Talking to Jonathan Allen about his experimental rock group, Music For Headphones is like talking to him about his family history. The places that he's moved, and the people that he's met over the years tend to feature quite a bit in the continuous project that he began so many years ago and has slowly evolved into the project that it is now. With the release of their recent EP Preface/Alternate and the coming release of their new album Secret History of the World, the band is ready to look forward in 2008. You can catch Music For Headphones who will be playing tonight (!) at The Khyber in Philadelphia.
Girl About Town: You have gone through a lot of lineup changes over the years... what is the lineup right now?
Jonathan Allen: It is true we have had a lot of line up changes, though three of us have been at the core over the last two years. Aaron Aleiner and Patrick Richardson have been integral members all along as bassist and drummer, respectively, though each of them has taken a break or two from shows. Off and on we have had a fourth member and now we are up to five having added a second drummer, Chris Fredrick, and Phil Watson, organ. At this point; I am singing and playing guitar on stage.
Do you feel as though you work better as a primary songwriter vs. collaborating with the entire band?
I don't know if "better" is the right word for it, but I certainly work "faster" on my own. In reality they are two completely separate ways of writing for me. The new EP is the perfect example: ten months ago, the future of music|for|headphones was completely uncertain. We had lost our female lead singer and Patrick was entering grad school, so headphones was starting to slow down to a crawl. I started recording a new project and was going to start another band called "Secret History of the World". I recorded the majority of something like 17 songs in six weeks, intending to find a band to play the songs. As it turned out, it was best for Patrick to take a temporary break, so we found Chris and another guitarist. Suddenly I found myself with a new band and a new batch of songs. The name change didn't work out so well, so back to headphones it was, as Patrick rejoined the line up. Seven of the songs from those "History" sessions became the new mini-LP "Preface/Alternate". I played all of the instruments on these particular recordings. On the other hand, Patrick and Aaron have influenced me greatly, and contribute to the shape and feel of every song we play live. They have also been invaluable on past recordings. The current line-up sounds better than any other has and is working really well together, writing arrangements around my newest songs. I intend to record our a full-length in the spring with the entire live band. It will have a different feel to it, but the band is totally getting what I'm after.
Do you have any other side projects on the go?
That's the thing about Headphones--it is designed, in concept, to allow me to write, record, and perform anything I want. Like with "Secret History," any side-project I conceptualize may be a Headphones set next month. If it were an option, I would love to have another project I just play in. Perhaps some day I'll have the time.
Your sound has a brooding and multi-layered atmospheric and almost industrial feel to it, and in certain ways, it touches down on the likes of acts such as Spiritualized, Spaceman3, and My Bloody Valentine. When you are envisioning a new track; what are some of the deciding factors that complete a song for you; and how do you stay focused without layering too much into the mix?
By "industrial" I hope you mean in a machine-like, Neu!/Kraftwerk/Stereolab kind of way, or maybe "industrial" like the MC5 or the Stooges! I would be a liar to not acknowledge how much Jason and Sonic have influenced me. The Spacemen, Spiritualized, and Spectrum have long been my favorites. "Three chords good, two chords better, one chord best." About sums it up. The Valentines' are another huge influence. Loveless is certainly something anyone really into production should strive for, and live I think we have owed more than a little to the "You Made Me Realize" era of MBV. However that's not all for me, but amongst the top of what all of us dig.
I think you could argue I do layer too much in the mix quite easily! Everything I strive for in a mix is in "Be My Baby," "Baby, I Love You," and "Then He Kissed me." That what I hear in "Pure Phase," or "Ladies and Gentleman." That's what I hear on "Loveless." I guess I decide to stop when the sound hits me like a train. Wall of sound, right? I come to a point when there is nothing left to do. You have to work really hard to write quality parts that are unnecessary. If its supposed to be in there, I'm going to find a place for it. If it sounds muddy, it's not because I'm trying to do too much musically, its just a shitty mix.
The song "Sys" has an almost progressive rock feel to it. Do you feel as though your band attempts a lot of genre-bending?
"Sys" was actually on a promotional EP called Frequency of Light we gave out last summer. You can still download it though. I can see why you may hear that as progressive. Aaron brought the chord changes, some lyrics, and the concept for that song in. Its influenced by a modal Coltrane piece I think. Starting from that perspective, it was very progressive. To me, on the other hand, it reminds me of being in high school and wanting to be Sonic Youth, making shit loads of noise. Being 17 and learning about tritones and atonality. I do think we bounce over genre lines, and I wouldn't want it to be different. We are certainly capable of picking a "sound," but I want to make records that are mine. Know what I mean?
Where did the recording for your forthcoming album "Secret History of the World" take place, and who mixed and mastered it?
All of our Philadelphia EPs (Go|See|Girls|Rock, Kosmonaut, Frequency of Light, Preface/Alternate) were recorded in Rm. 6 @ Incting HQ on Delware. I have mixed and mastered all four, though I am going to hand the mastering over to some one else for the next one.
What is the most exciting thing that happens for you on stage while playing live shows in Music for Headphones?
The moments I forget anyone is watching us perform and the times when the feedback is so loud, I start hallucinating. Good times.
What is your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
The Philadelphia Parking Authority and the Philadelphia Traffic Court.
Track Listing for Preface/Alternate:
1. Spaceman pt. 1
2. Hard to Love Me
3. Twisted Times
4. One Last Time
5. Doctor
6. She Kissed Me
7. Empty
Download This: Music For Headphones - One Last Time
Music For Headphones Upcoming Tour Dates:
Jan 30 The Khyber // Philadelphia PA
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