Exclusive: An Horse Interview

Yeah, no introduction necessary. One thing I should mention is I didn't know if Kate or Damon would be answering the questions, normally I would reword the questions before posting so they are directed at who's actually answering. However, Kate turns this into something hilarious so I didn't even bother! Enjoy!

How was it finally touring Germany? I know fans had been wanting to see you guys there for a long while now. (hence, #AnHorseForGermany)

Germany was great. A lot of fun and SO much food. The crowds were really appreciative and energetic.

How did the remix EP, Beds Rearranged, come together?

Our label suggested it to us. At first we weren't sold on the idea but we heard a couple of remixes and we really loved them. It was a really fun project. It was really interesting to see what people did with our music.

Do you guys have a release date for the new record? If not, could you tell us about when we could be expecting it?

We are recording it in Vancouver in July/August with Howard Redekopp. We don't have a release date yet. We are super excited to make it!

Though I’ve read this once before, I was wondering if you could tell us what the songwriting process is like. Does Kate write all the lyrics?

I usually write songs quietly in my house and record them. I then send a whole batch to Damon and he goes away and listens to them. Then we get together in a practice room and work on them. I write all the lyrics. Damon sings a few things that he has come up with.

Sonically are you guys moving in a different direction on the new record?

I think you have to develop with every record you make. Damon and I always want to be pushing ourselves sonically. I don't doubt this record will sound different to Beds.

I recently saw footage of Kaki King playing lap steel during a performance of “Little Lungs”. It was pretty amazing. Any chance she’ll appear on the new record?

Umm I don't think so. Maybe? We haven't asked. I am sure if Kaki wants to play or we think there is something she could shred on it would happen but I don't think we could figure that out until we are making the record.

I’m a huge Intercooler fan. Damon, I was wondering if you’re still working with them at all?

No he isn't. Horse is pretty all consuming. (He is watching a movie right now so I had to answer that).

Damon you also had a band called Mary Trembles. I saw a show poster/flyer with both Intercooler and Mary Trembles on the bill for the same night. How was it to play drums for two bands on the same night?

He is still watching the movie! I am pretty sure it was tiring.

You’ve toured with Tegan & Sara, Death Cab, Silversun Pickups, and Telekenisis, to name a few, and are now on tour with Kaki King. Is there any other band/artist you would like to tour with that you haven’t yet?

Yes there are tonnes of bands we would love to tour with. Perhaps too many to list here. I think we can tour with a really diverse range of people. From pop to punk.

What is your favorite record by your favorite band?

Oh that is way too hard! I have lots of favourite records from lots of favourite bands! I couldn't possible name one as my favourite. I have a really eclectic taste so nailing down one album is so hard. I love Kylie and Beyonce and I love Cancer Bats and Fugazi. I love Patti Smith and I love Carol King. See what I mean? Difficult! haha.

Would you ever consider doing a Tegan & Sara cover?

I would consider covering anyone!

Lee (@hoosierforlife) asks: “Why did Kate move to Montreal?”

It seemed like a good idea and it was! I love it.

Katie K (@K8tKp)asks: “Ninja or Pirate?”

Pirate.

Julia (@Julieisntmyname) asks: “When are you coming back to Texas?

Umm we were just there so probably not again until the new record comes out!

thanks janay!

kate xo

LINKS!!!

http://www.anhorse.com

http://twitter.com/AnHorse

photo by: Lindsey Byrnes (@LindseyByrnes)

live footage by: Wojo4hitz (@Wojo4hitz)

Happy New Year!!! My Personal '09 Recap

Hi, how are you? Hungover? Yeah...me too, crazy party last night dude! Ok, I was at work BUT I have had some crazy NYE throw downs (also, not true), so I know that at this moment the last thing you want to do is read some long drawn out blog post. I dig it! I dig the energy, how about a quick recap!?

Jan/Feb: Tegan & Sara's Macbeth shoes come out a week early and everyone's all freaking out like "omg omg they sold out!" "oh no Sara's are sold out in my size"! And I freak out and tell my friend Jaime to get me a pair of "Tegans" ASAFP!


