Ryan Monroe: "The Band's new album Horses is the crudest of all"

During these last five long years I have been following in the footsteps of Band of Horses. Such has been my fascination with this band that I could not help but feel some degree of curiosity to learn that Ryan Monroe, the beloved keyboardist Ben Bridwell's band, has just released a solo album. It's called "A Painting Of A Painting On Fire", which you can listen from now through Spotify and is the most fun I've heard in time.
Thanks to a couple of moves we get to talk for more than twenty minutes with Ryan's good for us to explain both the experience of recording his album and some other detail concerning this new period opens for Band Of Horses. We also want to ask about their experiences with Pearl Jam and My Morning Jacket. Even Elton John talk about him! And the truth is that it was very, very friendly with us. Here you have the transcript of this intense conversation:
Many of us will basically know your role in Band Of Horses keyboardist but what other musical projects you were involved before coming to play in this band?
I've been to several but the best known of these is Captain Easy, who was there from early 2000 until 2005, approximately. We had to stop playing together because we did not win money with the group and we needed to make money somehow. I personally rejected the idea of ​​focusing solely on the work and so I continued pulling miles trying to make a living from music. For a year or two he combined my musical dream helping my father and my brother in a poultry. While it is true that before that had played in various small groups: one played drums, another sang, played guitar in another ... From the age of twelve I got into all kinds of groups, in fact I even had one with my brother when very young.
When was the time you joined Band Of Horses?
That's to early 2007. That time was just doing some solo gigs and practicing spontaneously waiter in a bar. At one point Ben [Bridwell] apuntase told me his band. From very small we had some relationship: grew up in the same neighborhood for years and knew each other through mutual friends. He knew I was playing and I knew him also as Ben asked me to play the organ in the demos of "Cease To Begin" that were recorded in Columbia, South Carolina. That's where I was living. After recording with them, I think it was the night after Ben asked me to join the European tour they would soon make Band Of Horses. And then finish working on the album and joining to complete the set.
I have to admit I really liked your new solo album. In fact I wanted to comment a little matter referred to the theme 'A Painting Of A Painting On Fire'. Listening to him reminds me very much explosive pop melodies of Elton John. Compositionally ¿has influenced you the discography of this artist?
Totally! Every time I hear 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' I spend all kinds of chills, it's my favorite song ever. I remember the impact caused when he was a kid. Hear the matter and was not aware of the effect was causing in me at that moment. Over time I realized the power of song and so I started to have a fixation on parts with the tempo and the energy. Another great one to which I have followed closely is Billy Joel.
That good thing you notice on the issues. In fact there is one titled 'On A Beach' that surfaces the most of your power pop side passionately. How did you create a song like that?
If in fact it all started with a demo at a rate that was somewhat psychotic as "tic-tic-tac-tic-tic-tac" (laughs). Then I went into the studio and producer Chris Testa, who has worked with other very power pop, made of 'On A Beach' theme super rocker. Basically added distortion and volume petando ended.
Each song on the album seems to be very different from the other. So you still say that there is some artist you have influenced almost all the LP?
Well .... (long pause and laughter). You may say I'm crazy but I can not help but compare the sound of songs with "Colossal Head", the last work of Los Lobos. We wanted the battery had almost distorted sound that is on that disk. Chris and I have a very similar taste in music so we were moving through different paths, even the odd like The Flaming Lips. I remember that MGMT has also been one of my biggest influences for that big sound that defines their feeling.
I also really like MGMT, two of us!. Apart from everything related to influences, do you have any intention of taking a video of a particular topic?Just do anything I was talking with a friend of mine, Captain Easy battery, which is also a good graphic designer. I think that sooner or later will release video for 'Over Turning Leaves' and I hope to leave a very rare thing (laughs). Right now we have finished recording a documentary in which you see me recording the album ...
Is not that that has been recorded by Christopher Wilson, right?Yes, yes, it is exactly this.
