Nightfur Interview for Know Your LA Bands

BeatCrave brings you band, Nightfur, as part of Know Your LA Bands series. As a band who lists “Space, girls, and the past” under their “Influences” and “Sounds Like” section on MySpace, it is easy to lump them into the psychedelic genre of rock. However, what makes them stand out from the generic label is their creative process of how they intertwine the past and the present sounds. We still have the light hearted melodies but it’s got a a touch of grit thanks ot the modern distortion and clever lyrics. Classic rock has just gotten the revival it deserves with the talent of Nightfur. Forget about imitation being the highest form of flattery. These guys may love Dylan and the Beatles, but they’re doing what many bands forget to do these days as they incorporate a slight tribute to their influences: Evolving.

Nightfur has already released a follow-up to their successful debut, She Lives. Their sophomore album, Illusions, continues the concept of She Lives but also brings it full circle. You can purchase both albums on iTunes but if you’d rather hear it all in a more orgnaic sense, catch one of their live shows. Their next show is on April 17th at Pehrspace along with The Karabal Nightlife, Kissing Cousins and plenty more. Make sure you get there by 8:30 if you don’t want to miss any of it! Until then, check out an exclusive interview with Nighfur’s leading man, Jason Brown, below!

It’s obvious that Nightfur has a retro-kissed sound. What is it about the sound of the past that you enjoy so much?

I’ve always been a big fan of classic rock album production. A lot of the classic 50′s and 60′s sound came from the tools and techniques that were available at the time, but there were certain stylistic standards back then that have changed in modern music. I like a lot of reverb, room tones & sometimes mono drums. I grew up listening to my Dad’s worn LP of Abbey Road. Those tones must have engrained themselves in my young mind because to this day that’s what I consider as magic. There’s a dreamy, romantic, and nostalgic quality to much of our favorite music from the 50′s and 60′s and, with Nightfur, we have been inspired to create music in that vein.

Just because you combine sounds of today’s with the past, some automatically slap the term “psychedelic” on as a description. Do you consider the band’s genre to be psychedelic?

I don’t feel that we are very psychedelic, but its a category that a lot of listeners have associated us with for valid reasons. We’ve never intended to market ourselves as a group of that genre, but I suppose space imagery helps fuel that fire. Of course there are elements of psychedelia in our music, but that can apply to just about everything these days. When something becomes a fad, it often transcends the original definition of the source. The same thing happened in the 60s. I prefer the description recently given to us in a Web In Front review; "classicist rock and modern noise". Although Nightfur is not a true psychedelic act, I am happy that we have seen a resurgence of the genre and am a fan of it but prefer older stuff with more innocence.

I read that Nightfur was actually the name of a film you were making. What does the term "Nightfur" actually mean and what is the film about?

In 2007 I was working on a screenplay called Nightfur. During that same time I formed a band with a painter, Matt Groller. For lack of a band name, we decided "Nightfur" would be appropriate. Since the formation of the band, the film has been shot (deep within the forests of North & South Carolina) and is currently being edited. You can watch the trailer here: www.nightfur.com.

The film is a quirky, feature length surreal romance. It portrays existentialist themes and has a killer soundtrack featuring music by Band Of Horses, The Parson Redheads, The Karabal Nightlife, Lucy Langlas, Stevenson Ranch Davidians, and more! After watching the film, you might have a better sense about meaning of the name… or not.

You guys released Illusions fairly soon after She Lives. Is it because you guys had leftover material or are you constantly able to write more?

Illusions includes some material that never made it onto She Lives, which already was maxed out at 14 tracks & had a somewhat darker approach. A year later, we released Illusions. It is cleaner, crisper, and more whimsical. It’s sort of like a sibling album. I am always writing music and have started concepting a third album, but we are enjoying playing shows right now. We won’t be releasing a new album until the film is completed later this year. We’ve been lucky to have such positive support from the local music community and we are excited to continue the flow of art!

As an indie band, the lo-fi sound is often a convenience for the band because you can do so many things yourselves. However, do you think you will ever go towards a more polished studio sound?

I feel that vintage production techniques are a big part of what makes our band what it is. Vintage sounds don’t have to be lo-fi. I’ve spent time in big studios and never enjoyed it. This might be a cliche comparison, but painters often stretch their own canvas, mix their own paints, decide where to place their models, etc. I feel more like an animal in a cage at a big studio. It could be a hi-fi sounding album, but I’d still want to pick our own brushes, find our favorite shade of green without having to compromise. If we had a limitless budget I’d rent a castle or something to record in, but wouldn’t want to complicate things by putting all of these middle men/women in between us and our recording.

Making music to me is like going out into the woods with a flashlight. There’s mystery there, there’s learning. What you discover is what shapes your palate. There are highly polished albums that I enjoy but it really depends on the material to validate that approach. We choose to self produce and engineer because that is part of our process. The songs are written for the type of production we aim to execute. I don’t know what the future holds, but I imagine we will always strive to create our music from the ground up to guarantee that the final product reflects the true image of the source. At least for the particular group, Nightfur.

Are you as DIY in other aspects of your life outside of music?

No, it’s all a marketing scheme for the band. We want people to think that we are genius so we try to look sad & starving. Seriously though, I feel that the happiest and most successful people in life started doing something themselves with or without monetary reward. I don’t feel the same sense of accomplishment when someone hands me a dog treat, but if I found that I treat myself, it would probably taste better for some reason.

Do you find it easy to be DIY in LA although it is stereotyped as a city of superfluities and extravagance?

When we aren’t in a jacuzzi eating sushi off of an actor/model’s stomach we put on our flannel shirts and our sad faces. LA is an odd place. I just close my eyes and pretend I don’t live here. It is the city of dreams isn’t it? Thankfully there are some really great local acts and promoters around who are helping create a better environment!

What’s one thing you think the LA music scene exclusively offers to musicians?

There IS a good scene here. You just have to know where to find it. I think its growing and more people are looking past the stereotype. Power is shifting back to the artists. Promotion is in the hands of bloggers. The trouble is the over-saturation of artists, but it keeps you on your toes. There is a pocket for everything. From my stand point everything is still focused on the east side and I don’t see that changing for a while, but like everything… I’m sure it will eventually.

Is your next album an extension of Illusions or a new concept?

New concept!

Quick-Fire Round:
Who are some of the local bands who have quickly earned your respect?

The Parson Redheads, The Karabal Nightlife, Everest, The Spires (Ventura), Everest, Stevenson Ranch Davidians (waiting for new album!), and many more!

If you could choose one movie to recommend to anyone, what would it be?

It’s a Wonderful Life.

Which do you prefer: Vinyl, CD, or mp3?

Different use for each, but I like the sound of records. I like the ease of digital files.

What is your favorite LA venue to play?

El Cid!

Tell us one thing about yourself we probably don’t already know.

I want to circuit bend a Furby.

Photography by Jennie Warren