Interview with Jana Hunter

(uncredited photo via Gnomonsong)

Going into SXSW this year, one of the artists I was looking forward to seeing the most was Baltimore freak folk singer Jana Hunter. Unfortunately the only chance I got to catch her perform was at the now infamous Beauty Bar disaster. Following up in an interview, I attempted to get to the bottom of what happened at that show, as well as what the band’s plans are for the future. I also got a chance to check out some of the band’s new demos, one of which is posted below. Keep in mind that the track is still a work in progress (though a pretty good sounding one at that).

Jon Behm: I’ll cut right to the chase: you said earlier that your Beauty Bar performance at SXSW this year was “definitely [your] worst show at SXSW or anywhere in some time.” What happened?

Jana Hunter: To clarify, we played very well. On stage it seemed fine, but I later heard from our friend selling merch next to the sound booth that our sound man thought our on-stage mixer was the “stupidest shit” he’d ever seen. Without going into technical detail, it’s not an unusual or difficult set-up; this guy was a moron, but he didn’t tell us that he didn’t understand. He just went about screwing with the sound until it was un-listenable. It made it so that we had no idea what we were hearing on stage (beyond the surrounding wall of rock sound from three other stages). Then, he left. In charge, he put an underling who further screwed knobs arbitrarily until there was a consistent feedback. I found this all out after the show. I think any other sound person could have dealt with our “shit” capably, but in this instance we faced the challenge of over overcoming the idiot shortcomings of a true asshole, and we failed.

JB: How was the rest of your SXSW experience?

JH: Fantastic. It was all work, and satisfying.

JB: You played only new songs at SXSW—is there another album currently in the works? Any guess as to when it will be released?

JH: There’s more than an album’s worth of material written. I’ve been writing a lot in the last month, too. It’s been difficult to make time and plans. It might be out by the end summer or some time in the fall.

JB: What can fans expect from the new recordings? Sounds like Geoff Graham takes lead vocals in “Geoff Sings Ladies”—is that something we can expect to hear more of?

JH: The MySpace songs are all demos. I missed the environments I got from home recording. And I got deeper into the electric guitar since I got looping pedals (now a couple years ago), so expect tons of limp solos. Limp noodle solos, bear cave echo, rhythm section workmanship, a sad party. No complaints.

JB: I hear you are currently looking for a new band member. What kind of musician are you trying to find?

JH: A keyboardist/guitarist, or a cat that does these things.

(uncredited photo via Gnomonsong)

JB: Any touring plans in the near future? If so, what do we have to do to get you to come up to the Twin Cities?

JH: No touring until the record comes out. You don’t have to do anything special. Come to a show where I play music and buy my records and food for me to eat.

JB: According to your last blog post you and the band are currently homeless in Baltimore? Seriously?

JH: The band isn’t; I am! But not living-on-the-streets homeless. I got squeezed out of my house, but I have temporary housing until I find another place. It’s by no means a dire situation and I’m not without resources. It is hard under the circumstances to figure out where and when to record, since we had planned to record in the basement of my house.

JB: Any chance you could move in with the Wham City collective and make some fantastic collaborations?

JH: No fucking way. Actually, Wham City isn’t a house anymore. They got evicted a long time ago. Most of the people that I was living with in the house I had to leave are in the Wham City collective. We didn’t get around to making any crappy records together before I left.

JB: How is the Baltimore music scene these days? Sounds like between you guys, Animal Collective, Deacon, Beach House, not to mention others; you may give Brooklyn a run for their money?

JH: AC lives elsewhere, but despite that, Baltimore continues to be the best music scene I’ve ever been witness to or participant in.

JB: If your band had one wish in the world right now, what would it be?

JH: Complete control over time and space.

Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia

Also: Jana Hunter “Inoculist” Review