Ben Bridwell is a true ace when it comes to knowing how to manage the design and development of a studio album. Did you learn a lot from him, or even Tyler Ramsey, when to take your solo debut?Of course. I've been more influenced by my own fellow Band Of Horses than anything else. Even 'On The Beach' was born out of a jam sessions that we conducted Creighton [Band Of Horses battery] and myself. Creighton was carried away with the battery while I did the same with the keyboard. That led me to that point where, to play drums in the studio, trying to form the result sounded as great as he played Creighton a while back. My colleagues have helped in this respect a lot. I noticed Ben's vocal work, the contribution of Bill ... In all his work. They are my brothers.
In "Infinite Arms" was an amazing subject entitled 'Older' that threw you to sing. The thing went really well. What next job will be Band Of Horses another song that also sing?The truth is that I sing a lot in the new album Band Of Horses but all are choirs. There is no song that is the lead singer. Perhaps one or two more LPs will get to find that hole again (laughs). This new album has a lot of experimental work in the background but is itself hopelessly crude.
Do you think this new album has the same feeling BOH rustic "Infinite Arms" or return to see the Band Of Horses the first or second album?I do not think that can not be compared with any of the previous three CDs. We recorded everything live and it sounds very harsh, very gutted. Not many "overdubs." Is the album that best represents our direct.
When did lanzareis?Will the end of September if all goes as planned.
What was it like working this time with a producer like Glyn Johns?It was amazing. I remember working a theme and tell Glyn had made a small mistake in one of the cuts. He said "Do not worry, nobody will ignore that." More than interpretation Johns focuses on the energy transmitted songs. In the previous two LPS was some trend toward improved. This time everything was different and was based on capturing everything going on in the room where we recorded.
That sounds good. Recently we were listening to a song - 'Everything' - that you played for MTV Brazil. Does the final version we see in the album's release will be much more produced?Actually in that song that hearkened is what ultimately you'll end up watching. It has a couple of acoustic guitars and is for sure the subject more "gutted" talking loudly throughout the disc.
And going into this new season of BOH, did you plan to continue working with Christopher Wilson? [Art director with whom they have had in the past two years]Totally! We have been working with Christopher various ideas concerning the cover of the album and will join us on our next tour. We would not be the same if Wilson was not with us.
Are of the few groups that have an art director. Do you think is more important than people think at first sight?At first I thought it was important until I joined this band. We feel it is a vital organ in the band, especially with regard to documentation of face-to document the entire visual scheme of the concerts. None of us has the capacity, or ability to do something like Chris does.
Interesting. The other day I was looking information about you and saw you had hit the U.S. with My Morning Jacket, a band that is often associated much with your own. Will we ever see a tour like this in Europe?We love it! Have you played My Morning Jacket in Spain?
Yes! In fact this summer have played at the festival Azkena Rock has been done in the north of our country. Hopefully one day we can enjoy something like what you did together at Madison Square Garden!Yeah man, I love it. I hope someday collaborate together on something, it could be amazing.
That would be brutal. What I can say from experience that you lived with Pearl Jam? Did you have good relationship with them?No doubt, Pearl Jam are the best guys in the world. They were very accessible and friendly to us. We got all kinds of gifts after turning them. I have a funny story related to Eddie: I was leaving the locker room in Buffalo and was to go outside. Eddie saw me from his own dressing room and said "Uncle, it's cold, come and go in here." And he showed me his guitar and we talked for 20 long minutes on James Brown and stuff. It's the best guy in the world and as a young man was my idol. It was surreal and showed me a rockstar can be a great, great person.
It's good to know that, and being fans of Pearl Jam as we are. And ending the interview what can we expect from Ryan Monroe for the future?. I heard you have a variety of materials stored in the chamber for future releases. Is that true?Uff, I have many, many, many, many themes saved. Although not as much as Ryan Adams. Have you seen what's out now?
Yes! The boxset with zillions of songs!OMG, that really intimidated me. There is everything. You must be a champion to get that. But yes, bring out another album soon and will be an experimental hair. Already looking forward!