Would you like to give us a brief history of the Nodzzz?
I met Sean Paul in Olympia, Washington while at attending the Evergreen State College, in 2005. We started a band there called Vacation, but mostly played baseball and got drunk. A year or two later we were both living in San Francisco. We started Nodzzz along with a childhood friend of mine from New Jersey. That was Pete Hilton. He was our first drummer and he lives in Bulgaria now. Eric Butterworth is the 2nd drummer. He put out the first single on his Make A Mess label.
You sound a bit lofi. Is that on purpose or you just can help it?
It’s not really on purpose. The 12” was basically recorded for free by a friend of ours, on an 8-track tape machine we borrowed. Any professionalism in the recording and performance was due to luck, though it was mixed and mastered in good hands. The Lo-Fi thing is interesting to me, but I think what we would prefer is a clean sounding record, not too big, but nothing which sounds Recorded, in the distracting sense.
You record is 16 minutes long. You must like short songs eh?
ifind overstatement to be a drag in pop music. The short songs reflect my desire to take myself less seriously, and get on with other things in the world.
What is the single piece of equipment you just can't do without?
I need my glasses, and my refrigerator, and my record player. Without those, I’d be blind, famished and lonely.
What are your favourite all time and current records?
All time favorite records were bestowed by Dylan, Velvets, Bo Diddley and the Kinks. Current records I love, LOVE, love, are from Brilliant Colors, Grass Widow, and Gun Outfit.
You mention mental hospitals and libraries as influences. Discuss.
Mental hospitals and public libraries each stand at opposite ends of the spectrum of what I find terrifying, and what I find beautiful. But they are similar, at least in San Francisco. The public library here is at once a museum to local history, a public bath house, a temple to the universe, and a place to check your e-mail. Without trying to appear like a bibliophile or smug intellectual, I can’t think of a more exciting, mystical place. And the mental hospital is my number one fear, my “sad place” to borrow a phrase from my friend Jess. I had family in and out of mental health institutions growing up, and only recently overcame the panic induced by the mention or sight of one.
In an age where most people abandon CDs for downloads, a lot of bands, you included, still put out vinyl records and lately a lot of bands release 7". Is that a reaction to downloading, or people are catching up on the greatness of vinyl?
Vinyl is a medium containing an energy, sound and aura unmatched by other audio formats. I prefer a digital file to a cumbersome, lifeless CD but Vinyl is on another level—I think of a vinyl as a real human artifact, as alive as a late grandmother’s fur coat or an old baseball mitt. They’re heavy musical sculptures which are fun to collect like comic books, or paintings.
Why you don't want to smoke Marijuana?
Because I had issues with marijuana-induced anxiety at the time! I can “puff” now, and do sometimes. Last time I got stoned, I was played King Tubby’s “Lost Treasures” and I felt absolutely moved, it was glorious.
Instead of a band website, you have a band blog. Why is that?
They’re easier to set up and have a special diary-like mode about them, which I find nice .
I can't come up with more questions. Can you?
Yes, but they’re not directed at you:
1.In a world where behavior is genetically determined, how are we to suppose a theory of justice and of ethics?
2.How did subjective consciousness evolve? How does it work?
3.Where can I find a cheap original Mono copy of Blonde on Blonde?
4.New York or Los Angeles?
5.Did anyone read this interview?
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