Sun Airway interview with WUTK by bbryant3
WUTK: So, Why don’t you go ahead and introduce yourself.
Sun Airway: My name is John and I am part of Sun Airway. Patrick is kind of my second half of the recording part, but our live band is five people.
WUTK: Really? So two of you write it and then you have a full band?
SA: It’s mostly my project that I started with Patrick, but now its become a real band.
WUTK: How would you describe your music?
SA: Oh, man. You think I would have an answer for that by now. That’s always the toughest thing for me to say. The short answer, I guess, is electronic-pop. I’ll stick with that.
WUTK: I know you said you have been touring for a little while. How has it been?
SA: It has been pretty amazing. The first half was with Cults and Small Black. We all just got along really well, and kind of turned it into a rolling party.
WUTK: Then is this your first show with Asobi Seksu?
SA: Last night was our first with them and they were great. I’m psyched to see them for the next few nights.
WUTK: This is kind of like the ultimate indie music show, You get all different sides of the music spectrum.
SA: Yeah it seems like going to and from SXSW there is so many bands going that you can put together some really solid tours.
WUTK: Do you have any good stories from SXSW? You played eight shows in four days!
SA: Sadly, my main concern was just keeping my voice. It was such a blur. We had some definite good times. I ate a lot of good food truck food. Waffle tacos is all I’m going to say. Also, there’s a big thing in Philly called “Making Time” and they were doing something at SXSW that ended up being a big Philly thing. After us was Spankrock, and we has playing some of his new stuff. He just got everyone super into it.
WUTK: Are you working on any new stuff right now? If so, what kind of music?
SA: I am. We are trying to get out a 7’’ this summer, and then hopefully another album next year. So I’m just starting to write some music. I have one song done and a few in the works.
WUTK: From what we have read, you get a lot of comparisons to Animal Collective. What do you think about that?
SA: I’m okay with it, as far as reference points goes because I really like Animal Collective. But, I am also sort of confused by it because I don’t every really think you would confuse us with them. I think people need something to latch onto. It is a flattering band to be compared to.
WUTK: You were part of the A-Sides. How did the A-sides morph into Sun Airway?
SA: Well, basically everyone but the drummer quit. Not out of any real reason. We were kind of over touring. So, I mostly just wanted to make music. I had been messing around with electronica music and samples and I wanted to just really try to dive into it and make a record of it, so that’s what we did. Oh and now the Sun Airway band is 4/5ths of the A-Sides.
WUTK: So now you all just came together and made a new and improved A-Sides?
SA: Yeah pretty much. People left and did their own thing, but by the time Sun Airway got around to playing shows everybody wanted to get involved again.
WUTK: The Sun Airway stuff sounds pretty different than the A-Sides. Do you think on a touring basis atleast that you will start to sound a little like the A-Sides?
SA: The good thing about the A-Sides was that everyone was just really good at what they were doing. But, I think there is a lot of times in a live show everyone’s strengths in what they play really come out like they did in the A-Sides. So, maybe there is a little something there.
WUTK: Did the guys in the A-Sides help you with your newest album, Nocturne of Exploded Chandelier?
SA: No one helped on it. It was kind of make the music first and then do it live.
WUTK: When did you start working on the album that came out in October of last year?
SA: We started it in August of ’08, so it was kind of a long time coming. A lot of that was just building a studio and trying to learn how to use all the gear.
WUTK: How did that album come together? What was your inspiration?
SA: I guess it was coming from a lot of places. Most of it I had written already. It would probably have been the new A-Sides record, but once we started Sun Airway I was recording them all in this new context. The inspirations of a few songs were based on the book Norweigan Wood. And then I just took a lot of the themes that were involved in those and tried to elaborate on them for the rest of the stuff. I wanted to make something really cohesive. I started taking the moon and the night as the main reference points.
WUTK: You can hear that on the album. It sounds a little dreamy.
SA: Yeah, I like for it to be very mysterious. Something you can really immerse yourself in.
WUTK: You’re going to be at the Pitchfork festival. Were you excited to be one of the first bands announced.
SA: That was definitely a surprise to us, as much as anybody else. I’ve always wanted to go, but never had a real excuse. This year it’s on and I can’t wait.
WUTK: You’ve done a lot of remixes for Here We Go Magic and Caribou. Can we expect more of these?
SA: Probably a couple more, but I’m definitely going to be slowing down on those.
WUTK: Anything else you’re working on?
SA: I am doing something awesome for a charity that’s benefiting kids in Southern India. It’s made from a library of samples of those kids singing. There are a lot of other really cool artists involved. Other than that I guess I’ll just focus on my own stuff for a bit.
WUTK: The last album you said took you two years. Do you think that next one is going to take as long?
SA: I would really like for it to take a lot less time. But it’s hard to say. It depends on how much free time I get.
WUTK: What bands are you really into right now?
SA: I got a recent EP of Zola Jesus that is really good. Also, the new Pains of Being Pure at Heart. I also listen to a lot of electronic and dance music from the past 10 years. I’m really excited for the new Cass McCombs and Dirty Beaches, too.
WUTK: Is there a band you are really hoping to see, perhaps at Pitchfork when you are there?
SA: I’m psyched to see Fleet Foxes.
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