slam jamz - www.slamjamz.com
scallions interview by joshsam
Joshsam:
In your bio you talk about the influence The Residents have had on your
music, what interests me about that situation is how it led to you doing
a song for a tribute CD and eventually a deal with the Esoteric Music
Group label. How does that deal differ from the one at Slamjamz?
Shawn: I have been collecting Resident's records and merchandise for
the last 13 years. We heard The Residents for the first time in 1985
on a cable show called "Night Flight." That night changed my musical
life. In my years of collecting, I was dealing with a guy named Tom
Timony. He owned The Resident's record label (Ralph Records) for a couple
of years. He has one of the largest Residents related collections in
the world.
Tom also had a company called T.E.C. Tones and in 1993, when
I was shopping our stuff around, he promised us a track on a compilation.
As with so many things in the record industry, it never happened. So
in 1999, I was on eBay buying more Resident's stuff. Low and behold,
Tom was on there selling. We began talking, I was sending tapes and
that led to our first public release, "Mud Pie." Tom started a new label
called Esoteric Music Group. We signed a friendly agreement and released
the record. Also in 1999, I went to Boston to see a Resident's show.
I was talking to some Resident's fans and they mentioned a Residents
tribute record that was being put together. It was being packaged by
the web site Smelly Tongues. The 2 CD set was called F.E.S.T.O.R. (Friends
Encouraging Smelly Tonguers to Emulate The Residents.) We missed the
deadline but they let us send in our track anyway. It was a Resident's
song called "In San Francisco". We did the whole song in 1 day (arranged,
recorded, and mixed). I wish we had more time to do the song, oh well.
Our record and the tribute record came out in early 2000. From there
on we just promoted and recorded. In 2001, we were going to release
an 8" square picture disc. There were pressing problems with the disc
and in the summer Tom ended up closing the doors of Esoteric Music Group.
We now had no outlet to release songs. During this time, I got Chuck
D's email address and asked him to sign our guestbook. He eventually
did and I was thrilled. In January 2002, I met him in person at a lecture
he was giving and he remembered me. I emailed him after the lecture
to let him know that I thought it was great. He emailed back offering
a deal with Slam Jamz. He called me on Super Bowl Sunday; I almost had
a heart attack. It was so cool. We signed on for 3 years. It's starting
to get real exciting right now.
Mike: As Shawn said, the deal with Tom was friendly and really
informal. Tom's label specialized in limited editions and things like
that. The end result was EMG getting the product out to a larger audience
for us. It's very much the same with Slam, but were taking it to the
next level. I 'm thankful for people like Tom Timony and Chuck D. that
help bands like The Scallions get some exposure. With each new contact,
I'm also thankful that my brother has a big yap and isn't afraid to
use it.
Joshsam: Some groups find it hard
getting one label to sign them, but now you have had two. Do you think
that is testament to the quality of music you produce?
Shawn: I like to think we can write and produce some cool stuff.
I just hope people like it in the end. We would never alter what we
do to fit in with what's popular. Esoteric was a great stepping stone.
Maybe Slam will lead to bigger things. We are hoping that we can link
up to Koch.
Mike: I hope the music will find its audience. Like I've told
people before; I can't believe that it's gone this far. This band was
started as a lark. Every new thing that happens for us is a bonus.
Joshsam: So including the album 'Mud Pie',
which is your only released album to date, you have produced a total
of four albums (please correct me if I calculated wrong). Has there
been any talk of releasing them through Slamjamz?
Mike: The songwriting and the production on those early tracks
is very primitive (In some cases downright embarrassing.). We also wore
our Residential influences not only on our sleeves, but as an entire
outfit with a matching handbag. Some of those songs were really out
there. I think our collective mental state had come into question on
several occasions by family and friends. You should hear the original
version of "Gladys." It actually scared people (my wife included!).
The lead vocals sound like a strung out Grover from Sesame Street. Maybe
it will show up as a bonus or hidden track somewhere down the road.
We might eventually take some bits and possibly rerecord entire songs
from those sessions. So in answer to your question, some of the material
may be released, but not in it's current form.
Shawn: We are licensing some songs from "Mud Pie" on Slam. We
have absolutely no plans of releasing the early records as they stand
now. We always recorded songs strictly for ourselves with no intentions
of ever releasing them. We were so into The Residents (and still are)
that we just wanted to make songs like that. Like I mentioned, in 1993
I tried sending a tape out to Tom Timony so we could be closer to a
Residents source. Tom was the key guy we targeted. We DO want to release
our new record "Agony Through Ceremony" through Slam when it's done.
Joshsam: Over the period of time those
albums were recorded how would you say your sound has evolved?
Mike: We've developed a sound that, I would like to think, is
our own. We still have our obvious influences, but it's a bit more blurred
these days.
Shawn: I really think we have found our distinct style. In the
beginning we emulated The Residents, but now we are our own band. I'll
love The Residents 'til the day I die, but I don't want to copy them.
Joshsam: To quote your bio your
sound is 'avant garde power pop', with so many artists trying run from
putting their music into a specific category what made you be so specific?
