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Q1 When did you first want to be a musician?
I started playing music with my friend Perry Pappas when we were 13 years old. We would improvise an album on an entire 90 minute cassette tape every weekend, though neither of us knew what we were doing. I had so much fun doing it, I never stopped.
Q2 What is your band name, "the 1900s" come from?
Imagination
Q3 What is your personal signature style?
I guess one could say that our signature style is an abundance of melody and harmony. Every song has to have at least one hook! Also, our lyrics tend to be honest emotions mixed up and hidden in puzzles. Overall, they tend to address things on a larger scale, compared to a more detailed approach. I love to fuck with the language, randomly jumbling sentences and changing tenses just because you can. |
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Q4 What can you tell us about the album, "Cold&Kind"?
Cold & Kind functions as a whole album, rather than just a collection of individual songs. We did not set out to do this, but I think when you look to the future and plan a big, complicated project like making an album, your brain can organize and focus your thoughts subconsciously. Sometimes when you follow your instincts, things that make no sense at the time will magically start to fit into the puzzle in ways you never imagined. The ideas and process begin to fold in on themselves – but at its core it's supposed to be a catchy pop record with hidden depths for those who search for it.
Q5 Do you have any mentors and if so, who are they?
I really admire a lot of filmmakers, Von Trier, Cassavetes and Tarkovsky come to mind. I think what they do is infinitely more complicated and I am inspired by the way they can create and control their own worlds. |
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Q10 What do you usually do before the show starts?
Practice our vocals and then I'll usually throw up from nerves.
Q11 What are your aspirations?
To be able to quit my day job and live the life of a music bum.
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Q12 How was playing at Lollapalooza Festival? Any great experiences?
Lollapalooza was amazing because it was the biggest thing we've ever been a part of. It was crazy to see how much goes into making a festival like that happen. We felt like we were crashing the party a little bit, like we shouldn't be there, just walking around backstage with MIA, Ben Harper talking about mashed potatoes, Iggy Pop hanging out – we kept thinking someone was going to kick us out. The whole experience was great, but one of the highlights was meeting Rocky Erickson from the 13th Floor Elevators.
Q13 How come you have been playing only middle and east coast in the States? Would you like to play in the west coast as well in Japan?
It's hard for a band of 7 people to find time to tour extensively, not to mention expensive. We would love to play Europe and Japan – we're just waiting for someone nice enough to pay for it! We will be heading to the West Coast soon. |
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Two Ways
-Cold & Kind-
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When I Say Go
-Cold & Kind-
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| The 1900s are a seven piece psychedelic pop group from Chicago. The band is a combination of some very old friendships (like riding the school bus together - style) and some very new ones. This proved to be a potent experiment, resulting in steamy relationships, Fleetwood Mac style breakups, and most importantly, their much loved Plume Delivery e.p., which was recorded before the band ever played a live show. Coincidentally, it was at their very first performance that a wide-eyed Parasol invited the 1900s to come onboard, which they have done and continue to do to this very date. With only those six songs under their belt, The 1900s walked into a whirlwind, instantly becoming one of the most talked about bands in Chicago, garnering enough printed praise to make them blush and playing sold-out show after sold-out show in their hometown. Their rapidly growing presence also spread outside of the Windy City, leading to touring performances with Midlake and Iron & Wine among others, as well as highly touted performances at SXSW (a blown away Spin reporter named them 'Artist of the Day' the morning after their official performance) and an invitation to perform at this year's Lollapalooza. |
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Q6 What inspires you to create a song?
What comes out of me is a condensation of tons of little influences, like a rhythm from birds I hear walking home drunk on a summer night, a stranger I see everyday on the bus, the sound of a drum fill I hear on the radio, things my cat tells me when I'm dreaming….etc.
Q7 Can you talk about the various creative aspects of your job?
My day job is not creative, but as a songwriter I pretty much spend the majority of my free time alone in a studio working on ideas. When I'm not actually playing music, I go over musical problems in my head over and over until I figure them out. When I write lyrics I may have some concepts in mind, but I spend hours into the night drinking a lot and chain smoking – attempting to move my brain directly into the center of an idea – it's fun and kind of torturous. |
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Q8 What was your early music influences?
Huey Lewis and The News - Sports, Phil Collins with Genesis – Invisible Touch
Q9 You have been playing many different venues in Chicago, which venue in Chicago is your home? And why?
Schubas, because we got our start there and it's where we have played the most. It's one of a few truly awesome places to play in Chicago. |
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Q14 Favorite cocktail and where to drink it?
Makers Mark on the rocks – anywhere.
Q15 Would you like to add anything?
I love you too much.
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