Cale Parks
Cale Parks talks Sparklace, touring and who else he wants to work with.
While Cale Parks is widely regarded as one of the most talented and creative drummers in indie rock, sometimes he steps out from behind his set and takes the stage as a solo act (yet still remains entirely drum and drum machine heavy). Parks, who is in Aloha and White Williams, has released two solo albums – with the latest, Sparklace, coming out in late 2008. We had a chance to have a brief chat with Cale as he finished up touring with Aloha and readied to hit the road with Passion Pit.
HEAVE: Sparklace came out on November 4th and has been deemed as an accessible "pop" album. Why did you choose this direction, as opposed to the minimalist approach of your first album?
Cale Parks: I don't consider Sparklace poppy in the traditional sense, but poppy for me, yes it is. I wanted to make something that could be more accessible live and just accessible in general. On Illuminated Manuscript shows I was playing only small art venues locally that cater to more ambient, instrumental music. With the songs from Sparklace and my even newer material, I can play in clubs as well.
HEAVE: Creatively – how do you separate what you need to do for Aloha, White Williams and your own solo work?
Cale Parks: All these projects are so different musically; it's easy to separate ideas into what goes with what group.
HEAVE: Physically, how do you balance what you need to do? Touring and creating for different bands along for yourself has to take a lot out of you.
Cale Parks: I just sort of have to go. The bags under my eyes get bigger permanently. I rest between tours.
HEAVE: How do you approach a show that you will be playing with Aloha or White Williams as opposed to playing by yourself? Do you have to get yourself in a different kind of mood or attitude for a solo show?
Cale Parks: Absolutely. For solo shows, I have way too much going on technically. It can stress me out. I just make sure everything is set up ok, and then take a few minutes to collect myself and go.
HEAVE: In the fall you were touring with Anathallo – what's it like touring with a large group of people who know each other so well?
Cale Parks: The Anathallo tour was my first solo tour. I can't afford a tour manager or a van of my own, so I stow away in the vehicle of the group I'm touring with. Anathallo are very nice people, but it was a bit cramped with all eight us. I guess I'm paying my dues all over again as a new artist.
HEAVE: After the Passion Pit tour is over what is on the agenda?
Cale Parks: SXSW then more Canadian solo shows with them. After that I'm not sure.
HEAVE: You have played and collaborated with many artists throughout the years, but who is someone you haven't worked with that you really want to?
Cale Parks: Trish Keenan of Broadcast.
HEAVE: Were any other anagrams that were possib le for Cale Parks besides Sparklace? I tried for a few minutes to come up with some and had nothing.
Cale Parks: Space Lark.
Posted by Wes Soltis on Feb 16, 2009 @ 12:00 am
