Page 34 - September 2017

The Amazing Singing Record – DIY pop, Arizona style!
BY BEVERLEY NAPALM
COVER ART BY BOBBY CARLSON
Jay Hauffman of Gene Tripp | PHOTO BY DANIEL MARTIN DIAZ
Talisha Royen & Chloe Benson of Electrisad | COURTESY PHOTO
September will see the LP launch of a compilation LP focusing on 8 bands (two songs each) from Arizona. The LP is released on the Emotional Response label based in Flagstaff. Although the bands are all stylistically different, they all share common core principles with regard to DIY-pop ethics, presentation and attitude.
The author caught up with two of the bands on the bill, Electrisad and Gene Tripp, both from Phoenix. Also performing the shows are Amateur Hour, also from Phoenix, and Flagstaff’s Cereal Milk. The shows are September 22, at Firecreek in Flagstaff and September 23, at the Trunkspace in Phoenix. Come out if you can, treat your ears and lend your support to a thriving underground local pop scene!
Electrisad is a melodic two piece synth-dream pop band comprised of Talisha Royen and Chloe Benson. The following questions were posed to front-woman and songwriter Talisha.
Is Electrisad your first musical venture?
When I first started out I performed under my name. Electrisad is the current stage of my musical evolution. Chloe also has an individual project called FutureSleep. At this point, we’ve decided to put our songs and energies together into this one project.
The “Sad” at the end of Electri implies some melancholy surrounding the band. I am curious where the name originated.
The most important thing music can do is make people feel. That is always the goal. As songwriters, sadness is an emotion that we’ve come back to again and again so that’s where the “Sad” comes from. Though, we don’t feel constrained to only write sad songs under the Electrisad name.
How easy is it to balance work commitments with making music?
Sometimes getting to a show on a weeknight can be tough after a long day of work, but we do our best to make music the highest priority.
Your song arrangements are melodic and uncluttered, with simple programmed beats, which emphasizes your vocals to great effect. Are your songs purposely tailored for performing as a duo, or a simply just a natural extension of your songwriting?
We are actually in the process of integrating Max Modeen (of The Blank Waves) into our band and into the arrangements. Our arrangements will likely be more dynamic with an additional member, but vocals and lyrics are always a strong focus on any of our tracks.
How supportive and engaged is the DIY pop scene in Phoenix? How do you feel you fit in?
We definitely play most often at the Trunk Space, it’s a fun and inclusive venue where we feel supported and part of the community. There are a lot of really great bands in the local scene that we’re happy to know and play shows with.
| Gene Tripp play down-tempo country tinged drone-scapes centered around the dark baritone vocals of front-man and songwriter Jay Hufman, who answered the following questions.
I’ve never asked you before, but where did the name come from? Is Gene Tripp your alter ego?
I’m not sure where it came from. It’s just a name. Ha! Yeah, it’s a chance to be someone else for a minute.
You have a very stylized and precise style, both broody and laid back. Recording approach and techniques would appear to be essential ingredients to the recorded Gene Tripp sound. How do you transfer the atmospherics you create into the live environment?
It depends on who I can get at the moment though I have been lucky at times to have friends willing to contribute to the noise such as Abe Gil of Treasure Mammal who has joined us live a few times. Ryen Eggleston and Jeff Grubic of Golden Boots and Haboob created some really great outer space atmospherics on this recent Euro adventure.
You recently returned from a European Tour with Tucson band and fellow slo-fi travelers Golden Boots. How did the European audiences and experience compare to playing in the US?
Like all of the stories I’ve been told, the people were warm and welcoming and the hosts really took care of us. It was beyond anything I’ve ever experienced so far in the states.
Does living in AZ, with its fine cowboy and country traditions, influence your style or musical output?
I’ve had a couple of people from other places comment that my music sounds like the desert but it wasn’t an intentional thing that I have tried to evoke and honestly, I don’t know what that exactly means. I guess it makes sense that the place you live would influence the work you do. Does my music sound cowboy or country? In my ears it doesn’t, but I guess that’s not really my job to decide. I just make the music.
How do you see yourself fitting into the DIY scene in Phoenix? Do you play regularly in the Phoenix area?
I don’t feel like I fit anywhere though I am very grateful for places like the Trunkspace and East Side Records and the various warehouses and art spaces where I’ve witnessed the best shows. I’ve been laying low lately and not playing so much in Phoenix.
You self-released your debut LP, and have a couple of tracks on the new “Amazing Singing Record” compilation. What’s next for Gene Tripp?
I am currently in the process of recording a new batch of songs with Ben Schneider and Dimitri Manos in Tucson. Also we just finished a video for one of the songs on the Amazing Singing Record, filmed by Daniel Martin Diaz and Lesli Wood. I hope to premiere that soon.
| ThevinylLPTheAmazingSingingRecordwillbeavailableattheshows,featuringtwosongsfromeach band as well as two songs also from Nanami Ozone (Phoenix), The English Teeth (Flagstaff), Lil Bobby Jr (Tucson), and Diners (Phoenix). You can check it out at emotional-response-recs.bandcamp.com
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