The Age of Rockets
Andrew Futral of The Age of Rockets talks about strings vs. synth pads, becoming a producer and his love of iced coffee.
With their second album, Hannah, this New York group took their music to new heights. When singer Andrew Futral isn't experimenting with new melodies, he's offering his producing skills to up-and-coming musicians, answering questions on their MySpace and actually trying to put on shows where the fans ask him to. As their sound grows, there's no doubt that their devoted fan base will follow suit and expand as well.
HEAVE: Tell us a little bit about the songwriting contest that you won. Was that a catalyst for The Age of Rockets?
Andrew Futral: Not really. The song that won is actually a song I have never released on anything. The prize money and gear all went to help press the first Age of Rockets album that had been my senior project at Purchase Music Conservatory. It was very nice to win but I imagine I would be about where I am now without it, not because of the award so much, but more because I make music for myself and myself alone. I love that so many people have enjoyed it but it's really just something I love doing for myself.
HEAVE: Why did you decide to turn The Age of Rockets into a trio rather than keeping it as a solo project
Andrew Futral: Saul, Bess, Jenny Owen Youngs and myself were in a side project band called "The Robot Explosion". When we started having less time for that it was kind of a natural shift for them to start helping with Age of Rockets. We had all been friends at music conservatory for a while and so we were all very musically comfortable with each other.
HEAVE: The sound of Hannah seems to flirt with a soaring, orchestral sound. What influenced you when you were in the studio?
Andrew Futral: Well I like to give myself challenges and this time around I wanted to see how driving and rock n' roll an album I could make only using strings and orchestra as the meat and driving force of the record. It was also a natural progression from synth pads. It occurred to me that if another synth-based record happened we would forever be a "Postal Service clone," so we made an orchestra album with 90% real drums, yet we still get the comparison. Which is pretty much a compliment, so I wont be doing too much complaining.
HEAVE: What do you all prefer—making albums, or touring?
Andrew Futral: My favorite parts of touring are meeting people and seeing new places. The shows are fun but I usually want to get them over with. Being in the studio is amazing. The last album took two years to make so the amazing-ness is very spread out but I still prefer the idea of crafting something that is perfect to me versus the more raw and intimate live thing. However they are both significantly better than a day job.
HEAVE: Everyone in the band is involved with side projects - how important is it for all of you to involve yourselves in different groups?
Andrew Futral: Music is just our lives and so we busy ourselves with as much of it as we can. The nature of the band is that we can play shows without all members or record without all members. So nothing ever gets in the way. It's very important to make sure it's always fun.
HEAVE: Andrew, you posted on MySpace that you wanted to help artists record their music after the tour finishes up - what led to you make that excellent offer?
Andrew Futral: Producing is something I really love to do. I really am doing it to get my chops up so that some day in the not too distant future I can be a producer for hire. I am confident in my ability to get good music but getting good takes out of artists and the other important bits are lost on me as all my self producing is done alone in my apartment (aside from the new MC Chris album which we did in about six months in my apartment).
HEAVE: Can we expect to hear anything soon from The Robot Explosion?
Andrew Futral: Indeed. We are working on a full length that will be very far removed from the previous sound. My guess is stuff will be available by the end of the year.
HEAVE: Speaking of awesome band names, The Age of Rockets was cited as one of the best band names in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006. What was the inspiration behind that moniker?
Andrew Futral: Tiny inspirations. I find that band names that have a single special meaning to the band are always awful and always too dynamic. I like things that are easy to say and simple. The name is partly a reference to the 1950's, partly a reference to the Smashing Pumpkins song "The Age of Innocence".
HEAVE: Since summer has arrived, that means it's time for the warm-weather music—do you have a summer anthem?
Andrew Futral: So far it's been the new Sigur Ros jam, "Gobblidigook". Very summer, very surprising for them. They are my favorite little cocos.
HEAVE: Let 's hear some hometown pride - what's the best thing about New York City during this sweltering season?
Andrew Futral: Well, free iced coffee from Starbucks the first day of summer. I have AC. Wearing less clothes makes it easier to identify and avoid the bridge and tunnel. Oh, and non stop recording.
Posted by Alyssa Vincent on Jul 21, 2008 @ 6:29 am
