I remember when I first got to college and within the first week there I heard more interesting and fantastic music than I had ever heard in all my years before that. Trampoline Records, which is the creation of Pete Yorn, Rami Jaffee, and Marc Dauer, are positioning themselves as that junior in college who says that every CD you brought with you is shit and that you should throw them out. You know what? That young junior was right because when I became a junior in college I told the same thing to all the new freshman. Of course I still had shitty taste in music but I hated those young fucks.
Its been less than a year since Trampoline Records first started but theyve already released two greatest hits albums. Theyre releasing albums from many of their favorite bands who have never been able to get a break and also new upcoming bands like Nadine, The Hangups, Buva, Flotilla, The Freemasons and of course the Oscar nominated star of Good Will Hunting, Minnie Driver.
I got chance to talk to one of the hottest young singer/songwriters and co-founder of Trampoline, Pete Yorn. Yorn is from the backwoods of New Jersey and first broke onto the scene with his first studio album on Columbia Records called Day I Forgot, which was quickly followed up by the critically acclaimed, musicforthemorningafter. Since then he has contributed hit songs to movies like Igby Goes Down, Spider-Man and Me, Myself & Irene.
You can hear the excitement in Yorns voice when talking about Trampoline. Once certain artists get their big break many move on and forget their where they came from. Not Yorn, this is his chance to give back to the thing that has given him so much, good music.
Check out the website for Trampoline Records
Daniel Robert Epstein: What are you up to?
Pete Yorn: At the moment just hanging out.
DRE: Why did you guys decide to put together Trampoline Records?
PY: I think it started because we had so many friends around town who were making good homegrown music and we wanted to put it all together, put it all out and let people hear it. That was the impetus to start the label. Since then its evolved to a lot of people we didnt know before we heard their music.
DRE: Is it a lot more work than you expected?
PY: Not yet. So far everything having to do with it has been pretty fun. Not stressful at all just fun things like putting stuff together, working with bands, meeting a lot of musicians and sharing ideas with them.
DRE: Was it a big kick to put out a greatest hits within the first month?
PY: Yeah the title was kind of a joke. It was a goof that we called it The Greatest Hits Volume One.
DRE: No one seemed to pick up on that. They were just like Ok.
PY: [laughs] Yeah.
DRE: What do you see in bands like Nadine and Minibar that its up to you to put it out?
PY: Its not that I think its up to us to put it out but its just something we want to help promote and be a part of. So its really coming from that place. Minibar is an example of a band we loved for a while and we wanted to help out. Nadine is an example of a band that after we got that first compilation out there we started getting hundreds of CDs sent to us from all over the world.
DRE: Actually I have a stack here of my stuffIm just kidding.
PY: Hah. Nadine was music we had never heard before and had never heard of them. Im going through all the CDs we get, I found that one and I really liked it. It just worked out nicely.
DRE: Besides Nadine, how did you find the other bands? Is it stuff you hear when youre on the road or what?
PY: Sometimes. On Greatest Hits One it was bands that had one degree of separation from one of the three of us. But since then its come through travels, a lot of submissions and we still have a lot of friends who are making good music. At first it was just a great excuse to get together, play music and get inspired. We didnt know where it was going to evolve too; we were just having fun with it. Another reason we wanted to start the label is that goes back to another band we didnt know personally called The Hangups. Were putting out their fourth studio record soon. Me and Doc, I call Marc Dauer Doc, I guess like four years ago I was a big fan of The Hangups. They were coming to town to play so we went to see them and were just big fans. Nothing was really going on with their label and now its amazing to me that were putting out their record.
DRE: Was this your chance to show your brothers that youre a businessman?
PY: I dont think that has anything to do with it. They know Im a businessman no Im just kidding. They want me to focus on music.
DRE: Is Trampoline Records still looking for more distribution?
PY: Yeah still trying to find wide distribution. Were actually in the middle of making that happen.
DRE: Has this experience changed the way you deal with your label that puts out your music?
PY: No not at all.
