Passion Pit

You may remember a commercial that ran over the holiday season for Sony. The commercial itself wasn’t really anything special, just an image of a Sony PSP flying through various landmarks in Canada, before informing us that ‘Canada Plays PSP.’ God help us all.

But that wasn’t important. What’s important was the song that played through it all, by an up-and-coming band named Passion Pit, containing a high-pitched vocal sample (from long-ago harpist Mary O’Hara’s “Oro Mo Bhaidan”) that ran through a propulsive beat and an explosive vocal performance from lead singer Michael Angelakos.

The song has upped the band’s profile considerably, and it doesn’t hurt to be listed by the BBC as one of the fifteen best rising music stars, either.

The Boston-based group became locally popular even before the release of their EP Chunk of Change (the EP is wonderful, by the way. Buy it now.). Angelakos originally gave the EP as a Valentine’s Day gift to his girlfriend, and didn’t expect it to even see a wide release.

Currently wrapping up their first full-length album, Passion Pit are set to embark upon a tour that will include a show here in Toronto (woo!) at Lee’s Palace on April 3. Angelakos stated in an interview a while back that the band would kick off their tour in Canada, though apparently that is no longer the case – much to my personal dismay.

Synthesizer and sample-meister Ayad Al Adhamy informs us via e-mail:

The Singing Lamb: Since Chunk of Change was a Valentine’s Day gift that you didn’t think would get a wide release, have you guys run into any impossibly high expectations for the new album? Anyone saying, “Wow, I can’t wait to hear the official album?”

Ayad Al Adhamy: That is usually the way with bands who release EPs that people really enjoy but the LP is quite different and has progressed a lot. It has evolved, and most bands don’t usually differ too much between the EP and LP. That has allowed us to relax on any pressure we would of had, as we are expecting a different reaction!

So apparently you’re kicking off the LP tour in Canada. What made you decide that, and how excited are you for Toronto in particular?

Ayad: I don’t actually think we are starting off in Canada as we will be doing our last EP tour there before the LP comes out. That being said I can’t wait to go back! Montreal is a beautiful and fun city, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing Toronto.

I read someone who said that Passion Pit sound “like a cross between The Beach Boys and The Flaming Lips.” Do you think there’s any accuracy to this, or are your influences completely different?

Ayad: That is definitely one of the better crosses I have heard! We all have completely different and opposing influences, which is what makes us fun live. Nate DJs and listens to minimal techno, Michael grew up on bands like Aloha and is influenced a lot by Randy Newman. Ian is loves Wilco and Andrew Bird; and I learnt music playing thrash metal… But I think Beach Boys and Flaming lips works well…

Did you guys use any eclectic samples for the new album? And, for all the tech junkies, what kind of synths did you use?

Ayad: There are some very interesting samples – I remembering hearing one that was an african tribe going “yeee” that sounded amazing! But there isnt anything that stands out like the Mary O’Hara-Sleepyhead sample. In the studio there was a bunch of cool gear (Voyager, SH 101, Jupiter 6, MS-20…) but live we use a Fender Rhodes, Yamaha SK-15 (great under-appreciated series), Vintage Rolands synths (Juno 106 and Juno 60), and Moog Little Phatty. I could go on and on about synths and stuff!

Were you guys in any separate bands before Passion Pit?

Ayad: Yep. This is my first band since I moved to America for College, but the rest of the guys have been playing in bands with each other for a while now…

Did you and the band have a specific style in mind when you started the band, or did it just kind of materialize into what it is over time?

Ayad: Michael wrote the EP before we met, so it was pretty obvious. We just took the material and made it our own live show as a band.

How fast did the EP catch on around Boston?

Ayad: We sparked up pretty quickly in Boston, I’m not sure how the EP is doing, but we have gained a loyal following (which is amazing!) Our first show was barely over a year ago so…

Speaking of Boston, why has the Boston music scene been so active lately? It seems that in the last few years, the scene there has kind of exploded. Is there something in the drinking water?

Ayad: I don’t know! I hope we have had a part in that but I really can’t tell you! So many young intelligent college kids maybe?

I’m sure you’re getting tired of this question, but: When do you hope for an official release of the LP?

Ayad: Mid-May 2009.

We must know: where did the band’s name come from? Some sex bar in the heart of Boston?

Ayad: Haha, everyone somehow manages to incorrectly assume it is form the Traci Lords Porno, but in reality Mike picked up the phrase from a class – where a Passion Pit would the back of the Drive Thru (in the 50s) where people would make-out. There you go.

And, last but not least: If you were a singing animal, what would you be?

Ayad: Panda. Singing Kung Fu Panda. Or a Cheshire Cat.

For more Passion Pit, check out their MySpace or go see them live April 3rd at Lee’s Palace!