Youth Lagoon
Youth Lagoon has been blowing up the indie music scene the past year with an album, The Year of Hibernation, that garnered remarkable reviews, deals to tour and an opportunity to sign with Fat Possum Records. What’s in store for Youth Lagoon? Why has he become such a phenomenon? When is the Letterman debut? Trevor Powers is interviewed here talking life, inspiration, spirituality and Youth Lagoon.Ryan Donar: Most people know your music by now, they relate to it and understand it, but who are you?
Trevor Powers: My name is Trevor Powers, and I was raised in Boise, Idaho. This is definitely where I have all of my roots since I've lived in ID practically my whole life. And music is my creative outlet. It's how I explain what is happening in my mind or stories I want to tell. I've always said I suck at speaking, and I think that's why I love music so much. I don't necessarily have to even say anything, or when I do, there's something different about singing than speaking. It feels more right.
RD: A lot of people are also moved by your music, can you tell us why you think that is?
TP: I'm not sure. I think it's because I tend to put myself out there a little bit, and people may be able to sense that the music really means something to me.
RD: Lots of attention has gone your way, I remember listening to a few tracks over summer on BIRP and being astonished, you've gotten a best new music mark on your belt, ton's of great reviews and it seemed like a pretty successful tour. When did you begin writing the songs that now appear on your debut LP The Year of Hibernation?
TP: I started writing these songs while I was attending Boise State University in '10. I wrote them all throughout that year and started the recording process in January of '11.RD: Did you think that these songs were going to go anywhere as much as they have gone?
TP: I had absolutely no idea. I recorded them with the plan of just releasing it as a free download or just having an online release. I was obviously hopeful that more people would be able to hear it, but definitely did not expect for this big of a door to open. I'm really grateful for all of it.
RD: I understand you were offered a lot of deals from a good amount of labels, what made you go with Fat Possum?
TP: I could tell from the beginning that Fat Possum really cares about their artists. They were willing to fly from Mississippi to Boise for a show and to hang out which really went a long ways. I feel like that's why labels should exist is to really support their artists and believe in what their doing enough to go the extra mile. I can record music and play shows, but if I don't have a team around me that really believes in what I'm doing, it would be so much more difficult to make anything happen.
RD: It's mostly just you in YL accompanied by a guitarist during live sets right? Who is your guitarist?
TP: Yeah, I'm playing live sets with my good friend Logan Hyde on guitar. Logan and I have been friends for years so I couldn't ask for anyone else I'd rather be on the road with.
RD: Do you have plans of making YL a full band in the future?
TP: When necessary, I would definitely love to add more live players since it would free me up to be a bit more creative with exactly what it is I'd be able to accomplish live. For now though, it's just not necessary. It will be something that I just play by ear as time goes by.
RD: What was the recording for The Year of Hibernation like? What equipment were used, people involved, etc?
TP: I recorded the album over my Christmas break when I was at Boise State University, and I tracked it with my friend and engineer Jeremy Park. Most of it was recorded at his home studio, but we also utilized his in-laws home for all sorts of crazy things. One of those things was the vocals. They were recorded dry, and then we set up speakers in his in-laws 4 car garage (his in-laws were out of town) and played the vocals through those speakers and recorded all the reverb in the garage. It made for a very natural, wet feel. Even Jeremy's kitchen was used to capture some of the stuff I played on my little Casio keyboard.
I had some friends help out with it too. My good friend Erik Eastman did the guitar work. We had been working on stuff for a few months before heading into the studio to track. And another friend Trevor Schultz layered some of my synth bass with real bass.
RD: The album has a certain feeling of innocence, and gracefulness to it all, is there a religious aspect to any of it?
RD: The lyricism throughout the album is profound, for instance on '17' the imagery of living in your mind, creating a world in your imagination is skillful writing, what influenced you so deeply to be able to write a piece of music like that? The entire album actually.
TP: When I'm writing music, I never think of having to explain why it is the way it is after the piece is finished. But I think that some of the ways I evaluate things has changed since studying English and working on my writing. The main outside influence to my music are my experiences and thoughts, but I know whatever I surround myself with, including my environment, are influencers as well.
RD: My first through-album-listen I heard a lot of Daniel Johnston-esque angst in the vocals and lyrics, and even the piano compositions, was he an influence on you at all?
TP: It's always hard to tell what is a direct influence on my music. I do remember when I first heard his music, and I was so interested by his voice and the way he presented his music. His music definitely has moments of brilliance and then other moments where I'm trying to figure him out. There is a sort of mystery in it all which may relate to some of the music I write. Sometimes when I'm singing, I think that only I know what I'm really talking about and other people may be pulling something different from it.. but there's a beauty in that.
RD: Who are some bands that you've been listening to currently?
TP: As far as current bands, I've been really into Real Estate and Girls to name a couple. I'm also estatic about the new M83 album. I've been a fan of Anthony's work since I was young, and I think his new album is brilliant.
RD: The BIRP community wants to ask you, if you could play with any musician/band (living or dead) who would it be and why?
TP: Hmmm, tough. Maybe Bob Dylan.. just because he's the man.
RD: What is in the future for you and YL? Where do you see yourself in the future?
TP: I want to write music and play shows until I'm old and disgusting. It's something I've always dreamed of doing, and it's in my blood.
Comments
Debut albums are misleading because an artist has often worked on the songs for so long (his/her whole life?) + puts the best material on the debut. I look forward to the follow-up.
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