What was the biggest fun during the making of High & Vibrate?

We’ve recorded and/or mixed all of our releases with Neil Weir at Old Blackberry Way. It’s always great working with him. This last time around was especially fun because it was the first time we’ve recorded with our current bassist, Adam. That went really well. Also, our drummer’s brother, Neil, who used to be in the band came by and recorded background vocals on a few songs. It was good to have him back, if temporarily.

If we want to know you, which song do we have to listen to? And why?

Only a handful of my songs are directly personal. Only two that I can think of: “Sleepless” and “Hard Feelings,” both from our first EP, “Praise Elephants.”  “Sleepless” is about these awful, vivid recurring dreams I kept having about my father a few years after he died from cancer. “Hard Feelings” is about a very difficult period of my life that I went through about 8-9 years ago. Sorry, no happy songs!

The music industry has changed a lot (or so they say). What did it bring you? And what not?

The music industry hasn’t really brought us much yet. It’s very hard to stand out these days. It’s never been easier to record and distribute your music around the world, but since it’s so easy, everyone’s doing it.

Who is the best musician in the world nobody has heard of yet? And why will this change very soon?

I’m a big fan of the Minneapolis band, Deleter. They have a few EPs out and are releasing their full-length debut in early December. The record label I formed, Land Ski Records, will be releasing the album, which is called “Oblique Seasons.” If you’re a fan of post-punk bands like Wire, The Fall, and Gang of Four, you should really check it out.

She tells you she will decide on a 5-song-mixed tape if there is going to be a second date. Which 5 would you put on?

Well, this mix would tell her a lot about me and my musical influences. No guarantee she’d like it, but maybe she’d appreciate the honesty:

Teenage Fanclub – The Concept
House of Love – Christine
Guided By Voices – I Am A Scientist
My Bloody Valentine – Honey Power
The Smiths – Hand in Glove

What’s up for the next couple of months?

We’ll be playing around our home town (Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN) occasionally but the main focus will be on recording next fall’s 5-song EP. We already have the songs picked and a few recording dates booked this winter, with more to follow.