INTERVIEW: PASSION PIT
March 20, 2009,
Written by The 405
As far as 'buzz' bands go Passion Pit are pretty much up there at the peak. We were lucky to send the band some questions and this is what went down!
Firstly, could you introduce your band to our readers?
im Nate, I play drums, Jeff plays bass, Ayad plays keys and synths, Ian plays keyboard and guitar, and Michael plays keys and sings.
You boys are heading to UK for a couple of weeks on 17.02.09, have you been before and are you excited? We have lovely weather you know!
It was alot warmer than boston!
I'll be off to watch you guys in Manchester with Hockey & Bear Hands, should be a quality gig, but how did this trio of bands come about touring together?
I'm not really sure but it turned out to be really fun and we all got along great!
You guys call Cambridge, Massachusetts home, could this be the next Portland in terms of being a media hot bed for unearthing fresh talent? Which local bands would you like to recommend to the fourohfive readers?
We aren't the next Portland, the people in Portland are alot nicer from what I could tell haha. There is a huge new pool of talent coming up in Boston, I would reccomend Magic Magic, Pretty & Nice, Konrads, Verb the Adjective Noun, Giantess, Dj Die Young, Baltimoroder, Hooray for Earth, Televandals, Big Digits, and on and on...
What kind of influences shape your sound?
Everything from Randy Newman to Burial, Newman on the songwriting side, and more electronic artists on the sound side.
I checked out the making of video on the link from your blog, it looked like fun and they definitely seemed to give the track a unique dimension. The results sounded pretty cool but did you struggle expressing the instructions of which notes you wanted? Also what is that track called?
I think you're talking about the 'Fader' video with the kids and that was a song called "little secrets" and the director of the chorus, a guy named Gregg B. is absolutely amazing in being able to lead these kids to sing perfect harmonies and was a huge help in getting what we wanted.
The CMJ experience - daunting, exciting or both?
Both, it was extremely stressful but also extremely fun
Are Columbia (the bands Brit record label) applying any pressure for a full length album to be finalised?
Well the full length is done so no not really, no pressure haha.
I've had 'Sleepy Head' as my ring tone since about Oct 08 and it hasn't got close to getting old. What are your fav ringtones at present?
I like Austin Powers' ringtone, either that or vibrate, but really any ringtone becomes so annoying to me, im flattered 'Sleepyhead' doesn't make you pull your hair out if its your ringtone haha
Lastly, was does 2009 have in store for Passion Pit?
A full length out in may and non-stop touring all over Europe and north America!
You can check the band out at www.myspace.com/passionpitjams
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Will - 12/03/10
We are including all his musical directions in the debate, which is why we're discussing whether he was better in Foo Fighters or Probot also. Facts are he is a better drummer than he is a guitarist or vocalist, and as we're debating which band he was best in rather than which band he made the best, he thus performed better in Nirvana and QOTSA. To repeat what some of the others have said, he's been good in Foos and had a lot of fame, but hasn't been nearly as influential or impressive as in the bands beforehand. [view article]
Aaron - 11/03/10
Sure, but since Grohl has played his hand at many different musical directions its important to include all of them in this debate in order to find out when he was at his best. Otherwise It'd be a debate about when he was the best drummer... For the record, I do think he's a really good drummer. But doesn't it take a little something away from QOTSA as a band and Grohl himself, if were just going to consider his one off involvement with the group as his crowning moment? I've always been a fan of that band, way before Grohl ever did SFTD with them and though he was a great addition, it's not like the album was carried on his drumming alone. QOTSA are an awesome band regardless of whether Grohl played with them or not. [view article]
Will - 11/03/10
"is Grohls drumming really something that's gonna be the first point to come to mind?" Well, maybe not the first, but certainly one of the key points. I'm not sure about Nevermind, but I don't think I've ever had a chat about SFTD with someone who hasn't marveled over the drumming. He was never overshadowed Dave Grohl's fame peaked with Foo Fighters, not his talents. [view article]
Aaron - 11/03/10
So you're saying that one album captures Daves Grohl's talent better then the various albums he's put out with The Foo Fighters and Nirvana during their prestige? This might be the case if Grohl was the life and soul of that particular QOTSA album, but he wasn't. Granted its a good album, what would you say separates SFTD from say one of Nirvana's greatest albums Nevermind? Both have good points about them but is Grohls drumming really something that's gonna be the first point to come to mind? With The Foo's, Grohl's progression from drummer to lead ultimately forced his presence as a musician in the rock world to sky rocket. Now the attention and focus surrounded him and his band, rather then Kurt like it had been in Nirvana. How many drummers are better known then leads? None. So it makes sense to say that being in The Foo's is what allowed Grohl to come into his own as a musician and demonstrate his abilities without being overshadowed. I'd say Grohls talents peaked during The Foo's, so nothing before or after that can really be his best. The era of The Foo's was when Grohl was in his prime. [view article]
TheBooklovers - 11/03/10
I dunno Aaron. He certainly achieved more column inches and air time with The Foos, can't be denied, but as a guitarist and singer he's fairly average. Don't get me wrong, he's good and he more than gets the job done. But he's nothing special. When you get down to brass tacks though, there are very few people who have been inspired to pick up a guitar because of him. On the other hand, the vast majority of drummers around my age I know have cited him as one of their first drum crushes. Even older drummers I've met, who started playing before Grunge broke, have mentioned him as an influence. I'm always amazed that he never went into acting though. If Flea can have a side career as a walk on extra, then surely he must have been approached by now. SOMEONE needs to fill the void left by Jim Carey who isn't Jack Black. Just watch any of their videos, his comic timing is fantastic! [view article]