Scene Point Blank: What are you most pleased with on your album?
Dan: We love the record. I had recorded with Matt Pence before and he was the first person I thought of when we started talking about the studio. He is a very creative engineer and knows his equipment inside and out. And so, so mellow. The whole experience was incredible. Two weeks in the country with nice weather. I am most pleased with every aspect of the whole thing.
Nicole: Totally awesome guy to work with. Never made you feel anything but like you belonged. And his dog Hoagie ate my sandwich (rightfully).
Slim: Dan already had really good songs, but the way Matt heard them was pretty incredible to me, especially his take on Mesh Mask. Two things standout in my mind: the merging of the heavy and the subdued, and the instruments tonality and clarity.
Scene Point Blank: Is there anything that you would change on the record?
Dan: Agh?.there is a piano part in A.K.A. that bugs me sometimes. And after having the record in my car for a while, there are opportunities for harmonies that we missed.
Nicole: I don't know if it's a drumstick click or clap or what on one song but I anticipate it every time. Nobody else probably even hears it. I do a lot of iPod listening at monstrous decibels.
Slim: Oops...I think the piano part and stick click are both my bad, sorry about that gang! A little more time to play around in the studio would have been nice and maybe some more background noise, or as I like to call them, DRUG TRAX!
Scene Point Blank: What goals or aims does the band have? What aims or goals do the individual band members have for True Widow?
Dan: I can only speak for myself here, but I just want to have fun with it. See the world. Play awesome shows and make good quality records. It would be nice to break even too.
Nicole: I think we're all pretty much on the same page, which is why we work so well together. There are no expectations of "making it big" or being the hottest new thing, and therefore never any unnecessary tension. We are all big fans of what we do and we just hope others are as well.
Slim: I concur with Dan and Nico. For me to be doing this with people I genuinely enjoying being around is outstanding. So I'm just having fun with it and hopefully we'll experience some longevity. Personally I'd like to spend more time making TW noise than printing t-shirts. I've got a small print shop with a couple of buddies and spend 90% of my time there. I would like to get that down between 50-60%.
Scene Point Blank: What can people expect from True Widow in 2009 and the foreseeable future?
Dan: We are trying to get out there. We are planning on touring as much as we can and as much as makes sense. We'd love to get in the studio again when we are confident in our new batch of songs. And we are working up a couple of ideas for videos now.
Slim: Not to compromise or give into expectations, and to continue down our path at a pace which we feel is best for the band and us as individuals. We're just now starting to get some attention so no precedent has really been set.
Scene Point Blank: Do you consider yourselves a full time band?
Dan: I think we'd like to be full time. As long as I can pay rent every month, I don't care where the dough comes from. It would be great if the band could support the three of us, we would love that! As for now, we are plugging away at our respective jobs. We all love what we do, I think, at least I do. So I have no problem with my 9-5. But breaking it up with some True Widow time is always welcome.
Slim: I've been at the printing thing for a very long time, so the more TW time the better!
Scene Point Blank: Any releases on the horizon? If so can you elaborate?
Dan: We have the vinyl release coming up. This was supposed to come out at the same time as the CD, but you know. We got the test pressing back and there was a spot on one of the songs that was scratchy and poppy on all three test pressings. We played it on several systems and it was still there. So now we are going back and forth with the record cutting place on how to fix it. They are being nice and accommodating, but man. We are ready for that business! We have the record jackets and inserts ready to be stuffed. We just need that double 180-gram to slide in there.
Editors Note: The vinyl version of the album is now out.
Slim: We might have a single on a local compilation. A friend of ours is putting it together and it should be out in the summer or fall.
Scene Point Blank: If you had to describe your band in five words or less, how would you do so?
Slim: dreamy+thick+sexy+dark+focused= stonegaze!
Nicole: lush, meaty, airy, swelling zoneout dan: um, hm, well, uh, agh.
Scene Point Blank: Do you think environment has any influence on songwriting as well?
Slim: To a certain degree it definitely does. Since your environment effects your experiences it's hard not to look back and remember where you were on a specific occasion. I think it plays a bigger roll when your anchored down in one spot for a few years and are really able to absorb your surroundings. All that being said, personally the opposite (no home but the road) has always been very giving when it comes to song inspiration and influence.
Scene Point Blank: If you were to do a concept album based on a book, what would you choose and why?
Slim: cool/tough question! While I don't see us going down this road here you go. runners up - Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee {Brown} (super sad and great rhythm potential), and The 12th Planet {Sitchin} (it's too far out not to create cool sounds for) the winner- the Sandman graphic novels {Gaiman} It's an interesting story that is already somewhat suited for our sounds. he covers a pretty wide spectrum of mythologies and mixes them well. It would be challenging trying to capture the essence of a character that is the embodiment of all dreams. Plus I'm a sucker for the pictures! Seriously though, the tones of the artwork used would play a huge part.
Nicole: I can't honestly say I've ever read anything that remotely reminds me of True Widow. Hah! Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas maybe?
Dan: Child of God would be a crazy record
Scene Point Blank: If you had to choose one song you wish you had written (like that you think would fit beautifully on the record but you did not write it), what would it be and why?
Slim: I'll leave this one in Dan's capable hands. He is after all the mastermind behind the album in question.
Dan: I like to play "I'm Free Now" by Morphine on my acoustic guitar. It really works with one of the tunings i use.
Scene Point Blank: Do you think your song I.N.O. will ever see a proper release? Would you like or want it to see a proper release?
Slim: It's been talked about. There's been a few different ideas as far as re-recording and the release format, but I would like to see that happen, as long as we could keep it around the same length. Maybe a 12" with two songs on the b-side, or a split with the right band.
Nicole: When the time is right.
Scene Point Blank: Did the band work on the vocal harmonies prior to the studio, or was that a development that happened in the studio?
Slim: I would say a little of both. We went in with a good idea of what we were shooting for, but the studio really brought it together.
Nicole: Definitely both. And the songs are ever evolving. One day a new vocal or bass part will flow into a song we've been playing for a year. It's really neat that they can stay fresh for us.
Scene Point Blank: Do you have anything else to add?
Slim: Thanks for the kind words and taking the time to do this. I'm glad you're enjoying the album!
Nicole: Land it in the Hudson.
- Official Website: http://truewidow.blogspot.com
- End Sounds Records: http://www.endsounds.com
