INTERVIEW: Manchester Orchestra

We recently caught up with Jonathan Corley, bassist in Atlanta based alternative rock band Manchester Orchestra to talk about the history of the band, coming to New Zealand when he was younger, new side project Bad Books and the long awaited 3rd Manchester Orchestra album due out next year.

Rip It Up is based out of New Zealand, have you ever been here and what do you know about New Zealand?

While Manchester Orchestra hasn’t played New Zealand yet, I’ve visited a couple of times. I honestly can’t wait to go back. Years ago, I participated in a foreign exchange program where I spent some time attending classes and living with a family just outside of Auckland. The band has played Australia a couple of times doing a combination of festival and club shows. We played both Laneway Festival and Splendor in the Grass. I hope to visit New Zealand next time we’re down playing shows.

Manchester Orchestra formed back in 2005. Tell us the story of how Manchester Orchestra came about.

The band started early on as a side project of Andy’s. He’s had the name since we were sixteen. All throughout school the four of us played together in a handful of bands. Manchester Orchestra became our main focus and after sifting through members, a lineup solidified and we hit the road hard.

All bands have musical influences that shape their sound. From a personal perspective which artists have inspired you? And from a bands perspective which artists have inspired the band?

There will always be a few records that changed the way I look at music. A few of those are Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West, Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Jimmy Eat World - Clarity and Radiohead - Kid A.

Everyone in the band has been listening to more Neil Young and Pavement than we probably should have recently. Pixies are up there, too. Touring places all of us in such a condensed area that we end up listening to whatever other members are into at the time.

Your debut full length record, 'I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child' (2006) was critically praised and in one review was described as a 'shockingly mature accomplishment from such a young band'. Looking back on that time are you proud of what the band achieved from such a young age?

All of those songs have certainly evolved over time as we’ve played them on the road. It’s always interesting to go back and listen through the recordings on “Virgin”.  One of the greatest benefits of recording that record is that there weren’t really any expectations about our sound yet. We had toured heavily off of a few tracks on the record and knew exactly where we were going with those songs. That was also our first experience recording a full length with Dan Hannon and Brad Fisher. They have been an integral part of each record we’ve released since.

There seem to be quite a few different themes through out the songs on 'Virgin'? If you had to pick one overall theme that sums up that record what would it be?

The loss of innocence is one lyrical theme that ties that entire record together.

From the success of 'Virgin' and countless tours after you then released 'Mean Everything to Nothing' last year. How would you describe the differences between the two records?

Mean Everything to Nothing was a huge step forward for the band.  We experienced our first success at radio with the song “I’ve Got Friends”, and touring off the record took us to even more places that I never thought I would go. There were more expectations for METN, which forced us to step up and create a better record than the one we released before. It was important that we put out something that no one would quite expect, rather than just releasing “more of the same”.

Describe the process that you and the band go through when writing songs. Is it quite a collaborative effort or mostly lead by lead singer Andy Hull's personal experience?

Andy will bring a song to the table. He is definitely one of the most prolific songwriters that I know, and there will be dozens of songs that he is sorting through anytime we approach a new record. There are usually ideas in place for lyrics that he has been sitting on for months saved on his laptop. We all begin taking the song where it needs to go. There is a sort of creative energy that flows through our studio or rehearsal space. We’ll begin shaping a song and maybe even recording a demo of it.

Your video for 'Shake It Out' is a homage to Sylvester Stallone's 1987 film 'Over the Top'. I used to love that movie growing up, especially the guy who drinks petrol. How did the idea for that video come about? We're you all fans of the film?

We worked with a really great director named Isaac Rentz who approached us with the ‘Over the Top’ concept. The video was shot in during the middle of a tour in Nashville. The majority of time filming was spent on a farm.

The band has recently started a new side project called Bad Books with Kevin Devine? What is this project about?

Bad Books is a collaboration between Kevin and the entire band. We’ve booked a short Bad Books tour leading up to CMJ Festival in October. The recording process was very natural. Earlier this year, we put out a 7-inch vinyl where KD and Andy covered one of each other’s songs. Andy recorded one of “I Could Be the Only One” while Kevin covered “The Only One”. When Kevin landed in Atlanta we drove straight from the airport to the studio and began working. For the Bad Books record, each of them wrote five songs and we recorded them as a band. It was a very organic process. I mean, there was no pressure, no deadlines, and no one was even expecting it. It was a really rewarding experience. I’m incredibly excited for everyone to hear what came out of the recording process.

Check out Bad Books Myspace site.

You guys are in the middle of writing your third record at the moment. Hows it going and what can we expect from album number three?

We are in the middle of recording our third full length at the moment. While we haven’t yet settled on the title of the record, we are nearly done tracking. The record, as a whole, is completely different than anything we’ve released before. We retain the same qualities that you’ve heard in the past, but somehow the dynamic has shifted.  It is a lot louder at parts, and a lot quieter. We recorded this record with Dan Hannon and balanced between Blackbird Studios (Nashville, TN) and our own Favorite Gentlemen Studios (Atlanta, GA).

And lastly but most importantly. When can we expect a show down in New Zealand?

We’re adding the final touches to this record at the moment. When it’s slated for release next year, we’ll begin moving forward with tours in support of it. I can’t wait to get back down New Zealand.

http://www.themanchesterorchestra.com

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