Air Waves Interview for Know Your NYC Bands

BeatCrave brings you band, Air Waves, as part of our Know Your NYC Band series. Fronted by vocalist/guitarist, Nicole Schneit, Air Waves is another band that belongs on your iPod playlists during the summer, while riding your bike on a sunny day, or even when you’re unwinding from a busy day. Schneit’s storytelling is relayed through simple lyrics that come from a pure heart on top of organic chords wrapped in peaceful drumming. Although Air Waves’ music is soothingly non-pretentious, don’t you dare lump Schneit’s songs into the fragile folk. The truth is heard in her hints of country music and her catchy clever lyrics are reminiscent of the Pixies’ pop rock. Songs such as “Lightning” aren’t overclouded with unbearable cuteness but are polished by a sharp tongue that whips out a strong story instead. Schneit still writes about things such as love, but there’s a straight-to-the-point factor in her vocals that feeds the listener intellectual clarity in the midst of her charm.

We aren’t the only ones who are smitten with Air Waves. Electro-pop musician, Dan Deacon, has also shared his affection towards Nicole and her band by saying that Air Waves was his current “favorite band.” Finally, folk music that speaks to everyone simply because it is that good! Check out some of their tunes at their next show. Air Waves share the bill with The Beets, Beachniks, and Gutises at Glasslands on April 10th. Until then, check out our exclusive interview with Nicole Schneit below as she tells us how she used to play in a band for five people in a cafeteria, how magical the pizza is in Brooklyn, and more!

How long have you been in Brooklyn now?

Five years! At the same apartment in Greenpoint.

What is it about Brooklyn that seems to have all the magic when it comes to the birth of bands?

The pizza, for sure.

Who is in your current Air Waves line-up?

Carlos Clark and Daoud Tyler- Ameen.

How long have you been performing before you had a band?

I only performed at SUNY purchase where I went to school, so for four years. I didn’t feel like I was at the right place musically until about a year or two ago.

Where does the name, Air Waves, come from?

I have always liked the song titles by Robert Pollard, so I looked up all his song titles when trying to choose a band name. One of them was called Air Waves and it just seemed to fit. I’ve thought of changing it to Air + Waves because people always spell it as one word. I want it to mean the air in the sky and the waves like in the ocean. As one word it means the transmission of sound. So it’s important to me that it stays as two words.

Having Dan Deacon personally endorse you is a major bonus. What were you thinking when you first heard him say Air Waves was currently his favorite band?

Ha! Well, Dan is a friend of mine who I respect as a musician a lot so that was really cool of him to mention us. I thought, wow we are getting so many plays today on our myspace! But yeah, I think what he has accomplished is amazing and admirable. His songs keep getting better and better. We played a one time show once and called ourselves, Ferrari. It was me, Dan, Jimmy Roche and our friend Eamonn McCarthy. We jammed in the school cafeteria to like 5 people for two hours or something ridiculous like that.

What’s most catchy about your music is that your lyrics are simple but incredibly memorable. How do your lyrics usually come to you?

Thanks! I play the guitar melody and then just make stuff up. If it sounds good I write it down. For the new album I don’t want any of the songs to be about my life. I think it will challenge me to be more creative in the lyrical process.

Where did the lyric, “I’m gonna be the lightning that strikes down your tree,” come from?

It was just something I thought of that went with the melody and the rest of the verses. “Lightning” is a love song. And the whole song is about making the relationship work and having someone fall madly in love with you.

Air Waves sounds like a blend of folk, rock and country. Which one of those genres would you say influences your style the most?

I grew up listening to Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, ect.. So I had a blend of folk and rock that influenced my song writing. Neil Young is my favorite songwriter but I also paid close attention to the energy of the grunge bands that I was surrounded by. Our live shows are more on the rock and pop side.

Are there any local bands who are an influence on you right now?

The Beets, Yellowfever, Hologram. Yellowfever are from Austin; Texas, they are out of this world. Jennifer Moore has the best voice ever! The Beets put on an amazing live show and the three of them have a really rad chemistry. Caroline from Hologram has a really beautiful voice too; they just became a two piece band and it works really well. All three of these bands are super non pretentious. They just write good catchy songs.

What is your favorite track off of the new EP and why?

“Keys.” I like it because it’s different then any other song I’ve written. I really have no clue what the song is about! It’s fun to hear people’s interpretation. I also like the melody on the song when Ryan sings with me on, “there is a sound in every sound.”

Quick-Fire Round:
What was your favorite part of SXSW?

The breakfast tacos! Man, those are awesome. Two bands I had never seen before that were really good were Tyvek and The Oh Sees. And of course hanging out time with friends.

Are you a morning person? If not, what is your remedy to morning crankiness?

NO! I’m horrible in the morning. I stay up way too late and am responding to this at 3 am. I drink coffee everyday; that seems to help a little.

If someone were visiting you in NYC for the first time, where would you take them?

I would take them on my dad’s walking tour. He knows everything there is to know about NYC.

Which came first – the singing or the playing?

The playing. First an oboe then a guitar.

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

I am getting a new Telecaster Deluxe tomorrow. I plan to bring them back big time…

Photography by Hatnim Lee and Daoud Tyler-Ameen