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| Photo: Tim Oxton |
The New Highway Hymnal were recently named the "Best Act of 2012" by Boston Phoenix and made our "Best of Bandcamp" wrap-up in 2013 for their Whispers release late last year. With influences stemming from 60's rock to the later psychedelic bands of North America and Britain, the four pack a live show with enough brooding attitude and psychedelic swirl to see them get noticed among new audiences beyond their debut festival appearance at SXSW and through the live music scene of their hometown Boston.
Tell us a little about your debut album, Whispers?
The production quality of our previous EP was fairly low as we recorded it ourselves and we had absolutely no idea what we were doing. We recorded them right as we started the band and we were really trying to figure out what our sound would be. The single we put out in February 2012 (Blackened Hands/Hey Kid) certainly has our sound but the 'garage' vibe has more to do with recording it ourselves and not having the same means that you would in a studio. Because now we are signed to Vanya (who are amazing by the way, it almost feels more like being part of a gang than a label as there is a real sense of camaraderie and community) we decided we were going to have help releasing it if we would recorded in a studio. Because it's recorded in a studio (Project Sound in Haverhill MA) it has a much more hi-fi sound, but the music is still in the same vein as our 7" release.
Your sound is reminiscent of the great American psycedelica rock bands; Brian Jonestown, Black Angels etc. Who are your musical influences?
Well certainly those bands but also a lot of bands from the 60s like The 13th Floor Elevators, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, The Doors and The Stooges. Also a lot of surf music like the Ventures and Dick Dale. 80s psyche like Spacemen 3 and the Jesus and Mary Chain. Early blues, Son House, Howlin Wolf, Muddy...everyone is influenced by those guys. There's a collection of prison work songs from the first half of the 20th century that I really like. Other contemporary bands would be like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Thee Oh Sees, The Nightbeats and The Black Keys. Personally (and this probably goes for Amy as well but I can't speak for the other two) I have been very influenced by 90's hip hop like Dr. Dre and Jay Z. This influence is a subtle one that most people probably wouldn't notice as we play such a different style of music. It's more of an arrangement/production thing.
Do you think that there is a need for more bands like TNHH heading towards a less over-produced approach to rock music?
When we recorded our 7" we tried to get the best sounding record as we possibly could. We didn't intend for it to sound 'raw' or 'garage'. We just tried to make a decent sounding record. I am not into the whole 'lo-fi/garage' thing. I think it comes off as sounding contrived and you lose a lot of power when you try and make a record sound small and shitty fidelity-wise. It's easy and it says, "I don't care about this aspect of my record". Again, I can't speak for the rest of the band but I am very obsessive and care about every aspect of every song. I do a lot of homework. Some days when I listen to records I'll just pay attention to the snare sound or the echo they've put on the vocals. The most subtle things are the best. But yes, too much of anything is a bad thing.
How was your experience at SXSW?
SXSW was an incredible experience. Never seen so much music in one place. I think what I'll really remember though is the trip down and back. We went down in a 1986 international bus with Bearstronaut (also on Vanya), a band we had never met, and came back all really good friends. The bus was previously used as a prison bus but it was basically a converted school bus that had been painted all black. We all miss it very much.
Famous last words...
Thanks for giving a shit about what we have to say.
We love Boston.
4-5-6.
Vanya represent.