DRE: You dont feel like you understand where they are coming from when they do something you dont like.
PY: As far as that aspect I think it has. Two years ago before I put out a record I had no understanding of the music business at all. I was always just like Great. After setting up Trampoline I feel like Ive learned a lot. Ive always been a compassionate person anyway.
DRE: I read that one of your goals is to expose the world to good music. There is never a time when were getting enough good music. But do you feel like this is time when we are especially not getting good music?
PY: Well there is a lot of great music out there but sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to find it.
DRE: Are you trying to make it a little easier for those people?
PY: Yeah for people who are interested in that sort of thing.
DRE: I read some quote where you said that some cute little blonde girl turned you on to good music like The Smiths.
PY: Oh yeah.
DRE: Where is the cute blond girl now?
PY: I have no idea. I was 11 years old man but I hope shes well. I hope shes on Suicide Girls. That would be great. It could have very well gone that way. A Smiths fan could be on Suicide Girls.
DRE: Are you a fan of Suicide Girls?
PY: Someone told me about it a while ago. So I checked it out when they mentioned doing this interview.
DRE: We can get you a membership if you want.
PY: Yeah that be great. Do it up.
DRE: When youre in a relationship do you ever cause some trouble in order to shake some songs out of you or does it do fine on its own?
PY: Im not one to create drama for the sake of that. Usually if its going to happen it happens naturally. I dont think thats fair.
DRE: Not to her.
PY: Not to anybody.
DRE: Are you with someone now?
PY: No Im single.
DRE: Hows songwriting going then?
PY: I have plenty to write about.
DRE: Wheres it coming from right now?
PY: Shit thats going on around me.
DRE: Are you really going to do a Live in Berlin CD?
PY: Ive actually switched it to Live from New Jersey. I just changed the name. No Im just kidding.
I was excited to do the Live in Berlin but I was waiting for the recording to come back. It showed up, they only recorded it on like this bad recorder and the Jersey shows sound so much better. Our last Jersey show was the last show of the tour so it was special.
DRE: Do people you know show up at the hometown shows?
PY: Yeah a lot of kids from high school and some friends from years ago. That was cool to see.
DRE: Anyone that used to pick on you?
PY: No theyre probably dead.
DRE: I was just on Suicide Girls today and someone mentioned that you were a production assistant on a movie.
PY: Yeah I was a production assistant on a couple of movies. Particularly films from a company called Jersey Films [Danny DeVitos company].
DRE: Which films?
PY: Not Pulp Fiction. I was still in college for that one. Lets see a movie called Living Out Loud which was directed by Richard LaGravenese. I was an extra in it too. The first AD was like We need two people. you get in there. Theres a scene where Holly Hunter and Queen Latifah are sitting at a bar. There I am in the background just moving my mouth like Im talking but Im not talking. At the time I was obsessed with going to Bali so I think I ended up talking about that but even now I still havent gone to Bali. We were just talking shit; I saw it and it looked really bad. I was moving my mouth really bad, it wasnt subtle at all.
DRE: Is the Trampoline DVD going to happen?
PY: Yeah I just saw the final DVD version last night with all the menus on it and everything. It came out really nice, Im really happy with it. So thats coming soon.
DRE: What is on it exactly?
PY: Its kind of a compilation of these two House of Blues shows we did. It was called The Trampoline Records review it was kind of like the old Rolling Thunder Review where all the bands on the compilation came down and we all played about three songs. Then everyone jammed together so it was a fun night with a sold out crowd. We compiled tape from the two nights and put it on the DVD.
DRE: Did I hear about Minnie Driver doing an album for you?
PY: Minnie is on the new compilation.
DRE: That must have been interesting. Were you surprised she could sing?
PY: Well Ive known her for a few years but I didnt know that she had that much of an interest in music. While I was away she started working with Doc and Rami on a record. They kind of worked with her in the studio. I stopped by Docs and she was there. It sounded great. She has a really nice voice. Shes really talented so she can do anything.
