Conveyor: Interview & Ticket Giveaway

Brooklyn-based band Conveyor have a new album and they're coming to DC!  Their self-titled debut came out last month and it's quite the record indeed.  For the full album review, head this way, but today we have other exciting news to talk about.  Not only do you have the chance to see them live, but I recently had the pleasure to interview Conveyor and here's what they had to say.

Hello!  Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me today.  Let's start this off with an introduction.  Who is Conveyor?

We are!  More specifically, we are T.J. Masters, Michael Pedron, Alan Busch, and Evan Garfield.

Your debut album came out earlier this month, so congratulations on that major achievement!  How does the typical Conveyor writing session unfold?  Is it a group process, or do you guys write separately and then merge the results together?

Our process isn't all that consistent really.  It depends on the song.  In some cases songs came together almost entirely in the studio, while in others, one individual brought a relatively fleshed out idea to the group at which point we would all then collaborate and contribute our own ideas.  We also like to let the songs continue to develop in a live scenario, where they tend to really come into their own.

Which comes first, music or lyrics?

Again, this depends on the song.

As a band, what influences you?

We take a lot of direction from music across history (ranging anywhere from the Four Seasons to Fela Kuti), but our real interests lie in bringing those historical influences into the contemporary dialogue among the music scene in which we operate.

If you had to describe Conveyor in three words to someone who has never heard your music before, what would you say?

Teaming Earth Kaleidoscope.

You're currently in the middle of a summer tour spanning across the US and Canada.  How has the crowd reaction at the live shows been so far?

For the most part, the crowds have been very positive and encouraging.  For that, we are more than grateful.

What should someone expect when going to a Conveyor concert?

Expect your expectations to be wrong.

Do you have a favorite city to play?

Louisville, Kentucky.

Finally, what music are you currently listening to?  Are there any albums that you just can't stop playing?

We are listening to Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young at this very moment. We've really been digging on the Kishi Bashi record as well as Monogold's record, The Softest Glow.  Monogold is from Brooklyn and they are great.

Thanks!  Have a great time on the rest of the tour!

Thank you!



Now it's time for the giveaway!  Conveyor's playing at DC's Black Cat tomorrow night, along with Drop Electric, Southwork, and Presto Bando.  If you'd like to win some tickets, you can enter through the following methods.  Increase your odds by doing all three!

1. Send me an email with your name and the subject line "Conveyor Giveaway".

2. Tweet me using the hashtag #ConveyorGiveaway

3. "Like" and leave a comment on this Facebook post

Good luck!  The winner will be contacted on 8/3.

Conveyor - Conveyor

Conveyor is a band that exceeds genres.  The self proclaimed "experimental pop" quartet creates this blend of sounds that makes you reconsider the definition of pop and doubt all that you once knew about folk.  If you're looking for a band that can tackle a killer harmony, then you found your match.  The Brooklyn-based band also just released their self-titled debut album.  Filled with sporadic beats and ambient breakdowns, you get to experience the many aspects of Conveyor all within the stretch of eleven songs.

The record starts off with "Woolgatherer", an ideal first impression.  I feel like it captures everything that Conveyor does best.  The upbeat track stacks howling sirens on top of digital bleeps as a clap-along drum arrangement drives everything along.  Although the entire record has an overall bright and summery felling to it, "Woolgatherer" shines a bit brighter than the rest, not to discredit the remainder of the album.

Conveyor's ability to instantly transition from a stammering beat pattern into a low key chord-centric piece is what makes the album so interesting.  The drawn out periods are beautifully done and really create a dreamy atmosphere.  Both sides of the band mesh together to completely negate any sense of dull repetition.

One track that I keep returning to time after time is "Short Hair".  It's melodically addicting and once again showcases the tight vocal work. Lyrically the song is a brief idea, consisting of a little more than four lines, "You have short hair, but your face is so long".  That doesn't mean it's any less intriguing, for "Short Hair" is quite the opposite.

If you enjoy the sounds of Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens, Grizzly Bear, or Feist, then Conveyor may very well be your new favorite band.  They take the acoustic elements of a more "indie" crowd and stir in some unconventional choices to shake things up a bit.  The album is a lavish soundscape without sounding too pretentious or precise.

Conveyor's eponymous record is out now on Paper Garden Records.  You can purchase a copy of the album on vinyl, CD, or digitally here.  It's also available on iTunes and Amazon MP3, but who wouldn't want to own a physical copy of that artwork?  If you're interested in seeing the band perform live, then you're in luck!  Conveyor's currently playing shows across the country as part of their summer tour.  You can find a full list of dates and venues here.

Stream Conveyor