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L anding firmly on the musical map in 2007 with their critically acclaimed debut Trading Twilight For Daylight, the dark and dreamy LA band Great Northern are back on tour in support of their sophomore release, Remind Me Where The Light Is.
With tighter melodies and more spark to their sparkle, Solon Bixler and Rachel Stolte are going back to Cali (to Cali, to Cali) for a hometown gig at the Echoplex this Memorial Day weekend. The evening promises to be a lush and shiny pop-fest for those inclined to swoon. Recently, we caught up over the phone with Rachel while the duo were in Chicago:
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LA - I love your first record. It's pretty, lush, dark and sweet. Your new record, however, while preserving those elements, is much punchier -- as if the songs are leaping out of my sound system...
GN - I feel like on our first record... it was cool. We're not not happy with it, but this new record grabs you more. And has more balls. We were figuring out what we wanted to sound like and who were as writers. We toured for a year and a half, listening to bands in the van, and seeing other bands play live. We saw an energy -- everything is on fire and electric -- and there's an undeniable quality that grabs you...That's what we wanted to do.
LA - Was there a different recording process from the last album?
GN - We worked on the demos and were specific about what we wanted to sound like. The producers made us listen to every demo we ever recorded -- like 30 songs. It was kind of torturous. We have a studio in our house so, at 2 in the morning, we might have recorded a snippet of a song, drunk, and we didn't think anyone would hear it, but they made us listen to it and they'd say, 'Let's use 5 seconds of this. Let's use a minute of this.' It was like homework.
LA - You are on tour, right now. Are you someone who likes to tour? That can be grueling for some artists.
GN - I love to tour. I love waking up in a new city every day. I mean, there's a grueling part of it, but I feel super alive when I get to perform every night. I force myself to keep my head straight and to have some private time. I force myself to wake up a couple of hours early. I walk around the city or run around the city. That is my favorite time, when I can grab a coffee and take photos and explore and see what the city's vibe is. We're in Chicago right now and it's awesome. This morning, I went down Michigan Avenue and ended up at the lake with seagulls.
LA - Do you find time to write on tour?
GN - I get so much inspiration from touring -- especially this tour. I've been writing a lot lately, and I'm using a guitar. I still play piano and keys, but not live anymore. To play guitar and to be able to just sit somewhere and play -- it's a mobile thing. It's opened up a whole new world and I feel inspired right now.
LA - How does it feel to be a part of a collective of Silver Lake bands including Silversun Pickups, who are doing so well?
GN - I feel lucky that a bunch of like-minded artists gravitated toward an area. I think it's amazing. And to hear Silversun pioneering a movement in that way, and to be in the same circle --.it's awesome. When your friends are successful, you are excited for them. It gives you hope that it is possible.
LA - How do you feel about the loss of radio station Indie 103.1?
GN - I still haven't gotten over it. I still turn to it now and again when I am in my car, hoping it will suddenly be there.Yes, it's still programmed on my car radio!
LA - How do you feel about playing a hometown show in LA this weekend after being on tour throughout the US?
GN - I think it's going to feel good. LA, when you live there, can start to get to you. The traffic! But, when you go around and see the world, you realize [Los Angeles] has a lot to offer. And, it's nice to see our friends. And our cat.
LA - Solon is both your songwriting partner and your boyfriend. When you write, record, live and tour together -- can it be a bit much? How do you deal with it?
GN - It's a loaded....it's a lot. We were friends before we started writing. Then, we started writing together and got together. It's been 5 years. We're super connected, so if we need to take space, we do. We tour, write, live, play, go to get groceries together, but he's my best friend. If we weren't learning from each other, it would probably be harder. I learn so much from him and, hopefully, he feels the same way...and a lot of therapy together, but separate.
LA - Working that closely with someone on music is a perfect breeding ground for love. Creating music with someone is so intimate.
GN - I feel like music is more intimate than intimacy. It's such a vulnerable thing if you create something with someone. It's so intense. How can you not be completely connected?
LA - You've managed to keep the relationship from imploding -- what do you think is the most important thing to ensure a relationship's health?
GN - To keep your individuality.
LA - What's next?
GN - We are going to play London in July -- we've never toured Europe! I think we will love London, and there's talk of going out with Silversun. It's not for sure, but that would be fun.
Saturday, May 23
Great Northern (w/The Dears, Eulogies)
@ Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
Echo Park, CA 90026
8:30 PM
$15
...more
