that the structure is so intertwined, almost as if the lyrics are written to form around and inside the music… what is the process for you in writing, do you hear the music and then craft the lyrics, or how does that work for you exactly?
With regard to writing in general, it happens both ways. Sometimes the music comes first and sometimes the lyrics/melody. I think almost exclusively with Stranger Kings the music comes first. The guys usually bang out a brilliant track then I come along and do my best to ruin it.
What other artists do you cite as an influence?
Growing up my house was constantly humming with musical greatness: the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, ELO, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Gordon Lightfoot, CSNY. So many more. I got a stellar musical education early on. Cocteau Twins. Psychedelic Furs. Beck. I’m sure I’m leaving out a few (hundred).
The Stranger Kings bio cites John Hughes films as an influence. What’s your favorite Hughes film and why?
At the moment I’ll say it’s a tie between Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful. Ask me later and you might get a different answer. John Hughes was brilliant.
What other bands and artists have you lent your vocal talents to?
I started out singing backup for the Killing Tree. During that time The Prayer Chain asked me put some vocals on the track “Worm” from their album Shawl. I also got to sing on a couple of Mortal tunes, “Speed of Sound” and “Nightfall and Splendor.” I did some live stuff with the Violet Burning, and I’ve put backup vocals on various Northern releases over the years. I guess I’m vocally promiscuous.
Can you give us any details about your upcoming project or projects?
The first Stranger Kings record is officially available NOW! We’re excited to finally put it out. The vinyl is beautiful. We’re planning a record release show in Chinatown mid-October (ed.note: I really am this late) with our friends HOTT MT. Should be fun.
Besides Stranger Kings I write and record my own material for Northern Records. We’re just about done with the second record. I’ve had the privilege of working with a very talented group of musicians on it. The sound is pretty organic and I think pretty heavily influenced by the classics I grew up with.
I’ve also been extremely lucky enough to sing a few tracks on the CUSH records. I’m always floored by the vision and execution of the CUSH projects. The latest record just came out, titled SP3. It’s amazing, sonically and visually. The vinyl/download is available at the Northern Records store at www.northernrecords.com.
Also Jason Martin (Starflyer 59) and I just finished up a project (!!!). Jason is incredibly talented. I grew a lot as a songwriter in the process. That record should be making an appearance on the Northern Records site soon as well.
Images not in the print article:
Leave a Reply