Aren't you worried that people will come to expect that all the time
and be disappointed if you evolve from it?
Shawn: It's our little phrase describing our stuff and we are
proud of it. It's funny because the new stuff is more of the power pop
side. It doesn't mean we won't record anything a little crazy. I think
music today needs more melodic songwriters. We are trying to contribute
to the cause. You can't please everyone. You just have to have confidence
and hope for the best. If the Beach Boys stuck to the formula we wouldn't
have "Pet Sounds", it's important to constantly get better at what you
do.
Mike: We came up with the label to give people an idea of what
we sound like. Who knows, maybe by next year it will be Death-Polka
with a Hip-Hop vibe. The music that we listen to and write all revolves
around hook driven pop in one way or another, so I don't think that
element will ever go away. We write the kind of songs that we like to
hear.
Joshsam: Have you had any feedback
on your music as a result of being on Slamjamz? I ask because it is
so different from everything else on the label and I wondered if people,
who would normally not go for the power pop sound had reacted well to
it.
Shawn: Even though Public Enemy is one of my favorite bands
in the world, I was a little unsure. Actually, the feedback has all
been positive. It seems like P.E. fans are very open minded. It also
helps that Slam's leader Chuck D. is so diverse. God Bless The Hard
Rhymer!
Mike: Everyone has been great so far. We've heard and read some
very kind words.
Joshsam: Are you recording new
material?
Shawn: Oh yeah! The batch of songs that will make up our new
record is our best stuff. I think we are getting better with age. We
even have some guest musicians. One of them is Miyanna Neilson. She
is an amazing saxophone player. Right now we're rehearsing for some
dates on Public Enemy's Revolverlution world tour. This will be the
first time we've performed live as The Scallions.
Mike: I'm really happy with the current material as well. If
the performing lineup gels, we may go back in and rerecord some of the
parts using the new players. For the performances, I'm going to sing
and play drums and Shawn will be playing the guitar. Our longtime friends
and former band mates Alex Remlinger and Rob Sarno will be handling
the bass and acoustic guitar respectively.
Joshsam: You posted on the Enemy
Board recently asking if anyone would be interested in remixing some
of your songs, how has the response been to that request?
Shawn: We had a couple of good responses. It should be interesting.
We've always wanted someone to do a good remix for a song or two. It
would be fun to see someone else's interpretation.
Mike: I'm looking forward to hearing the results. I'm really
interested in hearing someone else's take on our music.
Joshsam: 12 years together as
a group, what has kept you going all that time?
Mike: The fists full of cash and all the groupies…kidding.
We love music. We love listening to it, writing it, recording it, performing
it, and discussing it.
Shawn: First of all, we're brothers and we had lived under
the same roof for so long. Our recording studio is at our parent's house,
so that makes things easy. Like I said before, a lot of stuff was just
for fun. No pressure.
Joshsam: That is a long time to
be going without much commercial reward, we live in a world where people
see artists as highly paid, big car driving, big jewel wearing. What
is the reality for a group such as The Scallions?
Shawn: The reality is simple; we want to release good
records. If you can make honest money, great. If you have to sell your
soul and compromise, I would rather work at Burger King. Things are
taking off slowly and steadily. More and more people want to hook up
with us and help out.
Mike: Yeah right. Like Burger King would ever hire you.
The sad thing is, most pop (like the kind we strive to make) never seems
to find any sort of mass audience. Obviously there are exceptions (The
Beatles, The Beach Boys etc.), but some of my favorite groups like the
dB's, Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, Letters To Cleo, even Elvis Costello
never really have the kind of commercial success that I believe they
deserve. It's just mind boggling because it's certainly commercial or
catchy enough. You can't find more creative, melodic, toe-tapping music
than the music artists like these make. I'm certainly not putting The
Scallions in a league with any of these bands, but hopefully you know
what I mean. I listen to some of this stuff and I can't believe that
more people don't know about it. I can't believe it's not on the radio.
There are so many should have beens in this type of music. "Pet Sounds"
was considered a flop when it came out. It just doesn't make sense.
Joshsam: Let me quote from you
bio 'The instruments ranged from the traditional guitars, synths and
drums to an autoharp, toy instruments and samples picked up from all
around the house. Their new mini-sampler turned pots, pans, television
and the recording of boxes of nails, buzz saws and crunching dog cookies
into music. By now they had completed their second unreleased work'.
That must be one hell of a sound?
Shawn: We ended up using "Bed of nails" on our album.
"Gladys" originally came from those sessions. As Mike mentioned before,
it was in a radically different form.
Mike: Experimentation has always kept it fresh for us.
It's always fun too to tell people that the percussion they're listening
to is a dog treat or a box of rice (uncooked of course).
Joshsam: I noticed C Doc raised
his hand to do a remix, how do you think his sound will mesh with yours?
Shawn: I think C-Doc and Craig Mansfield are going to
do something really special. I am trying to get Johnny Juice to do one
as well.
Joshsam: I see through your website
that you have a link through to mp3.com, where 'Mud Pie' is available.
