WRITER
WRITER; photographed by S. William MacNeil.
We have reported on WRITER since the beginning when brothers James & Andy Ralph first graced us with their debut Brotherface, their I Make Neon 7″, and now they have brought us the fun-fuzzy gift of their second album Principle Web (which saw the band enlist their longtime friend & guitarist Joshua Greco) via Small Plates, presenting the Paul Remund video for “Neighborly”. Working as a full-fledged trio; Andy, James, and Joshua further focus and point their shared love for distorted everything to further shape the catchy riffs and hooks that lay at the heart of their kicked-ed up clouds of dust.
Shot in a minimalist b/w style, WRITER’s jam “Neighborly” follows the motions of backward & forward dancing figures that move to & fro in front of the camera lens. Providing some camera effect trickery, director Paul Remund utilizes analog film while applying some modern day magic to add a subtle sensation of glitch-y visual decay to match the the scuzzier side of WRITER’s sound.”For the ‘Neighborly’ video I used an analog tape film process and experimented with live in-camera speed manipulation,” Remund described, “We shot at the Old Pfizer pharmaceutical factory in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, NY.” The ways of “Neighborly” love, care, & affection are observed as a wonky (but chic) dance routine where slow motion style & herky-jerky camera cuts & clips create something of an accompanying visual installation to compliment the “I love you” chants and Big-Muff squelched harmonies. The fancy footsteps and neighbor testimonials keep the spirits soaring high, until the song abruptly comes to the end with an almost obligatory epilogue of explosive collisions and a chaotic fallout. WRITER’s own James Ralph took the time to chat with us in the following interview session.
Describe for us your earliest memories of musical synergy from growing up together, to the making of your most recent album, Principle Web for Small Plates.
Andy and I took guitar lessons from a hippy lady when we were real young. We both played in different bands, practicing in our parents garage and playing gigs all over Southern California. At some point in 2010/2011 we decided to minimize our sound, stop jamming with our different buds and become a two piece. This is when we wrote and recorded our first record Brotherface. It was challenging to write songs as a two piece and it forced us to seek out a new music making process. What ever instrument was laying around in the studio during the recording of Brotherface we used, even if we didn’t know how to play it. Now, this time, for ‘Principle Web’ we kept our respected instruments in our hands and held on tight.
What sorts of webs, principle measures, and more went into the making of your most recent album?
Andy and I wrote and demoed and rewrote and demoed these songs as a two piece multiple times over. Some sounded way different than they do now. We would sit and play the songs over and over again. Drums and guitar. Raw and fast. Then we took this same setup to Brian Herman at Treefort Recordings in Brooklyn and kept playing them over and over as he documented and attached his vibe to the tracks. After, we gave these tracks to our oldest homeboy Joshua Greco and after a couple weeks in our studio he had some killer bass tracks recorded. Back to Treefort for the vocals and trippy sounds. A few more weeks at our Studio where we recorded E. Lee Smith for the voice on “Is You”. Also in that time I put together and layered a bunch of voice memos recorded on Canal St. by Andy and I, added guitars and vocals to make up ‘Canal Trip’. Finally it was back to Brian Herman for numerous late nights of mixing and mastering. At some point the three of us looked at each other and called it done.
What have you all been up to post-release, & what are both of your spring & summer battle-plan blueprints?
We have been playing shows regularly including a release weekend, April 8 & 9 with a show in Providence RI and a show in Manhattan. Spring and Summer we have another video to release, some shows booked, as well as some studio time working on songs for another 7″ and LP3.
Tell us about what sorts of good-neighborly sentiments went into the making of the song, “Neighborly”, and tell us too about both of your thoughts on the Paul Remund b/w minimalist, half-sped dance video.
Mostly the song is commenting on Andy’s block in Bed-Stuy. Loud stoop party’s, fallen trees from hurricane Sandy, feral cats, and the summer drunk guy who try’s to dance with Andy’s girl in the street.
We love Paul’s video. We love it’s minimal analog vibe. It’s hard to watch your self dance some times…but I think we look alright!
What are you all really into into right now, music-wise, film-wise, book-wise, etc?
I’ve been listening to the new DIIV, Quilt, and Hideout record. Andy usually has on some old Springsteen & Suicide or on Sunday’s the Glen Jones / X.Ray Burns radio show on WFMU.
Notes of interest from the Brooklyn scenes that you two care to share?
Go see music and support your friends and the people who’s art/music you like. There is a shit ton of it here.
WRITER’s Principle Web is available now from Small Plates.
