Montana
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Interview With Sam From Montana By Chris 25/4/07
Montana are an awesome band from America .
After accidently discovering their site,I listened to a few tunes and was hooked.
Expect to hear heaps more from this band and plus a review of their album when it’s ready.
1. How did you get into music?
I always had a janky old classical guitar in my room. It wasn’t until I was 13 that I picked it up. I had it there, I guess, in anticipation of the day I’d choose to learn. I think a lot of my friends who play in bands have similar introductions to their instruments. It wasn’t until those sort of formulative teen years that we started thinking about music as an outlet.
2. Who were your idols growing up?
I can’t really recall. I was definitely into my Mum’s record collection as a kid. She was a big Bob Dylan fan, so that stuck with me.
3. Who were your influences?
Well, for Montana, I’d have to say nearly anything on 4ad. The 1st pedal I ever bought was this great Boss delay pedal. It was always the sound I gravitated toward. Of course as a result, I get a few comparisons to the Edge, he basically owns that sound. I think we took a lot of influence from bands like Ride, Swervedriver and My Bloody Valentine, we definitely lean toward that glacial and somewhat heavy sound. The Post Punk bands really appealed to me also: The Chameleons, Joy Division and The Cure.
As a kiwi, a lot of the Flying Nun stuff has been prevalent throughout. I love the Bats and Straightjacket fits, The Chills are another one.
4. Are you happy with the responses with the music on your website?
Yeah I am. Though it’s even better to meet those people at the shows. There’s some really wonderful people we’ve meet through this.
5. What has been your favorite gig to date?
I don’t know if I have a favourite gig. There’s one place, the Stork club in Oakland CA, that we’ve played more than anywhere else. It’s our 2nd rehearsal space basically, so it always feels like we’re coming home when we play there. Though I really love those anomaly gigs. Whether it’s an outdoor street show in Mid Summer, or a friend’s party. Actually, we have an annual BBQ we call “incest fest”. We all play in several bands, so our collective projects get together at our rehearsal space and play all night.
6. Have you had much response from labels?
We’ve had some label interest. We haven’t really pursued anything yet. We’re waiting on the album before we focus on extending ourselves further.
7. Has the band had much response from radio?
We’ve also had some college radio play. Again it’s the same thing with the labels, where we haven’t submitted a whole lot just yet, as were still working on the album. Once it’s out though.
8. Do you feel the Internet has helped bands get noticed by labels and
Industry people?
Overall it’s obviously effective but…No, I don’t think so. Well, not for us anyway. It’s essential for contacting bookers, the public and radio. But there’s such an abundance of bands with a web presence that I think labels find acts via a different forum, whether that’s Showcases, networking or word of mouth. Having said that I realize that a web presence is an obligatory and invaluable resource for any band.
9. Any plans to tour overseas or move overseas for the band?
Yes, we’re talking about touring New Zealand. I’m from Christchurch originally. That’ll hopefully happen in 2008
10. What is on your stereo at the moment?
The Silver EP by JESU is Justin Broadrick’s new project. It sounds unbelievable. Dense, thick and gorgeous.
11. What are some of your favorite musical artists/bands?
I’ll give you a short version to this question…Morphine has to be the band that I hold most dear. “The Night” is a beautiful album.
Otherwise…Mogwai, the Chameleons, Sciflyer, The Bats, The Beatles, Mister Vague, Luna, Galaxie 500, My Morning Jacket, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, Hendrix, The National, Cowboy Junkies, Doves, Low, Jesu, Tom Waits, The Catherine Wheel, The Cure, Jeff Buckley, The Cocteau Twins and on and on and on
12. Are you happy how the band has gone so far?
We started in one place and now I see us in another. That’s very satisfying to me. Also I play music with two of my best friends. It’s filled a huge cavity in all our lives and we’ve grown as a result.
13. Any releases in the pipeline?
Yes, we’ve got our debut album coming out in the next couple of months. We haven’t got a title yet. The album’s very close.
14. What inspires the band when writing music?
It varies; some songs kick around for as long as a year or two before I hash them out. Others come out like a purge, a compulsive need to write, communicate or whatever you like to call it. Some songs have started as instrumentals, others with a melody, a line, or a vague concept. Typically they’ve been about a personal reaction to something or someone.
I was an English Major, so a lot of American authors have inspired me. It was one of the things that drew me here actually. Sam Shepard’s plays depicted this grandiose and monumental picture of the American landscape. Filmmakers, Terrence Mallick and Wim Wenders have both made films that provided this romantic and panoramic backdrop of the American west that I relished.
As a band, we’re very democratic once I’ve brought a song or idea in. If we have a potential song we feel is valid and evocative we’ll talk about what we need to do as a trio to make it effective. Sometimes we’ll just stumble on an idea that’ll grab us; we’ll usually agree to carry it through until we feel it’s done. I think those are the moments that I really feel inspired: writing with the band and coming across something purely by accident.
15. What has been the highlight so far?
Probably the bonds and friends we’ve made and the times we’ve spent together. The shows with our friends, I’m always very fond of. Recording the album has been a great time also.
16. What is next for the band?
Putting the album out. Then we’re talking about a tour along the West Coast (U.S.A) as well as this venture to New Zealand.
