The French Kicks features Washington D.C. natives Matt Stinchcomb and Josh Wise who are the guitarists/vocalists, bassist Jamie Krents, and drummer/vocalist Nick Stumpf. They are an excellent band that is getting a lot of press due to their rabid fanbase and easy attitudes. Their newest album is Trial of the Century.
Check out the official website for French Kicks
Daniel Robert Epstein: Is the new album about OJ Simpson?
Nick Stumpf: [laughs] Thats the second time Ive been asked that question today.
DRE: Was it funnier when I said it?
NS: You delivered it much better. He asked me if I thought OJ did it. But no the album isnt about OJ Simpson.
DRE: What does that title mean?
NS: It sort of pertains to the theme of many of the songs and also the general theme of our life as a band. Its also a bit tongue in cheek.
DRE: What inspired the album?
NS: This is just what we do. Writing songs is the whole point so when we get the chance to do that, we do it.
DRE: Whats the writing process for you guys?
NS: Its a lot of home recording on eight tracks. Its mainly me and Josh working out ideas then editing the shit out of them.
DRE: You guys sit there and jam then edit that.
NS: We actually dont do too much jamming. Its more about having simple ideas that we build onto. We start with that idea with one instrument then there is a lot of layering. It goes vertically then horizontally we make an arrangement then the melody is the last thing. Often I just improvise many different melodies then we choose the best one. It may be like jamming because we like to save the first thing we do but then there is also a pretty ruthless editing process.
DRE: A few people have compared you to certain bands like Television and Big Star, and then I read that you hate those bands.
NS: Yeah, I feel like Television is the go to band for people to compare bands to. Every band that has ever been written about has been compared to Television. The reason I think is because they combine simple one note at a time guitar parts as opposed to playing chords. We are very much into that but I dont dislike those bands. I dont like Big Star very much at all but Television I had a very brief tepid relationship with.
DRE: There are a few quotation websites out there that youre on.
NS: Someone pointed that out to me and Ive never been prouder.
DRE: Its all about England on brainyquote.com and quotationreference.com.
NS: Awesome.
DRE: Were those things taken out of context?
NS: No we used to do this advice column on our website. People mainly write in about relationship stuff and we sort of fuck around. We make up answers to amuse ourselves in the van. That one quote is from some ex-models who were going to England and what should they expect. That was my response.
DRE: Do you guys feel like there is a lot of synthesizers in your music?
NS: I think weve definitely been moving more into keyboard territory. We started out with just guitars and then we had a Wurlitzer. Now there is whole lot of keyboards like four onstage when we play live. We also tour with drummers now. I used to play and sing at the same time but now it frees me to do other things so now its just me and the microphone.
DRE: How is that?
NS: Now I have enough wind to sing and it allows me to play keyboard sometimes. Also I get to walk around and interact with the crowd more.
DRE: How did you guys get hooked up with your label, Star Time?
NS: We were the first release on their label. They also had The Walkmens first record. The owner, Isaac Green, was very diligent about coming to our shows and establishing a relationship with us. We committed to doing two records and this is our second. We actually had a hand in their A & R because a lot of the bands they ended up signing came through us in one way or another. The Walkmen are old friends of ours and they were looking for a label so I guess we had something to do with it.
DRE: So are you royalty at Star Time now?
NS: Nah were old hat.
DRE: Obviously things have been going well. I even saw that you were the house band on Last Call with Carson Daly, whats he like?
NS: Its hard to tell what hes into as far as music. It was fine though because it was a funny thing to do. We did some dumb covers and incidental music.
DRE: How was playing for an entire month at The Mercury Lounge?
NS: It was great because it was something we wanted to do for a while just to reintroduce ourselves as a five piece unit back to New York because its basically our home town.
DRE: How did it feel coming back to New York?
NS: Well we came back to live here but this was the first time weve played in New York by ourselves and not supporting other people. It seems like people have loosened up.
DRE: How does the band get along?
NS: For the most part we get along really well.
DRE: Do you and your brother argue more than anyone else or do you team up on other people?
NS: There is a shorthand between us.
DRE: Are you older or younger?
NS: Older.
DRE: Right, I know how it is, I have an older brother. Shorthand equals back of the hand.
I read that one your worst gigs was in a basement of a bookstore in Athens, Georgia.
NS: Oh yeah, we drove nine hours to play in a basement and only the promoter was there. We got paid five dollars.
DRE: Your website seems to really be fan oriented.
NS: Matt does the website and hes very diligent about it. Generally with our band there is something personal about us. I think its the way the music is.
DRE: Since you and Josh are the main writers, are there things in the lyrics that you might have to explain to the other guys?
NS: They dont ask.
DRE: Are you telling stories?
NS: They are all about real things that have really happened or in some cases its slightly abstract observations.
