MUF Interviews Paper Route
We first mentioned Paper Route shortly after their Are We All Forgotten EP launched last summer and soon thereafter their viscid sound became stuck in our playlists. Since then, the Nashville foursome has completed and released their first full-length release, Absence, and is gearing up for The New Deal tour with Audrye Sessions. Before they hit the road, we were able to get some insight into the minds of the group.
MusicUnderFire: First off, it is a pleasure for us to get the chance to interview you guys. We have been following you for some time now and we even featured “Are We All Forgotten” as one of our songs of the week last year. Thanks in advance for answering our questions.
Paper Route: Thanks for featuring us!
MUF: After about five years of work, two EPs and countless shows, your first full-length album, Absence, released on April 28 – how does it feel to have reached this goal?
PR: It feels unbelievable-a big sense of relief. Everything we had ever done seemed to be leading up to releasing our first full-length album. Knowing that we worked as hard as possible and did the best we could makes it a bit easier to sleep at night. I’m ready to make another one.
MUF: I have read that movie soundtracks influence your music (MySpace). Is this accurate and how does this translate into what you have done so far?
PR: I would say this is somewhat accurate. I think we tend to make and are drawn to music that has some cinematic qualities to it. We want our music to be the soundtrack to people’s lives, if I can say that without being pompous. The other three guys probably listen to soundtracks more than I (Chad) do, actually. I like listening to music that SHOULD be a soundtrack, because then it is my own personal soundtrack for when I’m driving our van in New Mexico at 4 in the morning.
MUF: In three words, how would you describe Paper Route?
PR: Earnest, obsessive, restless.
MUF: The use of synth and an increased tempo in your songs has progressively emerged from album to album. Where has Absence taken you as evolving/experimenting artists?
PR: Well the overabundance of synths is most likely my fault. I tend to get impatient when writing so I just plug in my V50 and put down ideas before I forget them. I always intend to replace them with other instruments, but at the end of the day, the parts usually grow on us.
What bothers me is when people group us into the 80’s throwback thing, which very few people are doing well right now, I think. We don’t have any intentions of making the same album twice, so we’re already brainstorming new restrictions to force more creativity. Increased tempo probably comes from playing live quite a bit. Fast songs feel really good to play, but there is still a lot of things we’d like to try in terms of tempo and time signature.
MUF: Nashville to me is the hub of the country music world yet your music doesn’t even lay a finger on the twang from the area. How did you guys get to where you are today without falling into this genre at all?
PR: That is a good question. I think the bottom line is we don’t really connect with the current country music and none of us have inspirations of being singer-songwriters. It is so much more exciting to be a part of a team. We respect the craft, but we just approach music from a completely different place, I think. We do have a secret desire to make a very American gothic album one day, though. We’ve actually have a handful of songs that I think will fit nicely on that album, eventually. Straight to tape, all in the same room, and NO keyboards. I mean, we’ve used dobro, pedal steel and lap steel on our songs already. We are well on our way.
MUF: We missed your show in Philadelphia on May 30 so we’re kean on what your new tour, which is titled The New Deal, is all about. Tell us about this and your co-headliner Audrye Sessions.
PR: The New Deal tour was Audrye Sessions’ idea, but it pretty much has to do with the current state of the economy and is a reference to FDR’s plan which got us back on our feet back in the 30’s. It seemed apropos. We haven’t met the band yet, but Audrye Sessions just released their first LP as well, and they’ve been gaining some traction it seems. It has a very Brit-rock feel to it with big vocals and really solid songwriting. Apparently they are great live, too, so we’re excited to tour together.
MUF: Once again, thank you a ton for answering these couple of questions and we look forward to seeing you when you make it to Philly.
PR: Thank you. We can’t wait to get back to Philly. Let’s get some vegetarian cheese steaks!
For more on Paper Route, check out their site and make sure to check out their upcoming tour dates here.
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