DRE: I saw some weird quote from someone where they said that youve been working with the saucy chameleon Liz Phair.
PY: Saucy chameleon?
DRE: Yeah I dont know what that means either. Did you find her saucy?
PY: Did I say that?
DRE: Oh no.
PY: That does sound like something I would say as a joke. But Liz is quite saucy though.
DRE: Which means what?
PY: I dont know [laughs]. I never knew what saucy meant.
But working with Liz was very cool. As far as what we did with her record it was a while back early 2002. I just played some drums, we hung out and since then weve become good friends. Shes touring right now, super busy which is good but weve become pals.
DRE: There has been a little controversy with Lizs newest album because shes working with Avril Lavignes producers.
PY: Yeah The Matrix.
DRE: What do you think her working with them?
PY: I think she did what she wanted to do. She wanted to explore that. Thats cool. Thats her thing.
DRE: I read something that when you got music for the morning after on vinyl and put it on your record player you and your brother said Ahhhh. It never sounded better."
PY: Yeah we were psyched to hear it on vinyl.
DRE: How old are you?
PY: Im 29 already. I turned 29 in July.
DRE: My birthday is in July too. When is yours?
PY: July 27.
DRE: Im July 4th.
PY: My brother is July 4th.
DRE: Whatd you do on your last birthday?
PY: What did I do on my birthday?
DRE: Sounds like you were drinking.
PY: No I was out. Hmmm. Thats bad I cant remember. I know I was in the Hamptons a week later and we had a big party. But Im trying to think of my actual birthday what I did. Wow I cant remember thats horrible.
DRE: Back to the vinyl thing its good to hear people actually caring about vinyl.
PY: We love records. We respect a good album side. CDs and iPods are great, but I like sitting back and hearing a whole album side without skipping around. With iPods well get on the bus after a show, were driving and we plug it into the stereo system. But youll be halfway through a song, youre scrolling through and youll stop and switch to a new record. You keep skipping around and you dont hear a whole song anymore. I guess its the state of mind youre in but with the iPod I just keep skipping around.
DRE: I was talking to someone about 8-tracks recently and they told me that the songs come in blocks of four and if you wanted to hear your favorite song you had to sit through 3 other songs.
PY: Yeah and then there is different channels on the 8-track. So there is a button you can press that will put it on the other side of the tape or something and you hear the other four songs. Sometimes you have to listen halfway through one track and then hit the button to get to the other song on the other side.
DRE: On one tour I heard you were drinking a lot of whiskey.
PY: Thats all the tours.
DRE: What kind of whiskey do you drink?
PY: I started off with Jack Daniels then moved on to Johnnie Walker Black.
DRE: Does the music come out different with different brands?
PY: No it all does its job I guess. There is the whiskey nights then the beer nights. Then theres both.
DRE: What happens on the both nights? I guess you wake up and dont know what happened on your birthday.
PY: Yeah [laughs]. I really dont think my birthday was anything special but I cant remember. I hate that. Now Im going to have to call someone to ask them what happened on my birthday.
All my birthdays in my early 20s were simple. We would just go to Benihanas. I would bring my family and two friends to eat green tea ice cream.
DRE: Id be afraid of the guy with the knives.
Did you grow up in a metropolitan place in New Jersey?
PY: No it was kind of a rural town. Now all the woods we used to play in have been turned into houses. Its kind of building up quick. Its becoming a popular suburb of New York.
DRE: What was the name of the town?
PY: [indiscernible]ville.
DRE: Mobville?
PY: Kind of. No its Montville. It is referenced in the Sopranos. Where I lived right up the street there was a bunch of horse stables. A lot of woods and not much going.
DRE: Did you have one of those points where all the kids went to go drink?
PY: Yeah it was called The Glen. I remember going out there a few times to drink and its in the middle of nowhere basically it was the woods. I dont know why it was called The Glen.
DRE: Whats coming up?
PY: Just yesterday I finished mastering the live record. 20 songs two discs. Also right now Im working on the material for my fourth record.