DRE: Like what?
NS: I like to leave it up to interpretation for the listeners because its more fun.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official website for French Kicks
Daniel Robert Epstein: Is the new album about OJ Simpson?
Nick Stumpf: [laughs] Thats the second time Ive been asked that question today.
DRE: Was it funnier when I said it?
NS: You delivered it much better. He asked me if I thought OJ did it. But no the album isnt about OJ Simpson.
DRE: What does that title mean?
NS: It sort of pertains to the theme of many of the songs and also the general theme of our life as a band. Its also a bit tongue in cheek.
DRE: What inspired the album?
NS: This is just what we do. Writing songs is the whole point so when we get the chance to do that, we do it.
DRE: Whats the writing process for you guys?
NS: Its a lot of home recording on eight tracks. Its mainly me and Josh working out ideas then editing the shit out of them.
DRE: You guys sit there and jam then edit that.
NS: We actually dont do too much jamming. Its more about having simple ideas that we build onto. We start with that idea with one instrument then there is a lot of layering. It goes vertically then horizontally we make an arrangement then the melody is the last thing. Often I just improvise many different melodies then we choose the best one. It may be like jamming because we like to save the first thing we do but then there is also a pretty ruthless editing process.
DRE: A few people have compared you to certain bands like Television and Big Star, and then I read that you hate those bands.
NS: Yeah, I feel like Television is the go to band for people to compare bands to. Every band that has ever been written about has been compared to Television. The reason I think is because they combine simple one note at a time guitar parts as opposed to playing chords. We are very much into that but I dont dislike those bands. I dont like Big Star very much at all but Television I had a very brief tepid relationship with.
DRE: There are a few quotation websites out there that youre on.
NS: Someone pointed that out to me and Ive never been prouder.
DRE: Its all about England on brainyquote.com and quotationreference.com.
NS: Awesome.
DRE: Were those things taken out of context?
NS: No we used to do this advice column on our website. People mainly write in about relationship stuff and we sort of fuck around. We make up answers to amuse ourselves in the van. That one quote is from some ex-models who were going to England and what should they expect. That was my response.
DRE: Do you guys feel like there is a lot of synthesizers in your music?
NS: I think weve definitely been moving more into keyboard territory. We started out with just guitars and then we had a Wurlitzer. Now there is whole lot of keyboards like four onstage when we play live. We also tour with drummers now. I used to play and sing at the same time but now it frees me to do other things so now its just me and the microphone.
DRE: How is that?
NS: Now I have enough wind to sing and it allows me to play keyboard sometimes. Also I get to walk around and interact with the crowd more.
DRE: How did you guys get hooked up with your label, Star Time?
NS: We were the first release on their label. They also had The Walkmens first record. The owner, Isaac Green, was very diligent about coming to our shows and establishing a relationship with us. We committed to doing two records and this is our second. We actually had a hand in their A & R because a lot of the bands they ended up signing came through us in one way or another. The Walkmen are old friends of ours and they were looking for a label so I guess we had something to do with it.
DRE: So are you royalty at Star Time now?
NS: Nah were old hat.
DRE: Obviously things have been going well. I even saw that you were the house band on Last Call with Carson Daly, whats he like?
NS: Its hard to tell what hes into as far as music. It was fine though because it was a funny thing to do. We did some dumb covers and incidental music.
DRE: How was playing for an entire month at The Mercury Lounge?
NS: It was great because it was something we wanted to do for a while just to reintroduce ourselves as a five piece unit back to New York because its basically our home town.
DRE: How did it feel coming back to New York?
NS: Well we came back to live here but this was the first time weve played in New York by ourselves and not supporting other people. It seems like people have loosened up.
DRE: How does the band get along?
NS: For the most part we get along really well.
DRE: Do you and your brother argue more than anyone else or do you team up on other people?
NS: There is a shorthand between us.
DRE: Are you older or younger?
NS: Older.
DRE: Right, I know how it is, I have an older brother. Shorthand equals back of the hand.
I read that one your worst gigs was in a basement of a bookstore in Athens, Georgia.
NS: Oh yeah, we drove nine hours to play in a basement and only the promoter was there. We got paid five dollars.
DRE: Your website seems to really be fan oriented.
NS: Matt does the website and hes very diligent about it. Generally with our band there is something personal about us. I think its the way the music is.
DRE: Since you and Josh are the main writers, are there things in the lyrics that you might have to explain to the other guys?
NS: They dont ask.
DRE: Are you telling stories?
NS: They are all about real things that have really happened or in some cases its slightly abstract observations.
DRE: Like what?
NS: I like to leave it up to interpretation for the listeners because its more fun.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
franklin:
Well, since there are no comments, I might as well come out and say I love the French Kicks. Their new album is one of highlights of my life.
monica:
i ♥ the french kicks