Mini Mansions Interview: SXSW 2010

Mini Mansions' sound may be reminiscent of the Beatles, with their catchy melodies, or the Beach Boys with their tight harmonies. But Michael Shuman, Tyler Parkford, and childhood friend Zach Dawes draw from personal experiences and introspection, influenced by the Beatles' and Beach Boys' originality rather than purely from their musical styles. Shuman took time out from the group's busy studio schedule to talk about the group and his previous SXSW experiences.

How would you describe your sound?

I'd say it's psychedelic pop music with a lot of surprise elements of an ominous cloud lingering overhead.

Who are your main influences?

I don't really say we have main influences. I think if you listen to our stuff, a lot of people make judgments about who our influences are. Like, "You must really love the Beatles." Yes, I do, and yes we all do, but I'd say a lot of it comes from film and certain television that kind of brings a vibe to it, rather than specific songwriters that we're kind of ripping off. I have a big record collection, but right now I don't listen to a whole lot of music, especially new music. I'm kind of out of the loop. So I think a lot of lyrical influence comes from films and books and television. And television has, I think, become something greater than it used to be. I think it's really good right now, and somewhat better than film.

So what are your favorite TV shows?

I think one of the best shows out there right now is 'Dexter,' and for me, just watching his inner dialogue, there's something weird about the way he plays himself to other people and how he really is inside. I've taken a few inspirations from the show's writing. But I think Tyler, our main lyricist, would say something completely different. He doesn't really watch TV, but he watches films and books and things.

How do you write the songs?

There's only three of us, and we started with my songs and [Tyler's] songs, and chose the best from each of our own. And that was kind of how the first EP is. Those songs are kind of put all together to make the band's songs. The songwriting process for the record we're going to come out with is more of a collaborative process, still taking parts from me and Tyler and creating these songs. But Zach, the bass player, is now adding his own licks, too.

How did your band form?

It was basically me and Zach, the bass player. We've been friends since we were about 11, and we kind of played music together when we were younger. He went to school in Santa Cruz with Tyler, and they ended up friends, and Zach would always send me emails saying I had to check out this guy's songs. He did the same to Tyler [about me]. That was four years ago, and I listened to [Tyler's] songs and thought they were amazing. I knew I'd want to work with him at some point. A year and a half ago he moved back to LA, and I saw him at a party, and we started talking because we both weren't really doing anything at that time. We decided to write songs and see what we could do. We just thought it would be good.

Did you grow up in LA?

Yes, [Zach and I] were born and raised here. Tyler is from Long Beach.

How did you come up with your band name?

I think it's the hardest process because the good names have been taken for the last 50 or 60 years. We started the band first and then three months into it decided on a band name. I think the way the songs were written and the way we formed them [had a lot to do with it]. We had these little songs, little pieces. Like Tyler would have 60 little minute-and-a-half pieces, unfinished, and to him they were songs. They ended up becoming epic, multifaceted songs, and I think that kind of idea of mini-mansions, that dichotomy really worked for us, musically.

You have a penchant for misspellings, with your songs like 'Majik Marker' and 'Katching Kites.' Any story behind that?

Those are Tyler's, and he's a funny character. Just the way even in his lyrics there's something comical and weird how he writes. Like I said, those little pieces of songs -- those were him. They were already spelled that way, so I'm not going to argue with his spelling. I think it's his own interpretation of these words. A lot of these other songs, we make up our own words. We like to make up words, and I think the spelling might have something to do with that, too.

Have you been to Texas before?

Yeah, I've been a bunch of times. I used to go to SXSW with my other band Wires on Fire. When I was 17 to 20 years old, I'd go every year. I went two years ago, but I haven't been to SXSW since.

What's your biggest vice?

Nothing interesting to talk about, but smoking seems to be all of our vices. It's a terrible one. Not very interesting. And I'd say working is one of my [own] vices, just constantly trying to do stuff for the band. I'm just constantly trying to work. It kind of kills my social life.

What's in your festival survival kit?

I'd say a bed and a smile.

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles. More influenced by [John] Lennon, for sure.

Have you spent much time touring?

I think we've done a great amount of touring for how long we've been a band, which is only a year. Just recently we've done five weeks in Canada, came home for a week, then Australia, came home for a week, then to SXSW, so I'd say we do a lot. I've been touring pretty constantly since I was 20.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

I'd say just people-watching in other places. I think that's half the fun, besides playing music ... people watching, and the sociology of that. Because you see so many things that are abnormal to you, but actually normal to people in other cities.

S. Carrie Dickerson is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.