DRE: Whats your process for writing?
PY: It changes from song to song or inspiration. My inspiration for writing usually comes when Im at home and Im able to get into my normal lifestyle of just hanging out and playing music with my friends. As opposed to touring. Touring gives me life experience but I dont want to write until I get home.
DRE: So you play like four or five different instruments.
PY: Something like that. Ill play whatever you put in front of me.
DRE: Were you like a child prodigy with instruments?
PY: No the thing is Im not that good with any of them but Im able to play them. I cant read music. I just hear and feel it.
DRE: Whats your favorite?
PY: Probably drums. But I love guitar and I want to get better at piano. Thats the one I consistently find myself wanting to focus on.
DRE: You have a favorite musician who plays the piano?
PY: The kid who plays in my band is one of my favorites, Joe Kennedy. I like that guy, Vince Guaraldi, who does all the Peanuts cartoons. I like the way the Snoopy Christmas song makes me feel.
DRE: What would you be if you didnt get your feelings out through music, a serial killer?
PY: [laughs] I dont know what I would do. This is the way Ive been my whole life, always on my wing.
DRE: If I had to guess I would say you were a moody teenager.
PY: Yeah sometimes.
DRE: Would you say you are about the same now?
PY: No back then I didnt have life experiences or perspective which Im still hoping to gain more of. When youre 21 you think you know everything then were 25 you realize you dont know anything. It keeps evolving.
DRE: What happens when youre 29?
PY: I dont think I know everything. Im excited to learn and experience stuff.
DRE: Whats your favorite candy?
PY: Nerds Rope.
DRE: Whats that?
PY: Fucking awesome. Its kind of long cherry licorice with Nerds stuck all over it. They have them at the movie theatres.
DRE: I havent seen that in New York.
PY: Thats great.
DRE: You have any tattoos?
PY: Nope. I went through a period where I really wanted when I was drunk on the Santa Monica Pier and this henna artist gave me a henna tattoo. I liked it and I was going to get a real tattoo. I pulled up in front of the tattoo parlor and was like, fuck it I dont want it.
DRE: What was it going to be?
PY: This circle with these lines in it on my arm. It almost looked like floppy pizza pie.
DRE: Im glad you didnt do it.
Who would win in a fight between you and John Mayer?
PY: Boy I dont know. Hes really tall. He might have the reach on me.
DRE: Were you ever a fighter?
PY: I try to avoid that stuff.
Why do you want to see John Mayer and me fight?
DRE: I just think it would be really funny. But I see no reason for you guys to fight to please me.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Its been less than a year since Trampoline Records first started but theyve already released two greatest hits albums. Theyre releasing albums from many of their favorite bands who have never been able to get a break and also new upcoming bands like Nadine, The Hangups, Buva, Flotilla, The Freemasons and of course the Oscar nominated star of Good Will Hunting, Minnie Driver.
I got chance to talk to one of the hottest young singer/songwriters and co-founder of Trampoline, Pete Yorn. Yorn is from the backwoods of New Jersey and first broke onto the scene with his first studio album on Columbia Records called Day I Forgot, which was quickly followed up by the critically acclaimed, musicforthemorningafter. Since then he has contributed hit songs to movies like Igby Goes Down, Spider-Man and Me, Myself & Irene.
You can hear the excitement in Yorns voice when talking about Trampoline. Once certain artists get their big break many move on and forget their where they came from. Not Yorn, this is his chance to give back to the thing that has given him so much, good music.
Check out the website for Trampoline Records
Daniel Robert Epstein: What are you up to?
Pete Yorn: At the moment just hanging out.
DRE: Why did you guys decide to put together Trampoline Records?
PY: I think it started because we had so many friends around town who were making good homegrown music and we wanted to put it all together, put it all out and let people hear it. That was the impetus to start the label. Since then its evolved to a lot of people we didnt know before we heard their music.
DRE: Is it a lot more work than you expected?
PY: Not yet. So far everything having to do with it has been pretty fun. Not stressful at all just fun things like putting stuff together, working with bands, meeting a lot of musicians and sharing ideas with them.
