Thursday, September 25, 2014

Sub-Rock's "7Q Interview" w/ Bonfire John

Indianapolis musician Bonfire John is releasing his second full length album titled "College" from Tree Machine Records. After being taken aboard Sub-Rock's orange submarine it was decided the only way he would be allowed to leave was to answer 7 Questions from 20,001 leagues below the sea.

Bonfire John on Facebook Tree Machine Records on Twitter


:: 7Q Interview ::

S-R: Three years after your first full length album "Making the Most" you have a new album titled "College". Is it safe to assume this time frame corresponds to your own experiences in college?

BJ:
Yeah I think that's fair to say. Essentially, "College" is an album that reflects my life for the years that most felt like college. I have a lot of memories in that time frame and I think each track is a decent indicator of what year and period it was for me. But I think it's also suggestive of many people's experiences during college.

S-R: How would you describe four years of college in four phrases or less?

BJ:
"A Grand Ole' Time!" followed by, "What just happened" closing with, "Now what?"

S-R: I hear the vinyl version for "College" will have four different album covers, this is a unique release! What is it about vinyl that influenced your decision to release four different covers for this format?

BJ:
Yes that was the original plan, and I hope we can still manage that, but as of right now, we've actually gone with 400 CD's, 100 short-run orders of each cover. Our original thought was to have every format with all different covers. I think if we were rich, we could make it happen. But we're poor so... To me, having vinyl with four different covers just added some sort of mystery/legend and it seemed like a first. I hadn't heard of artists doing that before and it really worked with the essence of the album. I think it lends itself well to the idea that college is what you make of it, and each four years are a different experience for each person.

S-R: Are the musicians accompanying you on this album the same or different from the last release?

BJ:
Joe Linnemeier is someone I've played music with since even before the first album, but his presence on the new album is much more prominent and you can hear how he adds something to the music. We also had Kate Haldrup, who did some mixing and mastering with us, play drums on "Wouldn't You Now". In a perfect world, the next album will be a full band exhibition, as opposed to me playing all the instruments and hoping some friends can make an appearance on the album.

S-R: I noticed a harmonica in some of the songs on your first album and it sounded great. Did you lose your harmonica in College? I didn't hear any harmonica on the new album.

BJ:
Well, actually two of the bonus tracks on the CD use harmonica but it's funny because those are two of the earliest written songs for this album. As far as the completed album not featuring any harmonica, I think it's because in most cases, the songs didn't lend themselves well to a harmonica. If they did, it's possible, I just didn't have the right key for the song. I think I only have a G, C, and E these days.
S-R: Bonus tracks?! Niceness!

S-R: Jill, Bill and John were out in a boat, two were fake, who was left?

BJ:
Well that's actually a really good question. The obvious and short answer is John of course. But Bill and Jill both represent those parts of your personality trying to please a social norm/pressure... and they're trying you know? And John is someone who accomplishes certain social pressures and so he just says, "At this point, I don't give a f_ck if you don't approve or if you're staring at me, prodding me with questions about my future. I've done what I'm supposed to do, so f_ck off." So, John is real, but in a sense, Bill and Jill both exist, they're just dormant right now.

S-R: If Bonfire John was given a submarine for "One Night" where would he go or what would he do, W.W.B.J.D.?

BJ:
World peace, that's the answer right? I don't know, I'd probably try to find a Giant Squid and maybe record some Planet Earth footage on my Android Mini. Or I'd throw a massive party... Mac Demarco would open for the Haim and hopefully I'd wake up in the morning with Keith Richards asking me how the hell he got on some crazy submarine.

S-R: Noted.



Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Recommended Album's & EP's ARCHIVE 2014

Sub-Rock Music's "Two Subs Up!!" Archive - START DIGGING!

:: Corkbush Field Mutiny - "True Love Waits" EP - April 20, 2014
:: Deep Sea Diver - "Always Waiting" EP - March 28, 2014
:: Hippie Cream - "Trying to Turn a Unicorn Into a Horse" EP - June 17, 2014
:: Roladex - "Anthems For The Micro-Age" - February 13, 2014
:: The Vickers - "Ghosts" - March 28, 2014