An interview with Akron/Family

I caught up with Family member Dana recently to talk about the new album, why they like big parties and what they’re going to do next.

What were your main influences behind “Love Is Simple”? It feels your most focused and optimistic record to date.
The main influences on this record were the wooded areas of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, stove top espresso, and the majority of 60′s and 70′s rock/psychadelia. It’s almost a tip of the hat to the “classic record” but done in a living room in Southern Jersey. We had more time with this record to spread our wings and try out new ideas that weren’t guaranteed to work but came out of the moment and happened spontaneously.

Do you see this record as the first one you’ve been able to step out of the shadows a bit? You’re known, mainly, as Michael Gira’s backing band, is that something that’s annoyed you or has it been a great way to learn you trade, so to speak?
I’ve never really felt like we’ve been in the shadows of Gira, or anyone else for that matter. Ever since our first tour with Michael it was always presented as Akron/Family and Angels of Light. Michael gave us the opportunity every night to steal the show with our set which is a tremendous gift on his part, and then to serve as his backing band. And then touring without Michael and only as Akron, it became more obvious that we were gaining popularity on our own which says to me that we are our own thing. I am greatly appreciative for the opportunity we had to work with michael both in the studio and on the road as I learned an amazing amount from experience that can only be taught as its shared through experience.

The record also feels optimistic. In the times we live in now, it feels like a breath of fresh air in it’s approach. Do you always believe in the bright side of life and how do you keep yourself so optimistic?
I like to maintain an optimistic point of view as I live although there is always a counter to that. Life is not perfect nor should it be, however even when the universe shows us the reality of the earth I find it important to keep things in perspective with an optimism that will help me deal with whatever comes my way. otherwise I feel I could easily be consumed by a downward spiral of pecimism that perpetuates itself until your just miserable. Boo to that.

The cover for Love Is Simple is really striking. Where did the idea come from? It’s a marked departure from your previous darker and more brooding covers.
We first saw this image on the cover of a National Geographic magazine. It really stuck out in a unique way. The way the fat is trimmed away from the heart, the way its backlit and stands alone, that it is a human heart verses the idea of a more valentines day cartoony heart image that usually represents love made it more real to us. I like the thought that it provokes in me. Seeing love in life as it appears in reality.

How did the forthcoming tour with Phosphorescent come about? Are you fans of their material? Might we see some collaborative work in the future?
I love Phosphorescents music. I think he’s a great song writer and a great singer. I’m sure that on this tour you’ll be seeing us work together. It brings the family vibes.

Your musical development feels very World-ly. It’s not quite “World Music”, but it feels as though it touches all the different musical cultures of the world. How do you do it? Have you travelled much to soak up all these influences or has it just come naturally?
We’ve traveled quite a bit and definitely draw from these influences but one of my most influential musical styles comes from Africa and we haven’t yet been able to make it over there. Although this past summer we were playing at Roskilde Festival in Denmark and we invited a couple of Ghanian hand drummers we saw at the fest to come share in our performance. They showed up with 17 people dressed in traditional clothes half of which had drums the other were dancers. It was an amazing experience. They played at least half the show with us. Afterwards we were invited to go to Ghana and tour West Africa with them. We havent gone yet but we plan to in the near future. So maybe then we’ll become world music!

Your live shows have a reputation for being a great big party. Is this something that you set out to achieve or do the performances come naturally?
The performances are meant to be a celebration of the events at hand. I always enjoy playing live and when your able to reach out to people and share something that is magical it becomes a big party. Everyone is happy and smiling and having a good time which is why we go see music in the first place right?

Are you technophobes or technophiles? Have you embraced new technology in terms of making music or recreationally with mp3′s and the “Myspace” revolution?
We are all open to new ways of expressing ourselves. I recently bought some drum machines and they’re starting to appear in Akron performances. It’s more in an organic sense but noticeably technology.

Outside of making this album, what books, films and albums have you been reading, watching and listening to? Do they influence your song writing and recording immediately or can it take time for them to filter through?
I’ve started to read Tom Browns The Tracker. I’ve been listening alot to Justin Timberlakes Future, Sex, Love Sounds, and I watch alot of movies. Most recently rented Basquiat and loved it. I’m sure these all influence my songwriting. Whether it’s conscious or not I can’t tell.

What’s next for you guys? You’ve been busy, continuously, for the past couple of years. Are you going to take a break or will you be working on a new record?
I know that after this trip to england we plan on taking it easy for a while. Early next year we’re going to start writing new music and recording. Maybe play a couple of festivals here and there but probably no touring. We all need to get some rest.

Links
Akron/Family [official site] [myspace] [album review]