BRIAN WILSON Including Hip Acts She and Him (Zooey Deschanel and M
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SPOTLIGHT fellow art-school grad just learning the drums—got together and started kicking some hyper-energetic, uplifting dance jams. They’ve since released fi ve feel- good albums and instigated massive dance parties all over the planet. While “Hoodie On” is characteristic of the couple’s charm, the song is about Chris Crisman more than the garment that inspired it. “We realized Kim is still wearing the same Jonathan Weiner damn hoodie she wore when we were driving around in a minivan playing shows,” Johnson says. “It was a way to talk about being the same person and not changing because you’ve found a little bit of success.” That success—and the touring DELTA RAE demands that come with it—is one reason it took Matt and Kim so long to fi nish Lots of tours—and sibling clashes—created their unique New Glow, the follow-up to 2012’s self- multivocal sound Grant Emerson, Brittany Hölljes, Ian Hölljes, Elizabeth Hopkins, Eric Hölljes, Mike McKee produced Lightning. This time around, the duo invited outsiders to the party, working ISSUE #41 DELTA RAE’S SOUND IS HARD TO and fellow vocalists Eric and Brittany Hölljes, When it comesMMUSICMAG.COM to songwriting, however, ISSUE #41 mostly with Lars Stalfors, the producerMMUSICMAG.COM classify, admits vocalist-guitarist Ian Hölljes— fourth vocalist Elizabeth Hopkins, bassist Ian and his brother Eric are fi rmly in the behind their 2006 self-titled debut. who makes up one-sixth of the North Grant Emerson and drummer Mike McKee— driver’s seat. “I don’t like group writing,” he Still, New Glow is classic Matt and Carolina-based band. “We have genre ADD; to hone its unique sound. “We started out says. “A lot of stuff gets diluted when there Kim: a shiny-happy collision of pop, hip-hop Jonathan Mannion we have no loyalty,” he says, before naming as a live band and toured a lot before we are six people in the writing process—you and dance music. As on previous albums, Kanye West, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac became interested in recording,” Hölljes don’t get a cohesive idea or bold concept. Kim Schifi no, Matt Johnson Matt and Kim come close to matching the (whose Lindsey Buckingham played guitar says. “Live is where we’re most at home—it’s So Eric and I usually present an idea to the manic energy of their live show. To psych on the band’s 2013 single “If I Loved You”), where the concept of the band feels most band and then work through it with them. himself up in the studio, Johnson follows and even the HBO show Game of Thrones natural. A band with four lead singers is “The surprising part of the process,” he advice he once got from Ben Allen, who as inspiration. overwhelming for radio, but it makes sense continues, “is how the songs we create end MATT AND KIM produced 2010’s Sidewalks. “He told me “What we do have are great pop songs live, where the harmonies come together.” up in a certain singer’s hands. For example, to visualize our audience jumping around with organic textures, so I think of our music Finding harmony offstage is another ‘Chasing Twisters’ has a macho gunslinger The energetic pop pair works hard to make sure and singing along and crowd-surfi ng,” as neo-Americana. But people have called story, especially when three siblings are vibe, so I thought I’d sing it. But Liz came to the party never stops Johnson says. “I was able to put myself us everything from country and bluegrass involved. “We argue a lot,” Hölljes says with me during a rehearsal and said she wanted right there, and it really helps.” to pop and rock, and even blues. It really a laugh. “We’re all opinionated. But it yields to give it a try. She sounded a lot better, so “HOODIE ON,” A HIGHLIGHT OF THE times with a hoodie on.” Amazingly enough, on some nights depends on where you’re coming from in the best product for us—conversations and it was an easy decision to have her record album New Glow, the latest from endlessly Which raises the question: Is there they encounter a slack crowd. “That’s when terms of music. For us, it’s just the melding deliberations get us the best result. We’ve it. Plus, it’s a lot more interesting to have exuberant dance-pop duo Matt and Kim, anything you can’t do in a hoodie? “I’d say you’ve got to work twice as hard,” Johnson of all the different genres that we love.” discarded peace for allowing passions to a female voice on such a badass Western offers a short list: “Bought my new house avoid swimming,” chuckles Johnson. “It could says. “You’ve got to jump twice as high. It has taken fi ve years and two studio fl y at all times. It can be exhausting, but it’s song. That fl exibility is one of the unique with a hoodie on,” singer and keyboardist lead to sinking. I’d defi nitely avoid that.” You’ve got to scream twice as loud. We albums, including the recent After It All, for a part of our artistic process, and we’ve advantages our band has.” Matt Johnson sings on the bass-heavy, hip- The band formed in Brooklyn in 2004, never throw in the towel.” the band—which includes Hölljes’ siblings embraced it.” —Katy Kroll hoppish track. “Been ’round the world 10 when Johnson and girlfriend Kim Schifi no—a –Kenneth Partridge BRIAN WILSON including hip acts She and Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), Kacey “Nowadays with computers and Pro Tools, I take my time,” he Musgraves, and Nate Ruess of Fun. “They were all great, all fantastic!” says. “This time I tried to make sure that the music is a little more mellow With a new album and biopic, it’s all good Wilson, 72, is a man of few words; he prefers to communicate than usual because I was in a mellow mood when we made the record.” vibes for this rock genius directly through his music. Although he could easily rest on his laurels, With the release of Love & Mercy, the Bill Pohlad-directed that’s simply not his style—No Pier Pressure is his 11th solo album since biopic starring Paul Dano and John Cusack—as the younger and “FANTASTIC!” IT’S A COMMON DECLARATION WHEN BRIAN 1988. Since creating landmarks like “Good Vibrations” and the Pet older Wilson—the singer-songwriter has found himself refl ecting Wilson is talking about those he worked with on his new solo Sounds album in 1966, Wilson has been hailed as one of rock’s most on his own troubled past. The fi lm not only depicts Wilson at work album, No Pier Pressure. The album marks the former Beach innovative and infl uential fi gures by critics and fans around the globe. during his creative peak but also delves into his struggles with mental Boys mastermind’s return to Capitol Records, the group’s home Even the defection of his longtime musical director Jeffrey illness and drug abuse. Still, Wilson is happy the fi lmmakers didn’t throughout its 1960s heyday, and Wilson is pumped. Foskett to the current Beach Boys group led by co-founder attempt to whitewash his past. Working on new tunes with former bandmates Al Jardine and Mike Love couldn’t dampen Wilson’s spirits about forging Wilson has said that during the ’60s he often felt he was constantly David Marks? “Fantastic! I loved working with those guys. They’re ahead. “It still sounds the same,” he says of his road band. As competing with the Beatles and others to see who could make the great singers.” The contribution made to the album by another former IIIJames Minchin for the Joe Thomas-produced No Pier Pressure, Wilson’s only next masterpiece. Does he still measure himself against others? “No,” associate from the Beach Boys era, Blondie Chaplin: “Fantastic!” concession to the passage of time is that he now takes longer he declares. “No, no, no. I’m not competing with anyone anymore.” Wilson has the same response about the record’s guest stars, to craft an album. –Jeff Tamarkin 18 19 M mag 41.indd 18 6/28/15 7:20 PM M mag 41.indd 19 6/28/15 7:20 PM ISSUE #41 M MUSIC & MUSICIANS MAGAZINE.