Tarentel: New Palates

fakejazz:Tell us all about your latest tour. Was it your first time to tour outside of the United States?

jefre:It was our first time out, and it was great. We had a lot of love from a lot of super kind people (Maurice at VPRO, Youchum, the list goes on). We were/are really blessed, and look forward to going back. It was a real treat.

fakejazz:I have heard that the band's sound has changed a little bit over the last year. What can we expect from the new album and live shows?

danny:We have been exploring new ideas and processes in which to make music. Until recently we've [been] identified largely as an Instrumental band and in many ways still function as such, but lately we've taken an interest in the voice as an instrument as well as incorporating new palates such as strings, horns, and the occasional use of laptop.

fakejazz:Have you stayed within the group when adding strings, horns, and vocals, or have you gotten other musicians to come into the group for those additions? Do you see these new ideas as something permanent to the new sound (like the guitar & bass), or something to be used to add flavor and a new level of depth to the music?

jefre:We mostly hired other musicians to come in. John is the only one that really played the odd instrument or two out of all of us (Accordion, Vibraphone) the rest were done by friends... or friends of friends. As for permanent additions, I doubt it... our current song writing is already concentrating on new instrumentation.

fakejazz:On the new album, did you write in the studio while you are recording, or was the song writing complete when you went entered?

jefre:Writing in the studio has up to this point been a peripheral exercise. The new LP however has songs that we completely structured in the studio, from the ground up, being based off only one or two guitar melodies, and eventually consisting of everything from horns to harps.

fakejazz:What type of equipment do you work with the most while recording?

jefre:As for equipment, we use whatever is in arms' reach. We only use one engineer: Scott Solter. He records both at Tiny Telephone and at his home studio. He mainly records to analog 2" tape.

Photo by Diane Jonnes. Band mebers are: John Hughes, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Danny Grody.

fakejazz:A lot of people are curious about your label change for the new album, from Temporary Residence to Neurot. What led up to the change, and is this a one-time thing (similar to your other releases on different labels), or is this a shift to a new label?

jefre:It all came about when Neurot asked us to do an EP. Once we got working, 3 songs turned into 6, weeks turned into months, and by the time it was going to be released it was a year and a half since From Bone to Satellite was released, so we just thought it would make sense to call it our 2nd LP. No drama really. We try to keep an open policy with labels really and like to work with as many as time permits. We are still working with TRL and currently have plans to do a compilation of all our singles sometime next year.

fakejazz:It seems like you have toured a lot this last year. Do you all have day jobs? If so, what do your jobs feel about all the time off you take for touring / recording etc...?

danny:All our jobs at this point have become secondary to music. It's worth the risk of losing them to travel and take advantage of experiences that could never be replaced, as an attempt to speak as honestly and creatively to anyone willing to listen. Besides, this city always has job openings. [While] our music is nowhere near lucrative; it is still, in many aspects, our true place of work.

jefre:I work in the Internet industry, and like Danny said, [my job] is secondary to music.

fakejazz:A lot of artists have felt that they need to quit day jobs and focus solely on the art they are making. What do you think of this idea? Do you feel that having a day job, or having to support yourself and your music affects your music in anyway?

jefre:It definitely makes it more difficult, but not impossible. No day jobs would be nice, but I think you have to choose not to let a job ever get in the way of rehearsing or touring, etc.

fakejazz:What are your views on the current state of music?

jefre:It's great. Home recording is yet again reinventing music.

fakejazz:What are your current views on music technology (mp3, file sharing)?

jefre:Really the best thing to happen since sliced bread. Only good can come from it.

fakejazz:What things are coming up in the next year that really excites you about Tarentel?

jefre:Writing songs! Finally! Being a three piece... and playing guitar way less, and laptop way more... and building our own studio in John's garage.