Is that still an active sales link?
Shawn: Yes, but not for long. The first pressing of our
album is way out of print. We also put a version of it on mp3.com, but
since we hooked up with Slam Jamz I want to just concentrate on the
new album. We will eventually have most of it on Slam. I want the new
record to be the only item that people can purchase. What a wacky situation
with us, never a clear cut deal.
Mike: I don't think "Mud Pie" completely fits in with
the band's current direction. I'd like to see it removed from our catalog.
The thing that bothered me about the album is that we never had the
time to have it mastered and in my opinion the sound suffers because
of it.
Joshsam: Ok when I first started
with Slamjamz my wife was like 'Do you seriously like that boom bap
stuff', then you blokes come along and she is asking me on the regular
if you have anything new on Slam. Do you find that your music appeals
more to women than men? Does it even matter?
Mike: It doesn't matter. It seems to be mostly guys so
far. As far as women, it's our mom and your wife. That will probably
change with more exposure. I'm glad your wife likes the music though.
Shawn: Whoever likes it is cool with us. Man, woman, dog,
cat, white, black, blue… whatever the case.
Joshsam: When I listen to 'The
Last Rain' I instantly think of Stevie Wonders 'Lean on Me'. I love
listening to that song when I am relaxing. Did you have a specific influence
or purpose when you recorded it?
Shawn: This song was just one of the billions of instrumentals
we have in our archives. We chose this one because it epitomizes the
idea of us doing soundtrack work. Someday, we would love to do a soundtrack.
Mike: Like so much of our work, one of us would throw
out an idea and we would just build the song layer by layer. The version
that you're speaking of is an enhanced version of one of our old 4-Track
numbers.
Joshsam: In the little description
for 'Last Rain' it says something like you want to take music like that
into film soundtracks. Have you made any progress with that?
Shawn: This is one of the things I've discussed with Chuck.
We want to see if he can help get us video game or film experience.
I think we would do a fantastic job.
Mike: I can picture our music in an independent film or
on a CDROM.
Joshsam: 'Memories Are Made of
This' lyrically and instrumentally is a very tight and complex song.
Without being too clinical, what are the mechanics behind producing
a song like that?
Mike: I wrote that one awhile back. Shawn liked it and
wanted to include it on the new album. The version that's out now on
Slam is my demo version. We may or may not rerecord portions of it.
If I'm working on my own (like
I was in this case), my typical writing process will start with some
rough ideas I've come up with on my acoustic guitar. This usually involves
some sort of vocal melody as well. Once I have something that I feel
is worth developing, I'll go to the studio. I'll lay down a scratch
guitar track, and use the remaining seven tracks to refine the vocal
melody. I'll use the lyrics if I have them or I'll just adlib something
in their place until they're written. The lyrics usually end up being
the finishing touch. When I'm happy with the melody, I'll start adding
the rest of the instruments. That's the fun part. It goes back to the
building process that we use in The Scallions. With each layer you start
to get a sense of where the song should go, is going and what sounds
should be used along the way. It's really exciting to hear the song
take shape. The ultimate goal is to try and make the song sound like
it does when you hear it in your head. That doesn't always happen, but
we get pretty close sometimes. We're actually redoing some songs right
now for that same reason. Shawn and I both agree that the extra steps
have definitely paid off. Come to think of it, most of the songs on
the new album have been recorded more than once.
Shawn: Mechanics is what it is all about. The Scallions
are like a commando team. We each have our "special forces." First and
foremost, we are songwriters and musicians. Mike is the studio master.
I am the PR guy. I am the official "blabber mouth" of the band. I get
such a thrill out of making things happen. He engineers all of our songs
and designs the web page. We both produce the sounds and do all of our
own artwork. When we signed to Slam, it was cool to see someone else
do our designs.
Joshsam: Do you think that mGee
has captured the group image with his artwork?
Shawn: Mike "mGee" Gregoir is doing a fantastic job. He
is open to our suggestions. I love it. Seeing ourselves mixed in with
P.E. during the Flash animations on Slam is really cool.
Mike: He's brought some great ideas to the table that
we never would have thought of. I love his work and hope we can continue
to work with him.
Joshsam: 'Gladys' for me is the
stadium song, the one with the audience waving cigarette lighters and
the whole nine yards. Again a very tight song lyrically and musically.
Have you had the chance to perform that song live? I just wondered,
if you had, if it brought the reaction I think it might?
Shawn: We will let you know when we open for Public Enemy.
Mike: People really seem to like that song. That's why
were going to include it on the next album. Hopefully it will reach
a larger audience than it did with "Mud Pie."
Joshsam: Gladys, someone special?
Mike: Just a name that came out when I was singing.
Joshsam: Your music involves a
number of instruments, do you play them all?
Shawn: We play them all, except for the sax on our new
stuff. I basically play all the electric guitar parts and percussion
sections. We both play keyboard. Whatever the song calls for, either
one of us will play it.
Mike: My areas are usually the vocals, bass, drums, acoustic
guitar, and keyboards. It changes from song to song. We always jump
from instrument to instrument.
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