Pree Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 12th 2010 9:31AM by Gloria Vargas
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Pree's music evokes seductive and shadowy moods that call to mind Regina Spektor's imaginative narratives as well as Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock's rhythmic vocal styling. Spinner caught up with May Tabol, lead vocalist of the band, to talk about her second time playing at SXSW, her musical influences and which band inspired the name of her own group. After the festival, Pree will focus on finishing their next record and look forward to touring again.

How did your band form?

I started writing songs in college and I had been playing with another band, Le Loup from D.C., for a while but in 2008 I decided to work on my own project. I met John Thayer from Exit Clov and we worked on some songs together during the summer of 2008. We recorded an EP and decided to call the project Pree.

We started playing with our current drummer Chris Dewitt at the end of 2008 and David Baker (guitar) and Vanessa Degrassi (mandolin and flute) joined shortly after that. We went on a couple of tours in 2009 down to the South and to Canada and felt ready to go back and start working on new music. We also have a new bassist also from D.C. where we are all based.

How did you come up with your band name?

Pree means to try something or to taste. But it is also part of a song title from Neutral Milk Hotel, called 'A Baby for Pree,' so it has a two-fold meaning. I also just like the sound of the word a lot.What are your musical influences?

I guess Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, Julie Holland, Modest Mouse are the main ones. But we also like, Joan Baez, Mirah, Wilco, The Band, The Mountain Goats, Regina Spektor, Pedro the Lion, Elvis Perkins, Violent Femmes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Joanna Newsom, Wolf Parade, many more actually. We listen to a variety of bands and it definitely adds to the character of the sound, and it is good because we all come from different backgrounds.

How would you describe your sound?

We fall more into the indie-folk genre if I had to pick. We love folk music, the acoustic intimate feeling but also with the different influences and experiences brought by the members of the band we have added interesting dimensions to it. We are experimenting with digital effects while keeping true to our folk sound.

Do you play at a lot of festivals?

Well it is our first time at SXSW as Pree, I have been there before with Le Loup. We played at a festival in Virginia last April and we also did a Summer Concert Series in DC. Not too many but we want to focus on our next album for now.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Thin Lizzy is mine, I'm sure everyone in the band has one whether they admit it or not

The Beatles or the Stones?

Tough call, I would go with the Beatles.

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

Shoot, let me think, nothing really disastrous actually. In general, it is a lot of fun to tour; we are looking forward to do it again sometime soon. Everywhere we go people are really hospitable so it is hard to pick a favorite city, but Montreal is very special. We would like to go there and play during their festival.

What's next for you?

We are working on a full length album; we hope it will be out by the fall. We will not be doing many shows besides SXSW so we have time to focus on recording and getting the album out. Also we would love to go to Europe, I went there with Le Loup and had a great time, so it is something we hope to do soon.

Gloria Vargas is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.
(photo by Charlotte Kesl)