We had the opportunity to interview Seattle-based four-piece Guest Directors for an Artist Spotlight! Guest Directors' sound will evoke comps to earlier alt favorites such as Breeders, in short they're stellar. They just released a new EP Dream the Currents in February that you have to hear! Check out their interview below!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
[jd] I started drumming in school band in grade school, then picked up guitar as a teen. I can’t remember ever not being obsessed with music and wanting to create it and be part of a band.
[gt] Music pursued me by providing a transcendental portal of emotional experience and self-expression.
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
[jd] It really varies - sometimes someone brings in a riff or a beat, sometimes we just freeform jam. We record everything during rehearsals, and then go over the recordings to find moments of inspiration to develop. The main vocals go to whoever comes up with a melody first. Every once in a blue moon Gary or I will write a song and bring it in, but our best stuff is collaborative and instinctual.
[gt] No set process involved, sometimes trial and error sometimes spontaneous inspiration
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
[gt] Bandmates
[jd] Swervedriver, RIDE, Television, Sonic Youth, The Grifters, PJ Harvey, Unwound, dozens more, but also bandmates as Gary says, along with our friends in other local bands.
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
[jd] My favorite piece of gear would have to be my late 60’s Marshall Plexi 50 watt JMP head - this amp has the most perfect tone I’ve ever heard, especially with P90 pickups (which are in most of my guitars). I don’t take this amp to shows anymore, but I still use it for recording. For shows I have a custom combo amp by a local maker (Golden Phi) that gives me great live sound (and can keep up with the volume of Gary’s vintage Supro). It’s also really lightweight. For guitars I’m primarily Fender (I have a couple of Jazzmasters and a Telecaster), but I have a Hagstrom Viking that I enjoy playing for certain things. Almost all of my guitars have been modded in some way - I really like customizing my gear.
[gt] Ibanez DFL-10 I bought in a pawn shop because it had a delay knob which was different for a flanger
at the time
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
[gt] Ideal vibe at shows is anything can happen and a sense that we are prepared to slay. Audiences make a venue enjoyable.
[jd] I like a venue that has good on-stage sound, so we can just relax and focus on playing. I really enjoy connecting with the audience by chatting with them, hopefully making them feel like they’re part of the show (because they are) rather than just passive observers.
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
[gt] Do not need to know about the music at all, just be open to listen to what we do.
[jd] People might find it interesting that this is the first band for both Gary and myself where we are doing the singing.
7. Do you have any upcoming projects you would like fans to know about?
[jd] We’re always working on new music, so I imagine it won’t be all that long before we’re back in the studio again. We’re trying to develop more co-singing and harmonies in our songwriting.
[gt] Dream The Currents EP = like a killer side 1 of an LP leaving you hungry for what’s next.