Cat Party

Interview by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

Ryan Nichols

Where is the band from?

Costa Mesa, CA

What are inspirations for the lyrics?

Life and everything surrounding it. Personal bullshit. 

Flat Black is pretty much a hardcore label. How did Cat Party become connected with them? Why the decision to put the LP and upcoming 7 inch with them?

They started coming to shows around the same time our LP was being recorded and said they'd do whatever we wanted. They were really adamant about releasing it and really excited. Then once the full length was out and we had Heartache on deck it just made since to go with them. Homies! 

It looks like Cat Party has a little West Coast tour plan?  How excited are you guys?

Pretty damn excited. It's gonna be my vacation. We've been a band for 3 years and this is the first time were leaving for more than 3 days so it's also well over due. Can't wait.

What are some of the bands favorite bands?  I can hear Wipers and T.S.O.L. in the songs.

The Drowning Men, Earthmen and Strangers, The Estranged, JJ FAD, Cut City, Madonna, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

Do you think music can still be a vital force in such a disposable age?

Yes. People love music just as much as they ever did. They've just become spoiled and greedy about getting it but regardless music is a necessity for most people.

50 years ago people use to buy music and get their water for free, now people pay for water and get their music for free. How do you think this affects music in any way?

It's pretty fucked. It helps music get out there but it pisses on the people who created it.

What’s in the future for Cat Party?  Any new releases coming out soon? Etc.

We have a split coming out with Earthmen and Strangers. After that I don't know...maybe another 7" or an EP...depends on money. 

Any last words?

Thanks. Bye.

http://www.myspace.com/birdsofpreymusic

Sell music on itunes at ReverbNation.com

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Light Rays

Interview by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

Jeff Kile

Where is the band from?

Costa Mesa, CA

Who is in the band and what instrument do they play?

This band is kind of a revolving cast of characters.  Right now it’s myself, Kyler Le Fav and Max Gomez.  We like to switch it up and keep it interesting though, should be adding a keyboard player soon.

How did the band start?

This started as a solo project I recorded on a 4 track tape recorder. I passed around the tape to friends and started getting asked to play shows. So, then I went about putting a band together.

What bands did you have in mind when starting this band?

Wire, Please Please Me by the Beatles, Brian Eno, Buddy Holly, The Chantays, Lucky Dragons

50 years ago people use buy music and get their water for free, now people pay for water and get their music for free. How do you think affects music in anyway?

Ha! That’s a great line!  In a perfect world, everything would be free and everyone would be artists. Robots would do all the hard work and all time would be "free" time, which people could use to love each other and surf and make music. This is what I’m working towards.  I would love it if I could make a "living" off music, but until then I’m getting paid to build the robots.  As long as people dig the music I'll keep making it.

What are the song lyrics about?

Girls, the end of the world, heroin junkies, girls, lsd, surfing, girls

How did you hook up with Sun Fight Records?

This is a label me and my friend Zeke started. Basically I do all the work like making the website (www.sunfightrecords.com), pressing records/CD’s/tapes, sending stuff out for review and Zeke takes all the credit.

Do you agree with your mom that you’re the perfect person to write the new surf music?

I love the ocean. I think it definitely inspires the music along with a host of other things. I think everyone is the perfect person to make music about things that inspire them.

It would be easy to categorize Light Rays as surf pop, but some of the keys remind me of Devo or Eno, was this done to avoid being pigeonholed?

All the keyboard sounds I made custom for each song, the idea was to write catchy songs and on each song have a new sound that exists only on that song and no place else in the world. It’s kind of like peanut butter and jelly, both are good by themselves, but put them together and now you’re really on to something.

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