TLC vs. High Places: Exclusive Interview & Contest!

It's Tuesday, and you know what that means in the record industry...new releases! I spoke to High Places after their Le Poisson Rouge gig a few weeks ago and arranged an email interview prior to the release of their much buzzed about full-length, self-titled album (See: NME, New York Times.) Enjoy the exclusive interview and contest below and don't forget to buy the record!

> I recently watched you perform at the newly opened, Le Poisson Rouge and also in July at The Yard in Brooklyn. Did you feel out of your element in a non-DIY space? How would you compare these types of venues?

Mary: We like to play in a variety of settings. It keeps things interesting. We got our start playing in DIY-style shows, like the outdoor show at the Yard, but we've since played in clubs, galleries, parks, performing arts centers, basements, etc.

Rob: It is personally really easy for me to feel out of my element, and it is just mostly dependent on the people at the venue and overall vibe of the place. There have been instances where we have played extremely fancy performing art centers to a lot of people and felt totally fine, and I have played basements where I was totally weirded out. And vice versa. And of course, a lot of this has to do with me as well.

> How would you describe your solo projects in comparison to the music you make together as High Places?

Mary: My solo project Transformation Surprise is always changing forms. It began as me playing bassoon and singing and playing a bell kit. These days I like to incorporate visual elements like projected slides, and I've often used old cassette tapes from my childhood as accompaniment.

Rob: The Urxed is me solo. I have virtually zero direction with it and it just sorta bubbles out. I am never prepared for a show, and I always am unsatisfied with what I make. I do spend a lot of time on it, but maybe because it is just me alone, I can never really feel at ease about it. Overall, I do have fun with it, mostly working on stuff alone at home, and I feel that is primarily the main motivation for it.

> Can you describe your collaborative songwriting process?

Mary: Rob and I record a lot of little sketches and musical ideas on various instruments and then we save all of these recordings onto the computer. When we go to write a new song, we'll open some of these files and try to blend and layer them together. Once we have the song worked into a basic, loose structure, we add other elements, like a melody and beat, and eventually a vocal line and lyrics.

> How have your backgrounds in places as different as Philadelphia and Kalamazoo influenced your music? How much of an influence has NYC been?

Mary: I went to a lot of house shows when I lived in Michigan, and a lot of the bands I saw were pretty punk-minded in their approach to touring and living. I think I've always thought about D.I.Y. and punk as more of an attitude than as a certain sound. New York City has influenced us with its noisiness and hubbub. There's so much creative activity in the city, and that's really inspiring.

Rob: There are definitely cool things in NYC, and I have been here for almost 13 years, but most of the art and music I make is super escapist. Like daydreaming about other places, some of which maybe don't exist. I do know that there are a lot of random and incidental NYC sounds and experiences that filter through me, which fully influences me. Like loud rap music booming out of a car 3 blocks away.

> What types of music did you grow up listening to? What have you been listening to lately?

Mary: I grew up listening to the Pixies, Green Day, Weezer, Joni Mitchell, show tunes, orchestral music. These days I've been listening to Scientist, Grouper, Glenn Gould, Steve Reich, Sparks.

Rob: I grew up listening to anything weird. Like if it was covered in Thrasher, I would check it out when I was 11. I mostly gravitated towards hardcore and punk because that was the most immediate scene for a Jr. High kid to participate in. But I love stuff like the Smiths and Skinny Puppy too. I went to a lot of rap shows too. This is all from like '86 to '90. Now, I am fully jamming that Flying Saucer Attack, Grouper, 80's dancehall, BURIAL, Celtic Frost, Obituary, Shabba Ranks, 7 Seconds, Leaders of the New School, Schooly D, Silk Flowers, Soft Circle.

> How much of an impact do you think the internet and bloggers have on artists like yourselves?

Mary: I'm sure that varies a lot from artist to artist. It seems like a lot of bands have blogs these days. And Myspace pages are a given. I think Myspace has really changed the independent music world by exposing people to so many bands and new music.

Rob: Do you mean, like if other peoples blogs affect us and how we do what we do? I think that anybody who wants to express themselves is a great thing. I usually just talk about things I am stoked on, and I just don't mention the stuff that I am not into. Some people feel that they should express critical perspectives, and that is okay too. But some people, and luckily they are the super minority, feel the need to be mean, or scary. Usually in comments that are anon. I do wish that people could realize that it is really scary to put yourself out there, and that not all musicians and artists are total attention divas who need to be put in their place. A lot of people are very fragile. I am such a late bloomer because of so much fear and anxiety. I have seen some TERRIBLE things written about friends, just super mean-spirited and totally off the mark jabs at their really personal creation. Even Homophobic things, misogynistic things that have nothing to do with the art. But again, that is totally the minority, and mostly not the blogs themselves, but the comments. There is enough awful stuff in this world. Why troll around and be hurtful and negative?

> I read that you recorded the new record in a shared Fort Greene apartment. Did you feel distracted while working from home?

Mary: It's definitely a bit distracting to work at home, and even more distracting to work in New York City. We took a lot of breaks to walk around the neighborhood. There's this coffee shop in our 'hood that sells vegan peanut butter bars, and the baristas got used to seeing us almost every night while we were recording the album.

Rob: I do like being able to work at 3am or to just roll out of bed and start on an idea. Luckily our place doesn't have a lot of physical distractions, like there isn't a TV or anything like that. It's just crammed with crap for making stuff. I guess the cats can be a distraction, but in a good way.

> High Places' music has a very layered quality. Did you develop this sound consciously or did it happen organically?

Mary: Rob had already been writing music with a similar layering style, and as I learned to use the recording software he was using, we adopted that style too. I think we layer even more than his solo project, though. We always have to make sure we don't go overboard. Otherwise the compositions get too chaotic.

> Are there any artists you would like to collaborate with? Alive or dead, realistic or unrealistic.

Mary: We've talked about wanting to write instrumental parts for a rapper or diva someday. It would be fun to make something for Bjork or M.I.A. or someone.

Rob: In theory, it would be cool, but I feel like it could get really hectic dealing with such mega personalities. I think we work best with each other. I would hate to spend a ton of time on something and have the person reject it.

> Thank you for taking the time out for this interview. What are you both looking forward to in the upcoming year?

Mary: Thanks for your questions! I'm looking forward to getting health insurance (come on, Obama!) and traveling to New Zealand and Australia.

Rob: I am completely comfortable with the prosperity and growth our country has enjoyed for the last 8 years. Why does everyone want to rock the boat so much? I plan on buying a huge RV and a massive bar b' q and just totally partying for the next year.

CONTEST: Email us for a chance to win:
(1 ) Grand Prize: An autographed copy of High Places' new CD, a poster, and 2 CD's from Thrill Jockey's back catalog.
(3) Runner Ups: A copy of High Places' new CD.

Winners will be chosen at random and notified Friday morning.

MP3: High Places - The Storm or zShare
MP3: High Places - From Stardust to Sentience or zShare