I had the opportunity to ask Chris Freeman of Manchester Orchestra a few questions. The band is currently in the midst of a national tour with co-headliner Cage The Elephant.
Devon Mueller, Popwreckoning: How does it feel to be releasing your third album Simple Math?
Chris Freeman, Manchester Orchestra: It feels great. We’re really very proud of this record and we’re just happy that it’s finally out. After sitting on this thing for as long as we did, one begins to gain a growing desire for feedback. You start to get into your own head about the whole thing in hopes that people will like it.
DM: Did you ever imagine the band being where it is today?
CF: Everybody hopes to be the biggest band in the world, or at least I think they do. On the slow climb that we’ve been on for the past few years, there are always moments of disbelief when we realize that we’ve been blessed enough to be able to do what we do and be successful at it.
DM: How does the writing and recording process work for you guys as a whole? Lyrics, instrumentation, live recordings, etc.?
CF: It varies a lot, but the constant is Andy writing the basic ideas for everything that we come out with; Sometimes he brings in a riff, or a fully fledged out song and we just sort of write parts around whatever he brings to the table.
DM: One could consider you a multi-instrumentalist. Is there a certain instrument you’re particularly fond of?
CF: I really enjoy playing the vibraphone. Sounds stupid but it’s a really versatile instrument; it can sound very beautiful or very haunting. We didn’t get to use one on Mean Everything To Nothing but I jumped at the chance to use one for this record.
DM: During Manchester Orchestra’s live Facebook chat/premiere of “Virgin,” Andy said the songs on Mean Everything To Nothing were meant to scare people. What is the main focus and goal of Simple Math?
CF: We just wanted to make the best record that we could. It’s definitely an experience as a whole album and each song speaks for itself in their own unique ways. Its a growth album and that growth is evident in the sequencing and we just wanted to bring people along with us in that growth for us as a band.
DM: Any weird pre-show rituals?
CF: We started doing this high-five thing, like in the NBA where they slap hands really low and then immediately pull back. We do that now.
DM: If you could interview any band, dead or alive, who would it be and what’s the one burning question you’d ask?
CF: I’d ask David Byrne if he’d show me how he found those grooves on Remain In Light and Speaking In Tongues. I just want to know what they started with in the building process of the songs on those records.
DM: Funniest tour moment?
CF: I saw Tim slip today outside of the bus and then I yelled “NERD!!!” That was really funny.
DM: Where do you see yourself in five years?
CF: Hopefully still making records with my friends, playing shows, and living in Australia.
DM: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
CF: Probably crying in a closet in Ohio somewhere.
Manchester Orchestra’s website: www.themanchesterorchestra.com
