Acrylics Interview: SXSW 2010

Brooklyn's Acrylics saw a boost of blogosphere buzz following the release of the group's October 2009 EP, 'All of the Fire,' produced by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor. Now the Acrylics, anchored by duo Jason Klauber and Molly Shea, are readying their debut full-length CD, and making their first SXSW appearance. Klauber took a break from life on the road to chat with Spinner about the group's upcoming performances, what it was like recording with Taylor, and why hanging out with two 'Jersey Shore' cast members is better than one.

When did you guys form?

Molly [Shea], me and Jason, started playing together years ago when we were in college, and we've been making music ever since. Acrylics started two years ago when we had a new set of songs and started recording, and then we realized we had to bring in some other musicians to start filling out the instrumentation. We've had a revolving cast of other people playing with us, but it really just started with Molly and me.

How did you come up with the band name?

We were flipping through an art book and saw a painting that was acrylic on Plexiglass. We thought about the name "Acrylic on Plexiglass," but decided on Acrylics. It represented color and plasticity, but something full and vibrant.

How would you describe your sound?

We're based in New York, and a lot of it has to do with being in a city, but also imagining you're somewhere else. There's elements of what Gram Parsons called "Cosmic American Music." It's really about something both rooted on earth, and a terrestrial, American kind of feeling, but also projecting into places less comfortable and less natural, less familiar. I think it's about being home, but also yearning to be in other places. A combination of the two. It's trying to find the best sounds.

Who are your musical influences?

Everything from Alice Cooper, Steely Dan ... we're just (now) listening to 'What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye. It's very psychedelic, and socially moving, as well. The Ramones are a huge influence. I don't know if you can hear that in what we're doing, but that whole approach to songwriting really means a lot to me.

You had an EP out in October, produced by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor. How did you team up with him?

Chris Taylor saw us play some shows, and we had some friends in common. He asked us to record initially one track that was going to be on a split 7-inch, and we got into it and recorded an EP. We had about a week to do it. We were in his church studio, which is a beautiful place to record. We had fun. We had been working on a whole record prior to that, and we're still working on that record, slowly. So it was fun that he gave us the opportunity.

Will you be working with him on your full-length CD, too?

Our full-length is already recorded. It was mostly produced by ourselves. I would like to work with him again, but he probably won't be credited as producer on our first release.

Have you guys been to SXSW before?

Acrylics has not been to SXSW before. I've been another time with another band, but that was a long time ago, so I'm excited to go back.

What are you most looking forward to?

Mostly playing a lot of shows in one space. I feel like each show is going to be different than the prior show, and we'll meet a lot of people. It'll mostly be us running around, trying not to drink too much Lone Star. Hopefully we'll have a good time. We're doing seven shows, so I'm not sure how much free time we'll have. It's fun, because at all the shows, you just plug in and play. Different people are going to be at each one. I'm looking forward to not knowing what's going to be happening next at any given moment.

Any particular acts you're excited to see?

I'm most excited to find bands I haven't even heard of; bands I haven't read anything about. But otherwise, I'm going to have to look at the schedule and see what we can make.

What's in your festival survival kit?

(Asks bandmembers in van.) Toilet paper, toothbrush, Afro pick, nail clippers, tampons, spare tire, sleeping bags, almonds ... water. Then when you're done with the water bottle, you could pee in it. Usually I wouldn't bring a survival kit; I think I'd just rely on other people.

Do you watch MTV's 'Jersey Shore'? Which of the cast members would you want to party with in Austin?

What's the name of that short, weird girl from Poughkeepsie?

Snooki?

Snooki. She's kinda weird and would just want to get laid. And what's that guy? The Situation. I'd like to hang out with the two of them together. If I was with one of them, isolated, I'd be embarrassed that people would think they were my friend. If I had two of them. it would be understood, the joke.

Maybe you'll get lucky and see them fist-pumping at one of your sets.

I don't know how they'd react to our music. It'd be interesting to find out.

What else do you have in store this spring and summer?

Traveling, playing other cities, probably doing some recordings and some new demos. Hopefully releasing our record. It's exciting and fun, mostly just touring and writing, because that's what we do.



Jill Menze is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.