Q&A

Check-Up: Class Actress

Jul 17, 2012

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Categories: Culture

Last week, we caught up with Elizabeth Harper, the stunning frontwoman of one or our favorite synth-pop bands around right now, Class Actress. Read on for a little Q&A about her love of Paris, her penchant for always seeking out locally drown fruit while on tour, and hosting dinner parties as an escape from travelling and recording.

What are you working on right now?

Right now I am working on being in the moment and writing new songs for the next Class Actress record. I shot a video for the track "Keep You" and that's coming out in September. Look for a boxer and some high fashion love.

What was the funnest trip you took over the past six months or so?

Paris, always Paris. I had four days off the during the last European tour and I spent them in Paris. I didn't leave my hotel much but it was still fun.

What was your favorite concert to play?

The other night we played House of Blues in Boston with Sleigh Bells and so I guess every new show is my favorite. Touring with Sleigh Bells has been an absolute joy.

Have you been to any cool non-Class Actress events as of late that were engaging? If so, what was it, and why was it special?

I went to a friends birthday party. It was intimate and on a hot sweaty roof... it was special and engaging because it was full of friends I love and don't get to see very often. So I guess special is in the eye of beholder. As per events, Chris and Ethan DJ'd on the roof of the Wythe hotel and the view up there is very engaging. When i was home for a week in between tours I saw half the cast of Girls hanging out in my neighborhood... it was very meta reality TV reality, if that even makes sense.

What's something you do when you're not working on music?

I like to have dinner parties at my apartment. I like to host. That is probably my favorite hobby right now. That and thinking. Dinner parties are special. People talk and open up... it's a nice contrast to tour, where you are used to moving all the time and cant talk to someone for more than a few minutes at a time.

What's something you always carry with you?

Your headphones of course.

And what's your favorite food to eat while on the road?

Fresh local fruit. anything from a farm stand wheres the people who are selling it actually picked it.

Finally, what are you looking forward to for the rest of the summer?

Touring and starting the new record. Music, it's all about music and love and pressing on into the dark night with love in your heart and passion in your soul.

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Check-Up: Lovefingers

Jun 20, 2012

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Categories: Culture OCF

Earlier this week, we took a little bit of time to catch up with our good friend―who just so happens to be one of the best DJ/producers around―Andrew Hooge, a.k.a. Lovefingers. The man recently embarked on a new non-musical endeavor (he and his wife are making clothes together!), which prompted a move from the NYC to L.A., but that doesn't mean he's not keeping active as ever in the world of dance parties, vinyl records, and house boogies. Indeed, he's still poring himself into ESP Institute, a label he started a few years back, and even working on a full-length Stallions album, which features a live band. Read on for our little catch-up session with the guy.

What have you been working on recently?

On my label ESP Institute, I've been dropping fantastic new releases recently for Soft Rocks. And for myself, I just released a new remix by Stallions (Lee Douglas and myself) for the Backwoods (DJ Kent from Tokyo). Summer rave tune! Also, I just finished a remix for Phil Manzanera to be released shortly.

What prompted your move from NYC to L.A.? What have you been up to on the other coast?

All business. I love NYC and want to be back there, but my lovely wife and I run a few clothing brands and set up shop in L.A. for a while to get the whole machine well oiled and running strong. Its growing. I also started buying records for the hands-down-best new record store in L.A. called Mount Analog. Its in Highland Park, close to my house, and it opens official on June 14.

What was the funnest gig you played in the past year or two?

So hard to say without offending a great friend somewhere... but my most fun is always had in Melbourne (at Bamboo Musik!), NYC, Tokyo, Moscow, Turkey, London, and Paris. I hope that narrows it down.

What're some things you're looking forward to in 2012, in terms of releases, parties, etc.?

Working on a full band album for Stallions... but its going slow as Doug and I are 3,000 miles apart right now. In terms of parties, we'll keep busting out the Blackdisco jams! I'll be in Berlin, Paris, and Turkey at the beginning of July, and Stallions are doing P.S.1 Warm-Up on Aug 25.

Tell me about your label, ESP Institute. When did you start it and why? What do you have forthcoming?

Releases by Soft Rocks, Michael Ozone, Chee Shimizu, Pharoahs, Tornado Wallace, Secret Circuit, Lee Douglas, a new volume (II) of the Concentration compilation (this time compiled by Tako), and a little series of previously unreleased remixes (hand stamped w/ etched artwork on one side).

Have you heard anything that really caught your ear this year?

Thom Bullock's remix for Dominik Von Senger on Golf Channel has been melting me.

What was something you learned in 2012 so far? A new production trick... a new instrument... a new word...

Time management and anger management, these are both important if you deal with daily traffic in L.A.

What's something outside of music you've been partaking in as of late?

Hanging out at the beach on the weekends with my wife and kid. When I am not working, everything must turn off.

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Check-Up: Caroline Polachek (Chairlift)

Jun 7, 2012

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Categories: Culture OCF

A couple weeks back, when we were at Le Baron for Dossier Journal's ninth issue release party, we bumped into Caroline Polachek, the spectacular lead vocalist for Chairlift, one of our favorite bands around right now. We reconnected with her a little later on, right before she embarked on another tour, and threw a few questions her way. Read on for the full interview, the latest in our series of Check-Up Q&As.

