The Silent Type
Picture copyright respected holders.
Interview With The Silent Type By Chris 9/8/05
The Silent Type are one great band that defiantly
impressed me.
They have released a great album called Of Writing/Of
Violence.
You have to check it out after you have read this
interview.
The Silent Type
Website
1. How did the band form?
I think it was around 1999 that I started writing some
acoustic songs on my own, outside of the band I was in at
the time. I had been doing so since I’d first picked up a
guitar, but the songs started to cohere a bit better and
showed a bit more maturity in terms of their songwriting. I
put together a self-recorded demo the following summer,
mailed some out to labels or for review, and sold them at
solo shows. The idea all along was to recruit some other
members to flesh out the songs a bit more. Long story
short, over the past five years, that idea went into
practice and Silent Type began to grow and evolve. The band
is now six members strong and I don’t plan on stopping
until I’ve achieved full orchestra status.
2. Who were your idols growing up?
I’ll stick with musical idols. My parents were a big
influence in my initial musical background. I didn’t start
guitar until I was thirteen, but my dad is and was a
musician, so I grew up watching him at band practice every
week. Likewise, my mother always sang to me and taught me
songs on the piano. Outside my immediate family, I’ve
idolized Jeremy Enigk since I first heard ‘Diary’ in high
school. My entire musical output seems to be futile
attempts at trying to realize what he has already achieved.
Listen to ‘Return of the Frog Queen’ and you’ve pretty much
got the blueprint for the Silent Type.
3. Who were your influences?
See above. In addition, I consider anything I hear to be an
influence, whether I choose to emulate or avoid a
particular musician or band. Hopefully only the positive
influences filter through.
4. What has the response been to the album?
It’s hard to tell. In our own limited world, we feel
overjoyed to have an actual album released. Having others
respond positively to that album continues to amaze us.
It’s corny, in a way, but true. Also, I feel most impressed
by those reviewers/fans who listen carefully and pay
attention to lyrics, composition, engineering, and so on.
It denotes a kind of respect for music that is rare.
5. What was the recording process like?
A mixture of extreme relaxation, fatigue, inspiration, and
frustration–typical of any recording process, I think. We
are fortunate to record with our friend, Jason LaFerrera,
who makes the whole process as smooth as possible. We also
don’t have to deal with the constant pressure of being on
the clock, losing money, which is nice.
6. Has the internet helped with your music?
It’s hard to put any quantitative measure on that sort of
thing, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt. For instance, our
older release is out of print, but available in its
entirety on our website (www.silenttype.net). This
puts the music in the hands of people that want to hear it.
Since it’s out of print, we wouldn’t be making money from
it anyway.
7. What are your thoughts to filesharing and the mp3
format?
I love filesharing and encourage anyone who enjoys our
music to copy and share it with others. At the same time,
keep in mind that recording, pressing, and distribution
cost money, so it’s good to give back some form of
compensation to the artists, whether it’s buying the actual
record or coming out to see them on tour. In the cases
where a listener can either download our music or not hear
it at all, I’d rather they hear it. There will always be
those people that steal music outright, but even then, it’s
flattering that someone would seek out your music.
8. Have you had much response from labels
overseas?
A little bit. Hopefully something is in the works to have
our album distributed overseas. We’ll see what comes to
fruition in the next few months.
9. What inspired you to the play the music you
do?
That’s a tough question to answer, but I’ll give you a
specific personal story. I’ve listened to music avidly
since I was very young (for instance, I used to hold a tape
recorder up to my television set to record songs from MTV)
and I was always fascinated with musical instruments. Once,
in middle school, I was sitting in the back of the
classroom during study hall. Another older student brought
in a guitar and began playing ‘Stairway to Heaven’. It
absolutely blew my mind that someone could reproduce
another artist’s songs on the guitar. From that point on, I
began begging my dad for an acoustic guitar. About a year
later, he finally relented. I guess I owe it all to my dad,
Led Zeppelin, and an unknown high school student.
10. What is it like being a artist in america?
I can’t say I have a point of comparison. I’ve never been
an artist anywhere else. Although, from what I hear from
bands that tour in Europe, the fans there seem to be a lot
more supportive and engaged. I’m not sure what creates that
difference, but it certainly sounds nice. Fans over here
seem a bit jaded and cynical at times.
11. What are your thoughts on realty tv talent shows eg
American Idol?
It’s mindless, but oddly compelling, like most reality
television. I guess I could make some grandiose statement
about its contribution to cultural decay, but then I’d be
hypocritical, since I’m guilty of watching. I love Surreal
Life.
12. If you could have a dream gig line up who would they
be?
Barring any limitations of space and time, I’d like Vivaldi
as the opener, then Sunny Day Real Estate (c. 1994), the
Beatles (c. 1967), and Beethoven as the closer. I don’t
even care if Silent Type plays, I’d just like to see that
combination.
13. Have you had much support from radio?
A bit, from college radio and some internet stations.
14. If you could be on any tv show where would you
be?
Six Feet Under. We could be the funeral band.
15. What is on your stereo at the moment?
I don’t use my stereo too often. iPod on shuffle is the way
to go.
16. What are some of your favourite musicial
artists/bands?
Sufjan Stevens, Matt Pond PA, Owen, Blonde Redhead, Ms.
John Soda, Starflyer 59, Explosions in the Sky, Slowdive,
Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate, etc.
17. What movies you have seen lately you have really
enjoyed?
Finding Neverland was a real tear-jerker, I enjoyed that
one. City of God was pretty intense, too, especially if you
like gangster-type movies. Gangster kids, that is.
18. What are your favourite movies?
American Beauty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the
Exorcist, and Booty Call, to name just four.
19. Realty TV? Good Or Bad?
See above.
20. Favourite place to play?
Silent Type hasn’t played the Middle East in Boston, but
I’ve been there with another band, and it’s consistently
one of my favorites. The crowd seems more attentive there,
even if you’re unknown. The stage is nice and large,
too.
Thanks To Sean Of Invisible Youth PR for setting up and
The Silent Type for doing it
