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| Cover art by Brianna Didyoung |
Philadelphia quartet Dulls consists of
Evan Raab and Erica Carter on voices and guitars with Kirk Bray on bass and
Jack Pfeifer on drums. The project has so far released two EPs digitally and on
cassette. The four-track self-titled debut came out in January of 2016; the
three-track Moon Violet
EP saw release in February of this year.
The first three tracks of the self-titled debut EP
are an excursion in what might best be described as dark, eclectic heavy psych.
Shades of punk, metal, and doom are all brought into play and rendered with
delightfully liberal layerings of fuzz. The outstanding five minute closer, "Whole", brings the band closer to shoegaze and dream pop territory, a
positioning retained throughout Moon Violet. While John Cep of The Stargazer Lilies
served as recordist on this second outing, which, as mentioned, shifts onto ground
somewhat different from most of the first effort, there’s still an unmistakable
consistency across all the material the band has so far released. Erica’s vocal
delivery and Evan’s singing lead guitar tones, both distinctive, contribute to the strong identity the band has right out of the
gate. The performances and recording have a slightly rough-around-the-edges
feel that perfectly suits the sense of freshness and present-tense vitality
pervading both releases.
Dulls has been one of our most exciting
discoveries of 2017 thus far, so we were delighted when Evan agreed to take time out
for the interview that follows. We’re very grateful to Yana Komeshko of the
outstanding Russian shoegaze project Aerofall for bringing Dulls to our
attention by posting a track on the Aerofall and Friends
Facebook group this past March.
Dulls will next be appearing on July 19th at The
Silent Barn in Brooklyn, New York.
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How and when was the band
formed?
Jack
and I played together in a band in college. After graduating we pursued
separate projects but started playing together again casually in 2013. After
going through some lineup changes, Kirk came on board to play bass. Erica
joined in early 2015 and the band played our first show as Dulls that March.
Can you tell us what the
band has been working on and what you've got forthcoming in the near future
(new releases, tour, etc.)?
We
are working on a new setlist which we hope to release material from as a 7-inch.
We’ve been playing outside of Philadelphia more lately and are currently
working on getting a proper tour together.
How do you feel about
genres? Defining one's sound by genre can be tiresome, but do you feel that the
band identifies closely with any genre? Do you consider your music to be part
of the current shoegaze/dream pop scene?
Our
music definitely has elements of that, and all of us really like that stuff. But
as far as executing our own music, we tend to rely on our personal leanings.
Jack is very much into R&B and more beat-oriented drums, and Erica has an
adoration for classic Sixties-style pop, which I think gives us a unique
identity in the scene. I feel that most shoegaze bands tend to lack poppy hooks
and leads, which I try to throw in where I can.
What do you think of
modern shoegaze/dream pop/psychedelia artists, any favorites?
It’s
a pretty vibrant scene these days. I feel like almost any band with a
cranked-up reverb pedal that throws on some occasional feedback gets the word
“gaze” thrown into their description, which I think is a little bit silly. It’s
amazing how this style of music has had the revival it has, but what I think is
really great is that artists are taking elements from that style and
incorporating it into their own musical blend.
What is the most important piece of gear for your sound? Any particular guitars/pedals/amps that you prefer?
I
guess I'm proving my previous point here—we’re big on fuzz and reverb. The main
pedals I use are the Electro-Harmonix (EHX) Cathedral Stereo Reverb and the EHX
Big Muff Pi Fuzz. I like the just-chaotic-enough sound the Big Muff Pi can get
for our more noisy parts, while also being tame enough to fit our more
pop-oriented parts. Erica isn’t as big of a pedal nerd, but she uses the EHX
Metal Muff Distortion, which lets us have tones that are diverse yet
close enough that it doesn't sound too jarring. Kirk relies on the EHX Deluxe
Bass Big Muff and the EHX Holy Grail Reverb, so he fits right in, but keeps a
warm, full bottom end.
What is your process for
recording your music? What gear and/or software do you use? What would you
recommend for others?
We’ve
been letting other people do it for us. Our first release was recorded (aside
from the vocals) in a single day at Brad Wallace Recording, and
Kirk mixed it. Moon Violet was recorded during a weekend escape at John Cep and
Kim Field’s house (they’re in a band called The Stargazer Lilies), which is
located in a pretty secluded wooded area. That tape was also mixed by John. It
was really helpful for us to have that perspective from someone outside of the
band, and Pro Tools has been a great asset for us.
How do you feel about the
state of the music industry today? There is no doubt a massive change underway.
How do you see it and do you feel it’s positive at all?
I
think my outlook aligns with many other artists. Of course the ability to
download and stream music has curbed industry profitability, but at the same
time you have an unprecedented avenue for exposure. I’ll never run out of new
music to discover. And having your music available to anyone with a phone or
internet connection just makes us all the more humbled when someone wants to
purchase a tape or download.
When it comes to label
releases versus DIY/Bandcamp and the like, what is your stance, if any?
We’ve
only self-released our music. If any labels want to help out with the next one,
drop me an email at dullsphilly@gmail.com.
Do you prefer vinyl, CD,
cassette tape or MP3 format when listening to music? Do you have any strong
feelings toward any of them?
I
guess the cool answer here is “vinyl” and “cassette”. Most of us collect vinyl—Erica
has the most impressive collection. While I’m not someone to argue the quality
of sound between formats (FLAC or bust), I will say that I hate the concept of
“phone djing” at a party which only leads to long pauses of dead air, arguing
over who gets to put on a song next, etc. With vinyl you pick a record and just
flip it when it’s over. You also get to enjoy the whole album that way, rather
than going through singles.
What
artists (musicians or otherwise) have most influenced your work?
While
the four of us all enjoy the same types of music, our main influences are very
much in their own worlds. I personally love the classic shoegaze outfits,
Slowdive, MBV, etc. But for guitar playing I’m very into the harsh biting tones
of The Telescopes. We all adore Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth, which have
been unifying sounds for the band.
Can you tell us a little
about what you are currently into (books, films, art, bands, etc.)?
Will
people judge me if I like Jonathan Franzen? I
also personally love Noah
Baumbach movies. As a band we have almost a second language when it comes
to quoting The Simpsons and Peep Show.
If you had to choose one
track that was the ultimate definition of your sound, which would it be and
why?
“New
Dream” encapsulates our sound pretty well. A bit slower than the rest of our
music, but it has our lighter touch, our love of noise, and need for hooks.
Can you tell us a little
about the band’s song writing process?
Usually
I’ll come up with a riff or chord progression and bring it to practice. We
throw ideas at it and see what sticks. Kirk and Jack are pretty great at coming
up with what the song needs right on the spot. Erica and I will usually meet up
on our own and try to come up with lyrics together.
What is your philosophy
(on life), if any, that you live by?
Don’t
trust anyone over thirty. Except us.
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| Photo by Emilia Randler |
