Date of Interview: 01-08-2008 Interview By: James Parker
James: When you began writing the new album Wolves, was there a specific direction that you wanted to take the album in or was it one that seemed to develop as the writing came along?
Dan: When we started writing, we had talked about trying to bring our post-rock influences to the forefront of the songs. Bands like Sigur Ros and Explosions in the Sky have always kind of been in our writing, but nestled into the background. Over time the whole record just mutated and changed. In the end, it just kind of came out how it was going to come out because you can only mold an album so much. I definitely think there is still a strong thread of our original idea running through it, though.
James: What can your fans of the first album, Strange We Should Meet Here, expect from the new album? Did you do a lot of experimenting before you finally achieved the sound you wanted to?
Dan: We were experimental in the process of which we went about making it. This time around we allowed a lot more outside input into what we were doing, although, whether or not we actually took the advice is another story. I think that sonically it's a more experimental record since we felt the freedom to let that album have these epic, anthem type songs that some bands in our position would shy away from. As a band, we're very good at not caring about what is expected of us and just writing the music that we want to write.
James: Strange We Should Meet Here was a locally produced album. When it came to producing and recording Wolves were you worried about the possibility of losing some creative control?
Dan: I have never really feared losing creative control because we are so involved in every aspect of the band that it would be impossible. I know a lot of other bands that go through the process of the music business like it's a multiple choice test. They think that they have the freedom because they can choose answer A or answer B, but they don't really stop to think that there are hundreds of other ways to do it, not just the A and B that their record label, manager or whoever has picked for them. In Idiot Pilot we look at things more like an essay question on a test, it's a blank slate and we are going to fill it with whatever we want, and there are more than two choices.
James: Some pretty big names worked on Wolves with you. How was it working with Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, and Chris Pennie? Were you intimidated the first time they came into the studio to work on the album with you?
Dan: When we first started getting involved with Warner Bros. [Records] years ago I remember seeing people that I recognized or looked up to and feeling, not necessarily intimidated, but awkward. That only lasted so long though, because everyone at this point in the business is very quickly confronted with the reality that we are all human beings and we all have families and we all have been embarrassed and we all have looked up to people ourselves. It's all just one big giant circle where I look up to Mark Hoppus or Ross Robinson while there are kids out there who look up to me in the same way and eventually if they work at it there are going to be a bunch of even younger people looking up to them. Once you really appreciate that it is very hard to be intimidated by anyone. Appreciative of their talent, sure, but intimidated, no.
James: Did you know immediately that you wanted to go with "Retina and the Sky" as the first single off of Wolves?
Dan: Actually we specifically didn't want "Retina and the Sky" to be the first single, and still don't. I think that it is a very deceptive song for listeners to hear first because it could sound more unlike what the rest of the album is about. I think that "Last Chance," the first track, would have been a much better choice as a single but unfortunately that is a choice that the label gets to make and not Idiot Pilot.
James: "Retina and the Sky" was featured on the Transformers movie soundtrack. How did this come about and were you both fans of the comic/TV show before the release of the film?
Dan: I'm actually just barely too young to really be into Transformers, but my older cousin was way into them so I got a little of it that way. Personally, I was much more of a Teenager Mutant Ninja Turtles kid and to a lesser extent G.I. Joes. The whole thing came about in more of a, "Here's an opportunity," kind of way. It wasn't something that we actively went out and looked for, but I'm certainly thankful that it happened.
James: Taste of Chaos 2008 is approaching fast, what are you most looking forward to about this tour? Is there anyone on the tour that your are especially excited to share the stage with?
Dan: I'm looking forward to Taste Of Chaos because I know that it is going to be a challenge, and there is a lot of fun in that. We are definitely the only band of our genre (whatever that may be) on the tour and there's nobody else playing that is even remotely similar to us, so the fans that are coming are definitely going to be harder to win over. I have faith that the youth of America isn't entirely made of zombies yet, though, and that there are still kids out there who are open-minded and listen to more than one genre of music. Only time will tell. In general it's not really typically the kind of music that appeals to me but whenever you go on tour with bands you end up liking their songs because you end up liking them as people. It's pretty inevitable.
James: Idiot Pilot is definitely different from what's coming out of the industry nowadays. What artists influence you the most?
Dan: I listen to almost every kind of music for educational purposes, but over the last few years I have really been turned off to rock music in general. When we were recording Wolves all that I would listen to before tracking my vocals was Donovan, who is a Scottish folk singer. I think that my biggest influence right now is Sufjan Stevens though, the more I dig in to his stuff the more he is shaping up to be my favorite artist ever. I have been listening to a lot of Dylan as well, who has a rather large catalog and so its going to take some time to really appreciate everything at its core, but I am getting through it and it's amazing. I'm actually working on a new project on my own right now that is very folk oriented, at least instrumentation wise. It is very organic and orchestral in a Sufjan Stevens, or even Beach Boys, kind of way and I am playing accordion, banjo, mandolin, stuff like that. I love it. I plan on that band becoming it's own thing in the very near future, as well, so I am going to have a lot on my plate.
James: How was your tour with Drop Dead Gorgeous? Any memorable moments that stick out in your mind from this tour?
Dan: Every night of this tour was memorable. I think that the few nights me and Mike preformed the song "It Sounded Like an Accident" with Drop Dead was a great experience. We actually co-wrote that song with them and we both do vocals on the track.
James: We all have our guilty pleasures when it comes to music. What would you say yours is?
Dan: I don't think that I really have any guilty pleasures musically because there is nothing that I listen to that I would ever be ashamed of admitting. I think that most people would be embarrassed by how much I listen to Huey Lewis and the News, though. But I am actually wearing a Huey Lewis shirt as we speak so I obviously have no problem admitting my adoration for the guy. I love Randy Newman, that is probably another one. Also, for some reason most kids my age think of Bruce Springstien as a guilty pleasure, but he is one of my all time favorite artists so, go figure. I think that his new record, Magic, was by far the best album of 2007. Anyway, it's kind of hard for me to tell what I am supposed to be embarrassed about.
James: When you're not recording or on tour, what are some of your favorite things to do or places to go?
Dan: Well, when I am not on tour I am recording for at least five hours a day, sometimes more, so that takes up a lot of time. It's like a day to day job, and when I am not doing that I am probably listening to music and trying to figure out why it sounds the way it sounds, or at the studio just talking about music. When I need a break from that though, I like to go out, go to movies or to dinner or something like that; just get out of the house and hang out with my friends. I would get a Dungeons and Dragons campaign going if I knew enough people who could show up to a game on a routine basis.
James: 2007 has come to a close. What album completely blew you away this year?
Dan: Like I said, Magic by Bruce Springstein is amazing. It's new and yet it sounds like all the best parts of his older stuff and the song "My Own Worst Enemy" is phenomenal, although for some reason he hasn't been playing it on this current tour. I was going to go and see him but I think that the set list might be the clincher because "My Own Worst Enemy" isn't on it. He isn't even doing Atlantic City! I don't get it. I love In Rainbows by Radiohead. The Reminder by Feist is really great too, and I just picked up Boxer by The National but so far that is sounding like it could be a really amazing record.
James: What can we expect from Idiot Pilot in 2008? World domination?
Dan: It's hard to tell what to expect from Idiot Pilot, that is part of the fun. Hopefully world domination will have something to do with it.
James: Thanks again for taking the time to sit down with us. I can't wait to see what you guys have in store for Taste of Chaos 2008.
Dan: You are very welcome! Thanks so much for having me.
