Inspired by the likes of Sigur Ros and fellow Oklahomans The Flaming Lips, Stillwater’s Other Lives have not reinvented the wheel, or even work much outside the box. Instead, they’ve brought new elements with them into the box, re-arranging concepts and blurring genres to paint a distinctive, majestic sonic landscape that’s both astonishingly fresh and comfortingly familiar.
Featuring hypnotic vocals fronting cello, violin, bowed guitar, Mellotron, piano and anything else they could get their capable hands on, the quintet’s gorgeous new album, Tamer Animals (TBD Records/White Iris Records), puts them firmly in the forefront of a sub-movement often dubbed “chamber folk.” After six months’ worth of pleasant musical surprises from all over the dial, it’s my early front-runner for “album of the year.”
East Portland Blog recently grilled Other Lives’ Jesse Tabish for a few moments via phone. Besides leading a white-hot band as it criss-crosses the country, the musician also recently moonlighted as a lone astronaut in their new video for the song, “For 12.”
EPB: After so many fan-generated YouTube videos have debuted, you decided to make one yourselves. Did you get to keep the space suit?
Tabish: (Laughs) No, unfortunately I didn’t. Actually, after being (filmed) in the space suit in Death Valley, I was happy to return it.
EPB: How did you decide on a concept? Did your label hire a director?
Tabish: A director approached us with an idea for a video. We met with him, and liked his idea. I didn’t want a video with a storyline or anything, so once he told me there wasn’t a storyline, I was sold. The video is more about the “feeling” of the song.
EPB: You’ve recorded the sort of album that some folks tend to obsess over… I know I have. Have you grown accustomed to the idea of fans or critics re-examining Tamer Animals, analyzing it?
Tabish: I feel so lucky when people are into it… and I really mean that, I’m not saying it because it sounds pretty. I’m always pleasantly surprised. As far as people examining it, picking it apart — I’ve done that a million times before they have. Once it’s released, it’s fair game as far as what people want to say or think. I don’t pay too much attention to that, but I am always humbled and very appreciative when I hear people saying nice things about it.
EPB: It seems that we might be enjoying another Renaissance of great music…
Tabish: I agree.
EPB: Have you thought about why this is happening now?
Tabish: I really think it might be a combination of two things. One, there are a lot of independent artists who are making music that is very idealistic. They can do that because of recording… they don’t have million-dollar contracts, don’t have to put out a record in four weeks at a big-budget studio. Artists are able to have home studios now, they’re able to record cheaply. It gives them time to daydream about what they really want.
Secondly, a lot of the musicians that we’ve played with are really “with it” people… I don’t find a lot of rock-star millionaires, a lot of coke parties in the circles I travel around; they’re people who are really interested in, and educated about music.
I think a culmination of all these things has led to a great new wave of music.
EPB: I also think the lack of major-label involvement is a factor.
Tabish: Exactly. There’s not as much of “Oh, we’re hiring this producer instead,” or “We need some more up-tempo songs for this record.” We’re left to our own devices. The artist has always known best, and I think you’re starting to see more of that clarity.
EPB: You’ve been on the road a lot… heck, by September you’ll have visited the Northwest three times this year. Does it ever wear on you, or does the change of company keep you going? I see you’re switching from the Rosebuds to Bon Iver later this summer.
Tabish: (Chuckles) The road can be a little trying sometimes, but fortunately I’m able to write on the road… that keeps me balanced. It keeps things in perspective. It is a challenge — you are sort of in a box, so you have to work with all these confinements… but I enjoy that challenge. There are of course, certain comforts that I miss at home — family, the studio, my girlfriend. I don’t know, ask me this question in September and I might have a different answer!
EPB: As I hail from Fleet Foxes country, I feel compelled to rib you a bit about the beard… it does seem to be a prerequisite for those in your line of work these days. Have you developed a “Samson and Delilah” complex about it?
Tabish: (Laughs) You know, I haven’t fully shaved my beard in about five years… so that might tell you something, maybe I do fear I will lose all my powers if it’s gone. I do trim it a bit when I see my mother.
EPB: Please name three albums that you wish you could have been in the booth for, to witness the magic firsthand.
Tabish: It is very cliched, but I would start with Dark Side Of The Moon, because of the new technologies of the time. Then I’d say After The Gold Rush, because it’s amazing in its own, different way — in its “lo fi” quality. Ummm… I’d have to also go with the first Ramones album. Definitely.
EPB: Now, that’s variety! I listen to your record, and other albums that have a certain magic to them, and think about being a fly on the wall when someone says, “I think we have something here.” Was there a “eureka moment” during the recording sessions?
Tabish: You know, I’d have to say I’ve never had a “eureka moment.” Or, I think the one eureka moment I had was ten years ago, when I decided that I’ll do this for the rest of my life. Since then, it’s been everyday work. These things happen in a slow process. After one record, you realize something, after another record, you realize something else. It’s a culmination of things and pieces that, speaking for myself, can only be achieved in everyday work. The process itself is the “eureka moment” for me, if that makes sense.
Website = otherlives.com
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