What have you been up to since the album came out?

We've been touring nonstop since it came out―we just got back from a tour that took us a complete 360-degrees around the world. I've started writing new music a lot recently on my computer, which is a new thing for me; I used to only be able to write at home, or at least in a peaceful place, but little by little I'm finding how liberating it can be to go mobile and start scratching down fully usable ideas whenever you want.

What was the biggest change you went through between the first and second records, either on a personal or professional level?

I learned how to produce. When we made the first album, it was all a bit of a mystery to me, although I was a good arranger. But all that stuff on the computer was something I left up to the boys. On the second record, knowing Pro Tools and Ableton Live completely changed the game; production became part of my writing process, and allowed me to put my soul into the texture of the whole recording as much as into my voice and synth.

What's your favorite lyric on Something?

My favorite lyric is a bit from the end of "Amanemonesia":

"There's a system of symbols that no one can vouch for / Everyone uses and no one believes / There's a dog in the yard with a manner that's ruff / Yet there's something about you that he understands / The girl at the window covered in ashes / Smiles grotesquely in the light of the day / Singing in German a cold summer warning / But I can't remember what I meant to say..."

What was the funnest party on concert (not your own) that you went to within the last year or so and why?

A few weeks ago we played in Vienna, which was absolutely surreal. Chairlift played right before Ariel Pink, one of my very favorite bands of all time. During the show, Bradford Cox and I jumped on stage uninvited and danced as though we were Siamese twins attached at the skull. That was fun.

What's something you've been listening to a lot as of late?

This week I've been listening to Julia Holter, Motor City Drum Ensemble, and Cat's Eyes.

What's something you're looking forward to in 2012?

New electronic music. And summer.

And, finally, what was your favorite gig you played in the last year or so and why?

So far, my favorite concert was in Barcelona, two nights ago for Primavera Sound Festival. I still can't get over how fun it was. I got food poisoning in the afternoon, and all evening I was in the ninth circle of hell (as anyone who's had food poisoning knows), vomiting and shaking in my manager's hotel room. But I refused to cancel the show since it was our first time playing in Spain and the line was already three blocks long―and it's such a good thing we didn't, because it was an incredible night. Sometimes the worst days make for the best shows, 'cause you're so broken down that you're actually free. I felt my entire body transform with adrenaline right before going on stage, the nausea melted away, and the crowd was so excited and singing along. Right there with us. We started adding songs on the spot and changing the set list, the sound was good and loud, some good friends from other bands were there to run around with―it was a dream show.

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Greetings from Record Store Day (Part 2)

Apr 25, 2012

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Categories: Culture Events

Last Saturday we teamed up with the homegrown Origami Vinyl in the quaint neighborhood of Echo Park close to the eskuché headquarters in East Long Angeles. Fans came from near and far not only to dig through crates of their favorite jams but to show support for Record Store Day, the time we pay homage to the small, medium and even the big-box patrons of music. We caught up with a few loyalists to find out what was in their record bag and to hear what they had to say about this unique day.

Name: Dane

What records did you buy?: I bought the Refused reissue, the Cursive reissue, a White Stripes 7”, a Beach House 7”, a Ryan Adams 7”, and the LCD Soundsystem "Losing My Edge" 12”.

What are your thoughts on Record Store Day?: It’s great for stores like Origami where they get this much business in one day and it’s nice to see how passionate people are about it. We stood in line for over an hour to show our support.

Name: Meredith

What records did you buy?: I got the Refused reissue, a Flogging Molly 7”, and a Clash 7”.

What are your thoughts on Record Store Day: It’s one of my favorite days of the year; it’s like Christmas! In fact, I couldn’t sleep last night I was so excited. I support independent record stores anyway but this is the day where I get to meet people just as passionate as I am about music.

Name: Shaun

What records did you buy?: I got the Cleaners From Venus box set, a Toro y Moi box set, and a rare Animal Collective single.

What are your thoughts on Record Store Day?: This is my first time actively taking part in it. It’s been interesting to see it grow and take root, especially for mom and pop shops.

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Greetings from Record Store Day (Part 1)

Apr 24, 2012

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Categories: Culture Events

Name: John

What records did you buy?: I grabbed some soundtracks: Pretty in Pink, Empire Records, and Breakfast Club. Snapcase Progressions LP, Curses LP, and Crosses 7”.

What are your thoughts on Record Store Day?: I wish Record Store Day existed when I worked at record stores!

Name: Angela

What records did you buy?: St. Vincent and an of Montreal and Deerhoof split.

What are your thoughts on Record Store Day?: I love the communal aspect of it. A lot of us were brought out here from different places and we all got to hear each other’s different style of music.

Name: Jace

What records did you buy?: I bought Destroyer’s Rubies on red vinyl and I got the St. Vincent "Crocodile" single.

What are your thoughts on Record Store Day?: It feels like a real holiday where you can treat yourself so I feel obligated to treat myself to vinyl, which hopefully I’ll have for a long time. I feel that supporting one record store shows support for all of them.

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Q&A

Check-Up: Class Actress

Check-Up: Lovefingers

Check-Up: Caroline Polachek (Chairlift)

Greetings from Record Store Day (Part 2)

Greetings from Record Store Day (Part 1)

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