Gossip is currently on tour, rockin’ the country. Last month, Sara had a chat with guitarist Nathan “Brace” Paine and talked about European radio, queers, fat girls, and their newest release, Music for Men.
Sara, PopWreckoning: In an age of music where so many genres are bent and merged, how would YOU classify Gossip?
Nathan Paine, Gossip: God, how would I classify us into a genre? I don’t know, I mean, that’s kind of a hard question. Cuz we enjoy sort of spreading out. I don’t know. How would I classify Gossip? We’re a band.
BOTH LAUGH
PW: Well what I mean is, there is so much music that’s genre bending and merged together. There’s so much music that breaks all the rules. So what would be the best way, for someone who hasn’t heard you guys before, to describe you guys sonically?
NP: Oh jeez. I like to think sometimes that we’re a soul band?
PW: I like that. You don’t have to pick just one genre!
NP: Uhhh…..a soul disco band.
PW: Soul disco! I like that!
NP: Like a soul-disco-pop ticket?
PW: I would have said something similar! I read about you talking about this Suicide Club in Portland?
Nathan: Oh yeah, yeah.
PW: Tell me about it, and why is it illegal?
NP: Umm…Maybe I shouldn’t be talking about that.
BOTH LAUGH
NP: Um well, it’s not that it’s illegal. It’s like an underground spot, in this little illegal warehouse bar. That was a dance club that I did for years in Portland that was like post-punk music and electro and sort of everything.
PW: Any chances of it coming back?
NP: I don’t know! I mean, I would LOVE to, but it’s just…I tour so much it’s hard to sort of set up a proper party, y’know? Cuz you’ve gotta take time to flyer around town, and I’m not there to flyer. But yeah, I love to DJ. I was thinking about doing a new night. So, possibly, yes.
PW: Ok, you were mentioning touring so much. You guys have….Europe has been really good to you guys, yes?
NP: Yes!
PW: Tell me a little bit about that.
NP: Yeah, Europe’s been really good to us and I can never really figure out why. I feel like we approached things the same way over there as we did over here. I don’t think there’s necessarily anything we did different over there. It’s just…people really rallied us from the get-go over there. I don’t really know why. I think, I mean, y’know… Maybe it’s cuz we’re from the South in America and it’s different, y’know? But I don’t know. And y’know the radio over there too is interesting. Cuz in America they say it’s not pay to play. But mainstream radio is COMPLETELY pay to play. And they only stick to certain playlists. The DJs have no power over what they want to play, really. In Europe, like in the UK, on a BBC or whatever, the DJs actually get to pick what they want to play. It can be totally indie, totally independent, or not. I mean, they have a few things they have to play like anything else. But it’s definitely more freedom on the radio over there. So I think that might have something to do with it as well? I don’t know.
PW: Huh. That’s interesting to hear. I didn’t know that about radio in Europe.
NP: Yeah it’s really… I don’t know if you’re familiar with Jon Pill. He’s like the British guy who….
PW: Yeah, I was reading a little bit of Beth’s (lead singer, Ditto) comments on that.
NP: I think he really started something amazing over there with this weird radio thing and playing records you like and that you want to champion that are not popular.
PW: That’s awesome. That’s really awesome. We need more like that over here.
Nathan: Ohhh… We need a Jon Pill so bad.
PW: (Laughing) Um…speaking of your guys’ success in America, you guys, last year, got some exposure from MTV on a couple of spots.
NP: We did!
PW: Did that help build your US fanbase some?
NP: Oh yeah, I remember that. I don’t know. We haven’t really played America since then. We played in Seattle recently and we’re touring in October, so we’ll see.
PW: Ok! You’ve said that nothing has changed for you guys since you broke through. Is that really true? Have there been no major changes at all?
NP: You mean personally, or whatever?
PW: In any way, shape, or form. You said that you guys still live in the same house?
NP: Oh yeah yeah….I do, we do. I mean, well, Beth just bought a house, but there have been a couple changes, but I still really feel like we’re the exact same people. I don’t think it’s effected us really. I mean, we’re on a major [label], so there’s like, y’know…there’s some better treatment or whatever. Like, the tours are cushier. But those are little changes. I don’t think personally it’s affected us really. In our day to day lives, I don’t think we really feel it.
PW: That’s cool that you can remain so grounded around all that.
NP: Yeah, it’s really important to think about, I think. I think we all try to keep ourselves grounded all the time. I think it’s important. To continue to be creative, I think you have to do that.
PW: Yeah, definitely. Speaking of things that are important, you guys have become role models and icons for both the LGBT Community as well as Beth, for plus-size girls everywhere. How does that feel?
NP: I support it 100%. I really think that Beth as this icon for girls as well as the Queer Community…I think it’s really special. She’s something that’s not really seen in the mainstream world and I think that what she’s offering up is really good and interesting and it’s also just about equality. And people say it’s not true, but it’s SO true that there’s fat-phobia in the world. How often do you see fat people on TV? I think there’s a total negativity connected to it. And I love that she’s started to change that and I think that’s amazing.
PW: Yeah that girl has balls.
NP: Yeah…
PW: She really does, I admire her so much.
NP: Yeah, it’s a really powerful statement and I really enjoy being supportive of her and being a part of it with her and the band. I think it’s a beautiful thing.
PW: I love how you use the word “Queer” in reference to the Queer Community, with complete and total pride and without any fear or anything.
Nathan: Yeah, it’s funny…well not funny…because I’m straight and I have so many friends that are gay and part of that community. It’s something that should be – something I don’t think people should be afraid of. We’re living in a time now where differences like that should not matter at all. It’s kind of a ridiculous topic to even be brought up because this shouldn’t even matter.
PW: I agree. How do you guys manage to keep things so simple while still having such a full and heavy sound?
NP: We usually try not to do…like, we’re the opposite of My Bloody Valentine, like, no guitar over-dubs. We try to keep things really simple. Like there’s no over-dubs at all. There’s one guitar line. There’s no over-dubs. There’s no bassline. We try to keep it minimal, that’s really important to us. Over-production can be really irritating to me. Somebody like The Ramones are perfect.
PW: But is there a trick to getting everything to sound so heavy while the instruments are so simplistic? Is it just passion that you guys got in there? What’s the trick?
NP: I don’t know. I guess so. (chuckles).
PW: With your best effort can you describe Music for Men sonically and how it’s different from your previous albums?
NP: Well sonically, it’s the most hi-fi recording we’ve ever done. A lot of thought went into production and mic placement and all that. So its super-well recorded. It’s really clean, pretty crisp. It’s different than other records because on this record I actually play bass and piano and synth, and on our other records it was just guitar. There was no bass or anything really. So it makes a big difference on the record.
PW: Yeah, I’m sure. Do you have any last words for our readers, or your fans, or anyone at all?
NP: Stay tough.
PW: Oh! I have one more question that I completely forgot about!
NP: Ok!
PW: Do you guys have anything that you really want to accomplish that you haven’t yet, thus far?
NP: That I personally want to do?
PW: You personally or as a band….
NP: I’d like to write a book! That would be a fun project.
PW: Yeah! Ok! And stay tough!
NP: Yep. Stay tough!
PW: Nathan, this was great. Thanks so much for your time!
NP: Yeah, I had a lot of fun!
PW: I think it was one of my favorite interviews that I’ve done so far!
NP: Aw! That’s sweet! Thank you!
PW: Yes, thank you!
NP: See ya, Sara!
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