The Music Gourmets recently spoke with Up the Empire bassist and vocalist Dan Hewins and drummer Ben Lord.
MG: The band is know for having 3-4 vocalists going, even simultaneously. Does that varied approach also apply to the songwriting? How does the band balance egos and ideas with so many voices in the mix?
Dan: We all contribute to the song writing process. It can work in a lot of different ways, but generally we work stuff out in rehearsal and take ideas that we get there and flesh them out - either one of us at home or all together at the practice space.
Ben: The balance is difficult. We're all pretty stubborn, but we generally end up giving in to one another. Other times someone brings in a germ of an idea and the rest of us work with it, to try to make it into a full song.
MG: Talk about that process - taking a "germ" to a full-fledged song.
Dan: Well, maybe Doug has an idea of a riff or a chord progression, he'll play that for us and we'll join in and try to work out drum parts and bass parts. That will generally give it a feel, so we get to something we like and move on or maybe another part or two works itself out in the process.
Ben: Even that varies though... we all write on each others instruments as well.
MG: Wow, so you guys will literally swap instruments during the process? Do you feel like that gives the results more of a seamless, organic sound?
Ben: I do, yeah. Playing each others' instruments opens things up a lot - it gives everyone an opportunity to think differently.
Dan: In our space, we have a few keyboards and guitars that just anyone can use. That helps free up some ideas.
MG: The band has been compared to everyone from Queens of the Stone Age to Wilco to prog rock. How do you envision yourselves/what's the most appropriate comparison, in your opinion? In the same vein, what are the bands that you draw the most inspiration from?
Dan: We have an easier time talking about bands we like and ones that we think influence us rather than bands that we sound like, because invariably people disagree on the second one - we do among ourselves, as do our fans and listeners. But we all like bands like Wilco, Sonic Youth, Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, and all come from a pretty Chicago-style indie rock thing from the mid and late 90s.
MG: The whole Touch & Go scene? Or later, Smashing Pumpkins/Liz Phair era Chicago?
Dan: More like T&G, Thrill Jockey.
MG: Talk about SXSW. What is the dynamic like playing for a crowd that has likely never heard you, and is not familiar with your music? Does that change your live show at all?
Dan: It does. Sometimes it can be more fun - there's no one out there who knows you.
Ben: You're completely judged off of what you do on that stage, and that's pretty much it. So yeah, I'd say it does lead to a certain freedom. If you want to wear a cape that your friends back home would ridicule you for wearing, you totally can.
MG: Does the band do any covers as part of the live show? Any songs you'd love to take a stab at?
Dan: There are a lot that wed love to play, although we cant ever agree on that part.
Ben: Dinosaur Jr.'s "Feel the Pain" is one that I've always wanted to do. We soundcheck with Poison "Unskinny Bop" pretty regularly.
Dan: I've wanted to do somewhat reworked (read: more rocking) versions of Talking Heads songs.
MG: Is that part of the pressure of covers, the desire to do something fresh while not changing up a "classic" too much?
Dan: That really is the hard part, because the best covers are ones that keep the song intact but add a new spin or flavor that the performing band can only bring - think Guns N' Roses "Live and Let Die," Van Halen "Girl You Really Got Me." Of course, both of which were rock songs to begin with.
MG: So what's next for the band, after the current tour? Is it back to the studio?
Dan: Yeah, we've been writing a lot lately. Things are probably going to get more focused in the next batch of songs, most likely a new EP, a quick follow up to "Light Rides."
MG: More focused than "Light?"
Ben: Way more. There's a desire to get each of us out there. Every one of us has something pretty unique to bring to the table - and the new stuff will show that off quite a bit more.
MG: Talk about balancing the "day job" vs. being in a band. Is it possible to have a normal life and tour/record?
Ben: Balancing the day job with band life sucks. It's possible, but it's so difficult. I spend way more time than I should at work booking shows, making calls, etc. The band is an all encompassing thing - even when we're trying not to think about it, we are. I'm constantly butting into Dan's day and popping up on his computer with a little note of something we need to do, and vice versa.
MG: Best record of 2007.
Dan: I'd say it has to be "Sky Blue Sky." I like the Battles record too.
Ben: It's funny... I feel like I've had a year of disappointments. Looking back through my itunes, it's like "Well, that wasn't as good as their previous record." I have to say my favorite records of this year, came out last year. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Show Your Bones," I liked Muse "Black Holes and Revelations." I liked "Alligator" better than "Boxer" for the National. "Friend & Foe," Menomena - I do keep getting surprised by how much I like that when it comes up on random. I like the darkness of the new Arcade fire, but nothing has latched on with me yet. There aren't any songs I'm singing in my head.
"Light Rides the Super Major" is available now:
http://www.cougarlabel.com/shop/
You can check out their music at their myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/uptheempire
And at the band's official Web site:
http://www.uptheempire.com/
. When you decide to moves things along, you don't mess around. Congrats!