Windom
Earle by Matt
Dixon, March '06
Photo by Patrick Callbeck
Kitten
Vs Pegasus from Goldwave
1. Please introduce Windom Earle and give a brief history of
the band and how you came up with the name:
Back in 1996 I started cutting, pasting and mixing samples using Goldwave
on my mom's computer. I eventually started taking samples of friend's
playing guitar, bass or keyboards and mixed those with any beats I
could find. eventually I started sampling myself, but I couldn't really
play much. The more I recorded, the more comfortable I became writing
original songs.
With the help of some friends, Vince Lavers in particular,
I started playing the songs live over the samples. The live show and
my recordings have evolved from simple, repetitive grooves, to more
structured songs with parts that still include pre-recorded samples
and drum loops.
The name is a reference to Kenneth Welsh's character in Twin
Peaks. I used to call my band High Octane, but changed it to Windom
Earle during a period when I watched the entire TV series.
2. How would you describe your music to someone that has yet
to hear you?
I've always considered the live version of the band a karaoke dance
party since we rely heavily on our pre-recorded tracks, and we actually
do karaoke cover songs to liven up the set.
The recorded version of the band is a bit more electronic sounding
with lots of layers, but the live rock version is kind of taking over
the recordings too.
3. Is there anything you try to communicate through your music?
Sense of humour used to be a major component in my music. I always
thought it was important to be entertaining and make people laugh.
But I don't think the music really reflects that as much as the live
show. I want people that watch us play to put their guard down and
enjoy themselves, so we try to make fools of ourselves as much as
we can.
4. What bands, current and past, would you say influence your
music?
Beck is pretty influential. He's never afraid to combine any style
of music that he likes with his own. He manages to lift parts of exisiting
songs and still sound really inventive. Before I knew much about music,
listening to artists that could do big things with simple tools was
inspiring. A song like "loser" is so full of cool parts, but when
you break it down, it's just a bunch of samples recorded in someone's
bedroom.
5. Is it easy for you to play infront of an audience? Ideal show?
It's usually easier to play in front of people who are familiar with
you, but I've been discovering lately that playing in city's we've
never played before can be a bit libererating. The audience is unaware
that we haven't changed our set over the past year and I'm a bit more
willing to act like a fool because I may never see these people again.
6. What were the original goals of the band, have they been met?
Originally it wasn't even really a band. It's only been the past year
that I find we've become an actual band with a set that's pretty much
fool proof. Now that we've overcome our awkward beginning stage, we
can actually plan things like tours and releasing an album. Since
we've never pressed an actual album and traveled across the country,
I'd say we still have much to accomplish.
7. What does your family think of the band?
My parents assume it's not a real band since their isn't a drummer,
and we lose money whenever we go on the road but my mom is very supportive
by lending the car, letting musicians sleep on her floor when we're
in town, and feeding us. That's really all I could ask for. My brother
is helpful with career advice and promoting us.
8. You recently moved from Charlottetown, PE to Halifax, NS.
What's changed?
Halifax's bar scene is much more forgiving and open to different styles
of indie music. There are a lot of amateur bands that get breaks thanks
to CKDU (Dalhousie's campus radio station) and various festivals like
the Halifax Pop Explosion and North By Northend. Also I've been able
to play with a lot of interesting away bands that don't usually make
it to PEI.
PEI has changed a bit since we left. It seems like the all
ages scene we used to play to has grown up and moved on to bars (which
is great for us because now bars are less reluctant to book us). I
miss the Guild, but I've been lucky enough to be able to book shows
there through the new management and I'm really impressed with how
much the service there has improved.
9. What was your most memorable live show to date?
The post-boxing day show at the House of Rock with the Windom Earle
All Stars.
10. What can we expect from windom earle in the future?
New album very very soon as well as a cross-Canada tour with Sharp
Like Knives and Rolling Chowder Revue ii will be coming to Charlottetown
this summer.
11. How can kids get in touch with you?
windomearle.com is pretty much the best destination to find any project
I've worked on or to contact me.
12. Any final words / advice?
Don't step on monitors.
