Abi: tell me about your new album. What are the juicy details?
Darin: Well there’s a lot going on with it, we have all kinds of different players. We have a bunch of new songs we are excited about. It’s really going to be our “debut LP” so we are pretty stoked. It’s gonna be rad I think.
A: I can’t wait! I have really enjoyed your live sets lately. How does your song writing process work? Does it differ from your recording process?
D: Well, for me it’s very hard to examine and explain but I’ll try. Haha. I feel my music is maybe some sort of expression where I am trying to make sense of myself, or make sense of this world, this existence, this consciousness, this ecology, this “human-ness” these emotions. A reflection of myself defined by the unknown. I like to leave the process open, happening differently, constantly changing, something new. I purposefully don’t listen to music when I’m trying to write songs. I want to be authentic and original as possible. Recording is a lot different, as the band comes together to play the song and have “the recording”. I am very neurotic and obsessive in the studio, trying get every little detail to reflect my “vision”, my vision of the song, the moment, that other world in which it exists. I’m probably pretty annoying to other musicians and recording artists, but hey, whatever. They seem to deal with me ok haha.
Abi: I think it makes sense that recording is a place where your inner control freak would come out. I’m not a musician, but I feel like I would get overwhelmed with all of the various production choices. What kind of a recorded ‘sound’ are you going for?
D: I am going for a sound that we can call our own. I know I don’t want it to sound Lo-fi. I also want it to sound better than we sound live, because to me a recording is a chance to express yourself and your music in ways that you cannot live. Some of the songs are about sorrows and heartache (in various forms), some songs are about our world, how I perceive it, certain circumstances and situations. I feel like sometimes I may be too metaphoric or……..”round about” for my true intentions and meanings to be perceived, which is of course my fault.
Abi: Ok, how about you lay some crazy tour stories on me.
D: Haha, well I suppose, I mean touring on the level we are on is always rough, no money, sleeping on floors etc., but I do love it. It’s Rock and roll. Probably shouldn’t tell the really crazy stories haha. What happens in the van stays in the van I have also done some tours with another band I play bass In called Jackson Boone, and out of all the touring, I have spent a fair amount of time in auto part store parking lots fixing broken down tour vans haha. Slept on the beach one time. I kind of feel like tour is just one big crazy experience, traveling and playing music being in a van all day with your fellow musicians. Drama happens, fun happens, and lame shit happens haha.
Abi: What do you think of the PDX music scene?
D: The Portland music scene is exciting to me right now because of it’s diversity. There are so many great bands that all have their own unique thing going on, it feels like a true art culture, and everybody always looks cool, haha. We have style here (except for me probably haha). I just want peace and togetherness and equality here. I want us all to freely express ourselves through our art. My absolute favorite thing about our scene are the people. Not the bands, but the individuals in the bands, all the people that come to shows and support. We would have nothing without them, and they are all usually pretty nice too 🙂
Abi: Your father was a musician, right? What was that like back when you were a kiddo?
D: Growing up with musicians was an inspiration. My dad has always been a musician and he passed that on to Clint and I. My parents were always supportive. If we wanted to learn a certain instrument, they would always find a way to get one. We were very lucky to be supported this way. It was OK to want to grow up to be a broke ass musician haha.
Abi: When I’ve seen your live sets, there is always an old television set on stage with you guys, turned onto some static. What is that about?
D: As far as the TV, it’s always on the Wave Action channel, and it’s only on when we are playing. It represents our fleeting moments as Wave Action, as one organism working together. Then when that last note is played it’s all over, we leave our dreams and come back to reality. I would like to conclude this interview with a short poem if I may 🙂
In rumination, I am seeking the spirit.
My eyes open wide, the abstraction is anonymous
Primordial surrenders
A new rise to nothingness