Interview- SilOHs

I recently had the opportunity to exchange e-mails with Jake Witt, lead singer of the the Seattle band, SilOHs. I have been hearing bits and pieces of SilOHs on KEXP's Morning Show (Seattle-90.3)and have been enjoying their eclectic mix of Americana folk-rock and shoe-gaze psychedelic. We recently sent over some interview questions for the band to answer and they graciously complied. We have answers from Jake as well as other band members including Derrick Wright (Bass),Michel Debauge (keys, vocals and percussion, and Nathan Hamlett (guitar, lap steel, vocals).

Enjoy the interview and keep your eyes peeled for their upcoming LP (Shed Your Summer Shell) release on January 11th. I have listened to the record multiple times and think it’s really great. We have included a sample MP3 below.

You have started to receive some airplay on KEXP, an important milestone for any artist but especially for a Seattle band. Have you felt the buzz yet? How?

Jake: The exposure we’ve received from KEXP has been amazing! They truly support local music in a way that is accessible for artists who are just starting out. It has impacted every part of what we do. Higher profile shows locally and a bigger audience nationally and internationally. They’ve selected us twice for the Song of the Day Podcast, which has probably had the most impact for us outside of Seattle.
Nate: Listener powered radio is very important in any major city , Seattle is very blessed to have people who devote there lives/jobs for the love of music locally and global.

Your sound reminds me a lot of the Fleet Foxes, Grand Archives, and Band of Horses. Is this a sound that is expressly cultivated in the Seattle music scene? What do you think are some of the common influences or techniques among these groups/What do you think sets you apart from these groups?

Jake: I’d say that there is a collective consciousness for a lot of artists drawing from common influences right now. Particularly during turbulent periods like wartime and social/economic struggle I think that a lot of artists try to find their own voice by drawing from music that feels most authentic and…American, I guess. Folk and Roots Music, Spirituals/Gospel and even classic rock artists from the late 60’s and early 70’s seem accessible at a time when we’re questioning who we are and what our place in the world should be. Personally I’d say that the weather in Seattle might have something to do with the “cloudy” or “ethereal” sound that a lot of NW artists have incorporated into their music. I think maybe what sets silOHs apart is our Shoegaze/Psych influence and interest in more abstract soundscapes and textures.

What musician/band would you love to open for?

Jake: Neil Young or My Bloody Valentine
Nate: Tom Ze would be amazing...aiming pretty high for that one

What has been your favorite venue to play?

Jake: Probably the Tractor Tavern in Seattle as a band. Solo I played at Neumo’s in Seattle for a concert series called The Round. It brought together 3 different artists to play intimate acoustic sets and improvise on each other’s music.

What would be your ‘dream’ venue?

Jake: I grew up watching Austin City Limits. I’d KILL to play ACL…There is also an amazing venue in Newport, KY right across the river from Cincinnati called The Southgate House. It’s an old historic mansion built in 1814 that’s been converted into a tri-level concert hall, bar and gallery. I played it years ago with other projects, but it is my very favorite venue. A sold-out, homecoming silOHs show in the main ballroom would be a “dream.”

Michel: Personally, I'd love to play at the Moore in Seattle...I have a bunch of great memories from inside that place and it'd be surreal to actually perform on stage there.

What album (other than your own) do you wish you had written and why?

Jake: Can’t do just one…
CSNY- Déjà vu/Ohio. The harmonies MAN, the harmonies…
Beach Boys- Pet Sounds. Sorry, cliché I know, but brilliant and experimental.
Sigur Ros- ágætis byrjun. The layers of lush orchestral sound.
Michel: I'm constantly blown away by Grizzly Bear's Yellow House. That album never seems to get old for me.
Derrick: The Slow Wonder - A.C. Newman and Holiday - The Magnetic Fields
What are some other musicians/bands that we may not know but you're excited about?
Jake: Some great Seattle artists we’ve played with are Motopony and Yuni in Taxco. Some other Seattle up and coming bands I like are Sleepy Eyes of Death and The Maldives.
Michel: Also check out Beat Connection and Woodsman if you haven't.
Nate: Nate: Speed Dealers Moms (new electro/noise collaboration with Aaron Funk (Venetion Snares) & John Frusciante)

What is your musical ‘guilty pleasure’?
Jake: Tom Jones…brilliance.
Michel: Um...every once in awhile I throw on some T.I...Is that bad?
Derrick: I listen to Third Eye Blind's debut album more often than I'd care to admit.

What has been the best complement that you have received about your music/band?

Jake: KEXP said the new record sounded like it was produced by Phil Spector. I LOVE his production…hairstyle and murder…not so much…

How will you know when you've 'made it '?

Jake: Austin City Limits would be a hell of an indicator…I’d KILL, to play ACL…
What's next for Silohs?
Jake: We just started playing with a new drummer, so we are busy getting the new material together to start playing out live again. We’re also starting to plan a western states mini-tour for Spring/early Summer.

MP3: A Zealot Sun