This week, Lemuria released their new album ‘The Distance Is So Big’ to celebrate we had a little chat with Max from the band. Enjoy!
Hey! how are you doing?
Great, overly caffeinated.
What are you up to today?
Drinking lots of coffee, people keep giving it to me, it’s crazy. I’m drinking one of those nasty Starbucks machiattos right now. It’s not what I really want in 90 degree Texas heat, but I can’t turn down free coffee. I’m also pretty excited, I’m going to go see Blake Schwarzenbach play a solo show tonight. I just watched a video of him performing Jawbreaker’s “Chemistry” a couple days ago, I’m curious what will transpire tonight.
You’re doing a two week tour in the UK this Summer, is this one of the longest ones you’ve done over here?
I’m actually not too sure… It feels about average for a UK run. Last time we were there it was about two weeks, the time before it was a pretty good chunk of a two month full European tour. That said, it’s never enough time, and we’re once again NOT going to Brighton, which is sad. I love the UK though.
What do you like best about touring in the UK?
Coming from a place where it’s hard for people to get really excited about being at a show (Austin, TX), the UK is sweet relief from this. The energy I feel there is great. I like all the typical tourist shit too, you know; castles, fish and chips, street curry, etc. Oddly, I actually love the weather. I think cities in the UK are some of my favorite to go on jogs through, too, especially the coast. Seriously, bummed about not going to Brighton.
Where’s your favourite place to come over here?
Hah, Brighton… It’s been a while since I was there, though, and it was with another band, just one of those places where I had a really great night once on the beach, and it kinda stuck with me. I’ve really enjoyed myself in Manchester, though, as well as Bristol. Sheena and I get tattooed by Amy Savage in London sometimes, and last I was there I spent a few hours between the Tate Modern and All Ages Records, so London is usually pretty exciting for us too.
You’re also playing with Texas Is The Reason on some of their final ever shows, excited?
Very!
How big an influence has Texas Is The Reason been on Lemuria?
I think music from that genre and era in general is a huge influence on our sound, Texas Is The Reason especially. Emo is a funny word, one that a lot of people have very negative feelings associated with these days, rightfully so. I think that genre of music, to us, is defined by bands like Texas Is The Reason, The Promise Ring, etc, and therefore is something we’re not afraid to use as a descriptive word. Chris Daly is also one of my favorite drummers in indie rock, though to be honest I’m a bit more familiar with his work in Jets to Brazil.
‘The Distance Is So Big’ has been about for a couple of days, how has the initial reaction been?
Overwhelmingly positive. It’s really been quite shocking how well received it’s been, we could not be any happier.
What did you do for release day?
Alex and Sheena are flying back to Buffalo, I’m working. I’ll probably eat some tacos and clean my house, normal stuff! Hopefully, I’ll know soon, we’ll be releasing a music video for one of the songs that day as well!
We played a release show in Austin last weekend, though, that was super fun. We’ll play another one in Buffalo and DC this upcoming weekend, I’m pretty excited for them. They’re all shows we wanted to be super special, we’re playing with good friends and have been trying to promote the hell out of them. It’s like having three birthdays, it’s great.
You worked with J. Robbins on ‘Pebble’ previously, how important was it to work with him again on this record?
Pretty important. There were a number of reasons we wanted to work with him, too numerous to mention, but in the end I feel like he has a really positive approach that invites the best out of us. It was also comforting in a way: the band’s gone through a number of big changes recently. Me joining is a new thing, we’ve all moved all over the place, and both of those changes have caused further changes with how the band functions day to day, writes, tours, etc. They have all been really positive things, I think, but I feel it was smart to have this one consistent thing between the last two records. It’s almost like we’ve just figured out how we all work together, Alex, Sheena, and myself, so adding another person or environment into that mix we weren’t already comfortable with was unnecessary. Not that we’re afraid to switch things up, I think we’ve all proven to ourselves how versatile we can be, but J is just great.
What is it about working with him that brings out the best in you?
As I said, he has a very warm, positive approach. You feel comfortable very quickly, which is important when you’re trying to perform your best. The ideas he brings to the table are often times very complimentary to what we do, but if we don’t like something he’s very rarely attached to anything. The door works both ways, too. I was experimenting with mic placement and some recording techniques, and he was open to it. Which is silly, because here’s a kid that sometimes records shit on a four track telling the guy that has recorded some of his favorite records of all time “hey let’s try using this mic”, and no it didn’t always work, but the fact that he was open to the suggestions and experimentation says a lot about him. It also left me feeling like I did a lot more than play bass on the record, so now I have this much deeper attachment to the album.
Has it been refreshing having newer material to play live now?
Very! I mean, for me, being the newest member of the band, everything is still fresh/new/fun, but having a dozen or songs we can now throw in there is definitely fun.
Which song from the album is your favourite to play?
It’s a tie between Paint The Youth, which is fun to sing as well, and Chihuly, which I get to shred on a little, and also sing. I’ve been singing a lot more recently, which I really enjoy doing.
How have the songs from the album been going down with fans?
Really well. Some folks have started singing along to Brilliant Dancer already, and I see folks moving around, bobbing their heads to the others, which is more than I could ask for songs that most people are probably hearing for the first time when we play them live.
When you’re not touring or recording, what keeps you busy?
I help organize a festival called Fun Fun Fun Fest, and just started working on another in California called Launch. I help put on shows in Austin, it’s my job from the road and when I’m there. I also try to spend as much time as I can swimming, hiking, being active. Sitting in a van all day is tough for me, so I try to make up for it when I’m one place for a while. If I could run from show to show, I would.
What bands from the US should we be listening to here in the UK?
Joyce Manor, if you’re not already. They’re the best current punk band in the world. Some friends of mine in Austin just started a band called Prince, they’re super fun. We also just played a show here with a band called Ghost Knife, which is one of the guys from The Riverboat Gamblers and a couple of the dudes who used to play in J Church. They’re great. Also Screaming Females will blow your mind, Tenement as well is doing something really original, in my opinion. Anything that Don Giovanni puts out, basically, is worth falling in love with.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
See you soon!
Lemuria release ‘The Distance Is So Big’ through Bridge 9 Records on June 17 2013. The band play the following UK dates this Summer.
JULY
21 SHEFFIELD Tramlines Festival
22 LONDON The Black Heart
23 NORWICH Marquee
24 STOKE Minsters Bar
25 LEEDS Cockpit
26 KINGSTON Fighting Cocks
27 EXETER Cavern
28 BOURNEMOUTH Burnout Festival
29 BRISTOL Exchange
30 NOTTINGHAM Old Angel
31 CARDIFF Globe
AUGUST
01 PLYMOUTH White Rabbit
02 GLASGOW Classic Grand w/ Texas Is The Reason
03 MANCHESTER Academy w/ Texas Is The Reason
CHRIS MARSHMAN