erasing clouds
 

100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Sixty-Six: Jason Kolb of Auburn Lull

instigated by dave heaton

Auburn Lull formed in Lansing, Michigan back in 1994, playing a form of otherworldly, completely transporting space-rock that they've developed further in the years since. They've released two excellent albums, Alone I Admire and Cast From the Platform, along with a just-as-great "early works and rarities" collection called Regions Less Parallel. All three are available from Darla Records. For more information on the band, check out their website (currently under reconstruction) and their MySpace page.

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

It's easier now than ever to create something you are really happy with in your home studio on a tight budget (aka no money at all) and experiment to your heart's content.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

Time. The time it takes to get something done. The time it takes to get everyone on board with ideas. The time it takes to go from demo to album. The time it takes for a completed project to be mastered, pressed, and released. I'm just impatient, I guess.

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

We are finishing our third proper full-length album and also trying to put together a slow drone/ambient project with Manual.

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?

We played a show inside an abandoned warehouse in Columbus, Ohio in 100 degree heat once. No stage, no real agenda, no organization, but something about all of those elements made us really click. The lack of traditional amenities probably made us more relaxed in a way. It was a strange night. We recently did some recording in the middle of a huge field that is peppered with old farm ruins. It's definitely not the first place you'd think of to drag your equipment and set up and play, but we have this really deep attachment to this particular plot of land, so making music there was really emotional and fun. The sound quality isn't the same as a studio for obvious reasons, but the feel and energy make up for it. Definitely want to do more of that.

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?

I think location is possibly the most important ingredient of all. You are a product of your surroundings, which sounds lame, but it's true. Our music tends to sound like a mixture of abandoned factories and really remote natural settings, which sort of sums up our hometown. We used to use local landmarks as working titles for songs a lot, because they would remind us of a specific area. I also think that as far as influences go, we grew up in absolutely the perfect area at the perfect time. A lot of like-minded bands were born in mid-Michigan in the mid 90's thanks to a once great radio station and some very "shoegaze friendly" record shops...almost all of which are now gone.

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

A few weeks ago....don't quite know how to explain it.

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?

All of us have a different take on that. I sort of half-ass try to get into new music.

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?)

Well, it's probably an overwhelmingly heavy dose of old music that is sort of similar to ours, with some contemporary stuff thrown in for good measure. It actually depends on what time of year it is. Sean and I have this weird thing where we have to listen to really early Cocteau Twins this time of year, specifically Garlands. Have to. That goes from about mid-September through November. Every season has it's "must listen to" albums.

Name a musician or band, 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 musician/band?

There are so many. One is on our label, which still blows my mind. Um, I also love Mark Van Hoen...specifically "The Warmth Inside You".

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

Too many to choose from. It could quite possibly be "Expecting to Fly" by Buffalo Springfield/Neil Young.

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


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