I was lucky enough to catch up with Chris Freeman, keyboard player and part time vocalist of the Atlanta, Georgia based Manchester Orchestra. Manchester Orchestra is currently touring the US with Kevin Devine, Dead Confederate and All Get Out.
Joshua Hammond, Popwreckoning: I’m told that you guys created an album called Nobody Sings Anymore which was never released due to an extreme shift in the band’s sound. What differed in that sound that the current line-up of your band doesn’t sport today?
Chris Freeman, Manchester Orchestra: It was a much more Death Cab For Cutie-ish sound with a lot of electronic drums. I was not in the band actually at the time, nor was anybody except for Jay and Andy [Hull] that are in the band right now. It was much poppier than this version or even the new one even.
PW: Do you know if there is any plan for that album to be release someday, as a B-side, or bonus disc of some sort?
CF: We’re going to release it someday, just not quite yet. Maybe when we’re more established, you know.
PW: Fair point. Speaking of established, Your first full length, I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child, was heavily recognized by the music industry. Do you feel this exposure has changed the band in any way?
CF: None. I mean we haven’t really changed at all since we started playing together. We’ve all been together so long. I mean we went to a lot more meetings and we have a lot more stuff to do but it didn’t really affect us. We got busy but it didn’t change us or anything.
PW: Your second LP, Mean Everything to Nothing is set to be released in 2009. What should we expect from this album?
CF: For it to be like super fucking loud man, it’s going to be great. I love it so much. We’re mixing it right now, that’s why we’re in LA, mixing it. It’s just super loud, awesome, great drum parts. Jeremiah [Edmond] really stepped up his game. A lot of keyboards that sound like guitars. Robert [Mcdowell]’s doing a lot more on this record. Robert didn’t sing at all on the last record or even play on the last record. So I think everybody is going to think it’s a step up from the last record which is awesome.
PW: You guys recently released a track called “I Can Feel a Hot One” on your Let Pride Be What Is Left Behind EP/DVD. What is the thought process of this release? Will it be on the new album as well?
CF: It is on the new album actually. We re-tracked a lot of the stuff on the new album to give it more, I don’t know what the word is, to make it sound like the rest of the album. We re-tracked the cello, drums and some of the vocals. Again that song is one of the more prouder moments that we did and it’s very stand out on the record as well.
PW: That song is amazing. Hands down your your best work to date, which says a lot, considering you have such a good catalog. Everyone I talk to says that they can’t stop listening to that song on repeat.
CF: Yeah I’m with you man. It gives me chills. Still. Like when we’re going back and mixing it, I get chills and I’ve heard the song a billion times.
PW: Well, what should we expect from Manchester Orchestra in the upcoming year?
CF: Probably going back to hardcore touring. Solo projects from everybody. Just about everybody in the band right now pretty much have other projects. A lot of Favorite Gentlemen in the mix in the next couple of years. We have a lot of bands with really awesome records. Hopefully some international touring, we really want to get back to Australia. It was one of our favorite places to tour. A lot more of England and hopefully some Canada dates. Yeah so just a lot of touring.
JPW: You mentioned the side projects. Go ahead and take a second to plug them:
CF: Andy with Right Away, Great Captain who has just released his new record, that is getting a lot of great reviews. He had a CD release the other day. There’s Robert with Gobotron. He’s mixing his record right now. Me with Alaska Him Nicely and I’m writing for that record right now. Jay has, shit. I don’t remember it! He’s got people from all over, mixing and writing all sorts of articulate and great stuff.
JPW: Well, I am looking forward to hearing them all. I know you’re mixing right now, so I’ll let you get back to it. But thank you for your time. I look forward to catching up with you guys again in Florida.
CF: We’ll see you then!
Manchester Orchestra: website | myspace
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