Brasstronaut Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Feb 16th 2010 12:00PM by Gina Grinstead
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Started by Edo van Breemen and Bryan Davies in 2005, the Vancouver-based Brasstronaut have morphed over the years to include six members playing instruments like flugelhorn, lap steel, and trumpet in addition to the usual rock 'n' roll lineup. The self-described experimental pop band "with electronic and ambient tendencies" is set to put out its debut LP, 'Mount Chimaera,' on March 1 on van Breemen's own label, Unfamiliar Records. Following a tour across Canada with pit stops in Chicago, New York and Boston, the sextet heads to Austin. There they will play three SXSW shows, including the Pop Montreal showcase, and probably eat a lot of nachos. Spinner recently chatted with Van Breemen about the band's influences and tour tendencies.

How did your band form?

Four years ago I started casually playing with Bryan, our trumpet player, and we steadily acquired additional hands. We have good friends play in shows with us, and we just see what works or doesn't work. At this point we have six people, most recently a lap steel/guitar guy and a clarinet/synth player.

Describe your sound.

I think that we are sort of an experimental pop band, with electronic and ambient tendencies. And I mean "experimental" in the literal sense. On this album we reworked our ideas for so many months, and it took a long time to come to decisions on how to put arrangements together on the recording. What we are not is indie jazz.

You've gotten that a lot?

Yeah, it's happened a lot because we have a trumpet and our name is Brasstronaut, so people think we're, like, a ska band.

Speaking of your band name, how did you come up with that?

My ex-girlfriend. When Bryan and I started out we had no real vision for turning into a band, and we were frustrated trying to come up with a name for ourselves. At times, I've wondered if it was a good choice because of the ska thing, but in the end I've come to accept it. Unique is good.

What are your musical influences?

They are really all over the place -- contemporary rock like Fever Ray, Jens Lekman, Kings of Convenience, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, and then more classical stuff like Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Personally, I've produced a lot of electro music and played in various rock bands. And I was born and raised in Miami and pretty much grew up on hip-hop.

What music do you have in heavy rotation right now?

Recently I've been really into Danish producer Trentemoller, and also Erlend Oye.

You've mentioned a lot of Scandinavian artists. What's the connection there?

This is speaking for me personally, not the band, but I really like a lot of minimalist techno, and the best music in that genre is coming out of Sweden, Germany and Denmark. I run a record label -- we recently signed our good friends Japandroids and a new band called Makeout Videotape -- and I do a lot of administrative work for that. What keeps me going when I'm working long hours on the computer is the bleepy techno. I'm a closet raver. And a sucker for a good dance party.

Any musical guilty pleasures you'd care to share?

Hmm, I'm not sure what you're looking for with that one.

Like something you'd be embarrassed by if we put it on the Internet.

Ha. Well, I can be a sucker for Aqua. "Come on, Barbie!" And 'How Bizarre' by what is it, OMG? [Ed. -- Close! It's OMC.] That's a great song. Oh, and EMF, 'Unbelievable.'

The Beatles or the Stones?

I used to prefer the Beatles, and just recently I've gotten into the Stones. My parents didn't listen to them. They were big Beatles fans, and I listened to so much Beatles music it was time to move on.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Oh man, I've actually never thought about this. I'm gonna have to say Keira Knightley. I had a huge crush on her after the first 'Pirates of the Caribbean.'

Gina Grinstead is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.