10 Questions with...Tripwires

With Tripwires fantastic debut album, Spacehopper, out today in the U.K. and hitting North American store shelves June 18th, we are ecstatic to have the U.K. psych-rock band on A.T.W.N.

10 Questions with...Tripwires

What was it like, being from the small town of Reading in England, recording your debut album in Brooklyn?
Recording in Brooklyn was great for us. We wrote the album in the comfort of our homes, but recorded it in an alien environment. Sometimes it’s easy to get too comfortable recording demos in your own practice space. I would definitely say going to a crazy new place influences the way you approach things. When recording this album we wanted to make a little world, stepping out of a place that you are used to into a new environment certainly helps this process.

What are some of the lyrical influences that show up throughout your debut album Spacehopper?
There’s a lot of snapshots of youth, growing up, songs built from little experiences. In terms of themes, loss and the feeling of being lost appear quite a bit.



One book, and one band…
Book – The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoyevsky.
Band – Aphrodite’s Child

Favorite Neil Young track?
There really are too many. They change every week. Currently I would say ‘I believe in you’ off of After the Goldrush.

Does what you read have an impact on your songwriting?

Photo Credit: Carl Sagan

I can’t say any particular book has ever had a direct influence on our songwriting. It’s nice to appreciate a different way of expressing emotion though. I wouldn’t say lyrically we are much of a ‘story telling’ band, perhaps a little more self-conversationalist.

Star Wars or Star Trek?
Neither. Carl Sagan’s ‘Cosmos’ everytime!!

What was it like working with Nicolas Vernhes, who has produced albums for Animal Collective, Bjork and Dirty Projectors?
It was pleasure to work with Nicolas. He has recorded some amazing stuff with Deerhunter and Animal Collective previously, and the opportunity to work with him was something we couldn’t pass on. All of his stuff has great texture to it, and like us, he is a sucker for adding weird noises over the top of quite nicely constructed pop songs.

 What are the reading habits for the band like on the road?
I’m currently reading ‘The wind-up bird chronicle’ by Murakami.
When we were away earlier this week, I had it in the van and it started getting read by two others. You could say that book currently has 3 bookmarks in it.

Is there an author/musician you would love to see at one of your gigs?
Neil Young and Thurston Moore. Hand in hand, that really would be something.

Is there a band that played the Reading Festival that really inspired everyone?
I guess the Nirvana performance in ’92 still gets talked about today. We hadn’t even started school then, so didn’t see it. The DVD looks quite something though!

***

Thanks to Tripwires for taking the time to stop by ATWN this week. Tripwires debut album, Spacehopper, can be ordered through Frenchkiss Records, or iTunes.  If you would like to connect with the band, check them out on Twitter and Soundcloud.

As a treat, the band is offering up a free download of their atmospheric track, ‘Catherine, I feel sick’ from their debut album which you can buy from the links above.

10 Questions with...Team Spirit

This week at A.T.W.N., I have the pleasure of sharing an interview I did with Passion Pit's former synthesist & remixer, Ayad Al Adhamy. Ayad has gone out on his own and is now the frontman for the amazing Brooklyn based "rock-n-soul" band, Team Spirit. Let's get to it...

10 Questions with...Team Spirit

Ayad, what’s the biggest difference for you going from the back of the stage on keys with Passion Pit, to now being the lead with Team Spirit? 

The need to be in better physical shape! Singing, ripping guitar and flailing around on stage is quite tiring... Also the responsibility with leading a band into battle!

What was it like opening for the amazing Welsh rockers The Joy Formidable?

It was great! I’ve played with them in the past countless times (I even started a label to release their EP in the US!) and it was amazing to see them just rock out relentlessly. It was amazing!


Hardcover, Paperback, or Kindle?

Paperback

For those who are new to Team Spirit, tell us what bands have helped to influence your sound?
Thin Lizzy, Rolling Stones, The Replacements to name a few...

Movies or Books while touring?

Movies/TV shows. Ive exhausted most of TV by now... Currently watching Game of Thrones, Vikings and The Following.

Comics or Novels as a kid?

I was a little bit of both - I did have a serious comic collection - favourites included Cable and Deadpool series.

Avengers or Justice League?

Hmmm loaded question? In essence it could be Marvel vs DC... as a kid i was heavily into Marvel but never liked the Avengers. However the Justice League animated movies are pretty rad... Justice League!

Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Non-fiction, or fiction based on fact... But sometimes Fantasy, which I guess is total fiction...

One book, and one band.... 

Fatherland by Robert Harris is a great historical crime fiction book... I read it way back in high school and I remember loving it. And the band “Guards”!

Last question: What was the main source of inspiration behind your self-titled debut EP “Team Spirit”?

Freedom! And rock n roll!

****

Thanks to Ayad Al Adhamy for taking the time to stop by All The Write Notes and chatting. If you would like to keep up with the band, you can check them out on Facebook and on Twitter. You can pick up Team Spirit's debut EP here, and check out their live dates here. Trust me, Team Spirit's energy is amazing and they put on a show not to be missed.

Jay Spencer is a MG/YA writer, Visual Art teacher, music and book blogger, an extremely tall husband, and father to two amazing kids. If not at the rink or on the court with his young kids, he would gladly talk to you about any genre or decade of music, and anything Marvel or Star Wars.