March: Thanks to a post by Trish Bendix on Afterellen.com I discover Sleater-Kinney who are now my favorite band!
I also attend my first Sick of Sarah show! Love at first face rock!


April: Silversun Pickups release Swoon, which I will still not listen to for another four months so...moving right along!
And I now attend my first 'Cliks show!!! Which is a show I suggest you all go see at least once cause it's amazing. Lucas' powerful voice filling up an entire venue with his own shredding guitar as his only competition...brilliant!

May: I see Sick of Sarah again! Also, excitement builds in the Tegan & Sara fan community as pre-production of what would soon become Sainthood begins!

June: IT'S MAH BIRTHDAY!!! I get a tattoo, see An Horse AGAIN, TnS & Co. begin recording Sainthood and The Cliks release Dirty King!
Gossip also releases Music For Men with a delicious looking album cover might I add;-)

July: Death Cab For Cutie puts on an amazing show at The Hollywood Bowl!
And you know who we haven't heard from in all of 5 minutes? That's right! Tegan & Sara were there too!

August: Mutemath releases Armistice, one of the best records of the year! And I finally listen to Swoon which was released 4 months ago and was also one of the best records of the year. The TnS/Tiesto collabo, "Feel It In My Bones", makes it's debut on the interweb. I also posted my first interview ever to/for this blog with Lindsey Byrnes. O I saw Sick of Sarah AGAIN. This was a good month!


September: Everyone had a birthday and Tegan & Sara (o look who's back) premiered 6 tracks off Sainthood to a VERY approving audience.

Footage from http://youtube.com/wojo4hitz

OCTOBER: BEST.MONTH.EVER. Went to see Sick of Sarah, yes, AGAIN! At that show I discovered The Action Design, and am still obsessed with them. I saw An Horse AGAIN, and Silversun Pickups for the first time ever and it was the best show I've been to so far!

After MUCH anticipation Sainthood is released!

November: ....I got nothing...


December: Ugh! Christmas music! JUST saying, not my thing. Not even Fucked Up can get me to voluntarily listen to a Christmas song. Not even when they have it action packed with awesome bands/singers! O yeah I need to throw some movies in here: Bitch Slap, Avatar, and It's Complicated are all "must sees" apparently.

A book I have to now recommend to everyone after reading it this month, 'The Lovely Bones'. Absolutely brilliant. It's very very very sad but an excellent read! I also recommend going to see the movie in theaters Jan. 15.
Well that sums up my year. Obviously Tegan & Sara win for the "In Your Face" award. People always attack TnS fans by calling them obsessed. It's clear to me after experiencing my first full year as a fan that they are obsessed with their fans too. It's a mutual vibe. I can't think of another band quite as present as they constantly feel the need to be.

I need to read more this year. Any suggestions? I can count on one hand how many books I read this year.

New Music: Expecting new music from Sick of Sarah, Kaki King and Nine Inch Nails this year! Pretty excited about that!

Silversun Pickups: Why They Make Me *Swoon*

Silversun Pickups' lastest record, Swoon is flawless!

This is a band that understands their sound, and knows what it's capable of doing and isn't trying to be anything other than what it originally intended. What they are is an indie rock band. Interesting double standard: because Brain sings in that nice soft sweet tone people like to call their music pop, completely ignoring the rock instrumentation. If Brian was a female singing over the very same music, people wouldn't question the "rock-ness" of the music.

Indie rock? Yes. Specifically new wave. When listening to Swoon I think Metric on downers. The keyboard tracks are subtle and barely raise above the guitar on most tracks, creating a peacefulness within the tracks that compliment Brian's tone. Other tracks however have distortion out the world on Brian's guitar, while his voice remains quiet, perhaps he didn't need to be heard at that moment. Nikki really shines on this record, a few songs have bass lead-ins, making it a few more than you usually get on one record.

My favorite track is "Growing Old Is Getting Old", because of the bass line. It's flawless throughout. The chorus also is hynoptic. Actually the whole record is this way. It's a side effect of the tone in which Brian sings, like Emily Haines' vocals on Metric albums. There's something about the low tone and "pretty" music that makes me light, and I can sink into those records and stay for days.