100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Fifty-Seven: California Oranges

instigated by dave heaton

The great Sacramento-based band California Oranges has been on that eternal quest to write the perfect pop song (as one of them puts it below) since 2001, or longer if you count the band they grew from, Holiday Flyer. And by my ears they've hit the jackpot again and again, with three albums filled with perfectly melodic -- and at the same time emotional and smart -- songs. The band consists of John Conley, his sister Katie Haley, Verna Brock, and brothers Ross and Matt Levine. All three of their albums - California Oranges, Oranges and Pineapples and Souvenirs were released by Darla, as were many of the equally-great Holiday Flyer releases (and one by their other former band, The Sinking Ships).

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What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

John: We are currently working on songs for the next oranges record. I'm really excited about this batch of songs. The songs have come together really quick and everyone has come in with a lot of cool ideas. Usually when we go into the studio we have just enough songs for the record. This time we will be able to pick and choose the songs that will make the best record. I'm also working on a new project called Desario. We are currently working on recording our first record.

Ross: I'm also really excited by the batch of songs that we are currently working on. We're all on the same page now more than ever and it's really making the song writing process seem effortless. We're basically on a quest for the perfect pop song, but it's very elusive.

Matt: I'm really enjoying a lot about making music right now, from the song writing to playing shows and hanging out with friends. In addition I really enjoy looking back at past work after some time has passed and thinking "wow, that's us!".

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

Katie: I wish we (California Oranges) could spend more time as a band practicing and writing music. We all have varied schedules and other commitments that sometimes take precedence over getting together, but hey that is life. Overall, I am just happy that I have the privilege to be in a band with great musicians who happen to also be my most beloved friends. I know that sounds hokey, but it's true and there is nothing discouraging about that!

Matt: When my equipment breaks, I wish I had a lot of money to buy guitar amps.

What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects, etc).

Katie: Although we play shows locally (Sacramento and San Francisco) from time to time, primarily we have been working on writing a new album. We will likely start recording in a couple of months. This is a bold statement, but the way things are going I think this next album is going to be the best California Oranges album to date. Our new songs are super catchy and I often find myself with at least one of the songs playing in my head the entire next day following practice. Also, I believe we have found a good balance between our fast and slow songs and I hope that the result will be a very consistent album. That is the goal anyway!

What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?

Verna: This is probably not that unusual, but back in the day when I had my 4-tracking solo project (Beanpole) I loved recording in the bathroom. I didn't have a lot of options as far as recording enhancements goes, so if I wanted some reverb the bathroom was the place to go. The natural reverb in there was great-- and not just for vocals. I often recorded flute and cello in there as well. It was a tight fit, but fortunately there was a built-in counter to put the 4-track on, and a built-in seat. I'm sure I looked very elegant recording myself playing cello sitting on the toilet seat.

John: Katie and I once played a show on a boat called the Delta King that runs along the Sacramento River with our friend's band 99 Tales. For some reason we were having some technical difficulties which led to long periods of silence during our set. Consequently, Katie and I were doing more talking between songs than usual. Our parents were in the audience that night. At on point Katie asked our Dad to tell a joke. This turned out to be a bad idea as our dad's joke tend to be inappropriate. Katie was banned from talking onstage for sometime after that show. In her defense, Katie has since redeemed herself. She is now a force to be reckoned with onstage.

Katie: Thanks for recounting that wonderful story, John (sarcasm).

In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?

Katie: I don't know that the place that you live affects the music you create as much as the people you surround yourself with do. We are all Sacramento natives, and as much as I hate to bag on a city that I dearly love, historically the music scene has had more bad phases than good ones. I think no matter where you live, if you love music eventually you will gravitate towards people who love music by going to shows, etc. and things will blossom from there. As far as the development of my personal musical taste, I have been most inspired by my Dad, and my brother John. My Dad introduced me to good ol' country (George Jones, Patsy Cline) and jazz (Dave Brubeck, Dinah Washington) while growing up John introduced me to each new musical phase he entered, including metal, punk, and indie rock. Although, I have developed my own musical taste, including a weakness for electronic music over the years, John still keeps me posted on hip happening new music.Ross also deserves credit for introducing me to one of my favorite bands of all time, the Smoking Popes.

When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?

Verna: I had a lazy Sunday at home by myself recently and watched the movie Million Dollar Baby. I had no idea that the movie was going to take that twist that it did. The end of the movie really stayed with me-- I was thinking it for weeks afterwards. I ended up writing two songs inspired by that ending, which I'm hoping to include on our next album. I know that sounds totally cheesy, but you know what? I have a hard time writing lyrics. I'll take a little inspiration wherever it may lurk.

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?

John: I love seeking out new music. I'm always picking up music mags like Q and NME. It's cool to read a reviews about a new record and seek it out. Some of my favorite records,Galaxie 500's Today and Unrest's Imperial ffrr, I discovered by reading a reviews in a magazines. Both of those records had a huge influence on my songwriting. I'm starting to use the internet more to find out about new bands. Listening to new music and finding new bands makes me push myself to write better songs.

Ross: I've become more and more about looking for good songs as opposed to what's the new hip sound. It's easy to mimic a genre, but it's really hard to write a good song.

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

John: I'm coming out of a phase where all I was listening to was The Jam. I bought the boxset, the bbc sessions and the 2 disc DVD. That's about all I was listening to for about two months. I'm in a RAWK phase right now. One of my favorite cds is by the new group Wolfmother.

Ross: I'm on the Wolfmother bus too! But I don't think the girls like them much.

Matt: I've been listening to a lot of KEXP. I'm pretty much into anything with a hook, except for reggae and ska. Absolutely no reggae and ska.

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?

John: Moose is one of the most unappreciated bands ever. They came out towards the end of the shoegaze scene. Their first three EPs musically have the shoegaze vibe. The thing that made Moose different were the vocals and melodies. By the time they recorded their first full length xyz they dropped the Shoegaze stuff for a combo of 60's pop,country and folk. I recommend checking out their second album Honey Bee. Moose had a huge influence on Katie and I when we started Holiday Flyer.

Katie: I'll second John's Moose recommendation. However, I would try to get your hands on the xyz album. Every song is mellow pop brilliance.

Ross: There's band called Adventures of Jet that is absolutely incredible. They're on Suburban Home Records. They kind of sound like a mix between Elvis Costello and Weezer. The song writing is amazing. They have a CD called Muscle in which every song references a different muscle car.

What's the saddest song you've ever heard?

Katie: I love sad songs and consider myself an aficionado of sorts. The sad song really deserves appreciation because in order for the music to really work it needs to genuine, and beautiful but not sappy. Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon) has mastered the art of writing epic sad songs. The last track on the Red House Painters' album Ocean Beach, titled "Drop," is probably one of the saddest songs ever written. Of course, "Little Argument with Myself" by Low follows as a close second in my book. A few of my other favorite sad songs include: American Music Club's "Blue & Grey Shirt," The Field Mice's "Anyone Else Isn't You;" and a classic, The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road."

Verna: Aimee Mann's version of "One." Perfect everything. Sad and eerie.

John: I think one the saddest songs I've ever heard is "I Almost Forgot" by Matthew Sweet. There is something about the melody and the performance is just perfect. Whenever I hear that song it makes me want to cry.

Ross: That's a tough question, but "Cold Enough to Break" by Knapsack comes to mind.

To check out the rest of the Q&As, click here.