Grand Archives

The Singing Lamb: So you’re on tour with The Most Serene Republic right now; how’s that going?

Mat Brooke: It’s going great! Those kids are amazing; we’ve made a great connection with them and the shows have been a lot of fun.

Do you think your music is very comparable to that of TMSR’s?

Mat: I would say that we’re different sides of the coin for sure but hopefully fans of them would be fans of ours!

Do you get the feeling that the audiences are at the shows?

Mat: Yeah, yeah we do! We’ve also had some fun at the shows with different members of their band jumping up onstage and playing some songs – violin parts and trombone parts – and it’s been some nice evenings.

Do you think there could be a collaboration in the future?

Mat: That would be fun! We don’t have any concrete plans but I wouldn’t rule that out.

You guys recently released a new album! Describe the recording process.

Mat: Well the first album, we went into it trying to make a record for everybody; for us, for the label…just for everybody. And this particular record we just ended up making a record for us; it was a lot of fun. It was a long recording process for us and I think in the end we were happy.

Do you think it’s better or more importand to make music for yourself as opposed to making music for others?

Mat: I think so. After our first record, I think there were a lot of expectations and there was a little bit of pressure to kind of be something that you’re not and this one we’re just able to accept what we’re dealing with. It’s felt a lot more in control. I think the key is to keep it interesting for yourself and for your listeners. You just have to get into the studio and spend the week there getting into the mind frame of things and see whatever happens for better or for worse.

Speaking of pressure, your band was mentioned on Pitchfork fairly early on; how do you feel about Pitchfork publicity and buzz?

Mat: You know those things can be a blessing and a curse. I think you should read into them as much as you want to. I don’t know; there was a time back in the day where the highest plateau would be getting a review in Spin Magazine or Rolling Stone but now there are so many blogs, in so many ways the internet is obviously good but there are obviously ways in which it’s changed. I say the only advice I can give musicians is to don’t read your own reviews.

So you don’t read any of your own reviews?

Mat: I try not to. I feel like it can really skew your own personal opinion. Of course, when we’re sitting in the van for nine hours a day, we’ll read a MOJO Magazine or the latest Spin Magazine but I don’t know.

Yeah, there are so many outlets now; do you feel that it’s devalued the feeling of reviews and whatnot nowadays?

Mat: Yeah there are so many and yeah, I don’t know. All bands should be allowed to be a new band when they aren’t new and have a first record when it is a first record and for their career to build up as opposed to being superstars when they first show up and then have to worry about a decline or anything like that. When you’re a new band, you should feel like a new band and realize that there’s a lot of growing left to do.

You were in Band of Horses – what have you taken from that and put into Grand Archives?

Mat: Oh, basically a guitar and an amp! That’s about it.

Do you ever get sick of the comparisons?

Mat: The first record, it happens a lot. It actually started happening less for this record but that kind of goes back to ‘every band should be able to feel like a new band’ and every band should have their own identity. I think the first record looked like a side-project which we never intended it to be and I think we’re finally getting to the point where people are ready to see the new band and it’s refreshing, I think we’re winning over the crowds for who we are as opposed to being a curiosity.

And finally, if you were a singing animal, what would you be?

Mat: For this record, I’d be a singing elephant!

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For more Grand Archives,

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/grandarchives

Don’t forget to catch Grand Archives tonight at the Mod Club, opening for The Most Serene Republic! Tickets are still on sale for $15.00!