DRE: Was it a big kick to put out a greatest hits within the first month?
PY: Yeah the title was kind of a joke. It was a goof that we called it The Greatest Hits Volume One.
DRE: No one seemed to pick up on that. They were just like Ok.
PY: [laughs] Yeah.
DRE: What do you see in bands like Nadine and Minibar that its up to you to put it out?
PY: Its not that I think its up to us to put it out but its just something we want to help promote and be a part of. So its really coming from that place. Minibar is an example of a band we loved for a while and we wanted to help out. Nadine is an example of a band that after we got that first compilation out there we started getting hundreds of CDs sent to us from all over the world.
DRE: Actually I have a stack here of my stuffIm just kidding.
PY: Hah. Nadine was music we had never heard before and had never heard of them. Im going through all the CDs we get, I found that one and I really liked it. It just worked out nicely.
DRE: Besides Nadine, how did you find the other bands? Is it stuff you hear when youre on the road or what?
PY: Sometimes. On Greatest Hits One it was bands that had one degree of separation from one of the three of us. But since then its come through travels, a lot of submissions and we still have a lot of friends who are making good music. At first it was just a great excuse to get together, play music and get inspired. We didnt know where it was going to evolve too; we were just having fun with it. Another reason we wanted to start the label is that goes back to another band we didnt know personally called The Hangups. Were putting out their fourth studio record soon. Me and Doc, I call Marc Dauer Doc, I guess like four years ago I was a big fan of The Hangups. They were coming to town to play so we went to see them and were just big fans. Nothing was really going on with their label and now its amazing to me that were putting out their record.
DRE: Was this your chance to show your brothers that youre a businessman?
PY: I dont think that has anything to do with it. They know Im a businessman no Im just kidding. They want me to focus on music.
DRE: Is Trampoline Records still looking for more distribution?
PY: Yeah still trying to find wide distribution. Were actually in the middle of making that happen.
DRE: Has this experience changed the way you deal with your label that puts out your music?
PY: No not at all.
DRE: You dont feel like you understand where they are coming from when they do something you dont like.
PY: As far as that aspect I think it has. Two years ago before I put out a record I had no understanding of the music business at all. I was always just like Great. After setting up Trampoline I feel like Ive learned a lot. Ive always been a compassionate person anyway.
DRE: I read that one of your goals is to expose the world to good music. There is never a time when were getting enough good music. But do you feel like this is time when we are especially not getting good music?
PY: Well there is a lot of great music out there but sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to find it.
DRE: Are you trying to make it a little easier for those people?
PY: Yeah for people who are interested in that sort of thing.
DRE: I read some quote where you said that some cute little blonde girl turned you on to good music like The Smiths.
PY: Oh yeah.
DRE: Where is the cute blond girl now?
PY: I have no idea. I was 11 years old man but I hope shes well. I hope shes on Suicide Girls. That would be great. It could have very well gone that way. A Smiths fan could be on Suicide Girls.
DRE: Are you a fan of Suicide Girls?
PY: Someone told me about it a while ago. So I checked it out when they mentioned doing this interview.
DRE: We can get you a membership if you want.
PY: Yeah that be great. Do it up.
DRE: When youre in a relationship do you ever cause some trouble in order to shake some songs out of you or does it do fine on its own?
PY: Im not one to create drama for the sake of that. Usually if its going to happen it happens naturally. I dont think thats fair.
DRE: Not to her.
PY: Not to anybody.
DRE: Are you with someone now?
PY: No Im single.
DRE: Hows songwriting going then?
PY: I have plenty to write about.
DRE: Wheres it coming from right now?
PY: Shit thats going on around me.
DRE: Are you really going to do a Live in Berlin CD?
PY: Ive actually switched it to Live from New Jersey. I just changed the name. No Im just kidding.
I was excited to do the Live in Berlin but I was waiting for the recording to come back. It showed up, they only recorded it on like this bad recorder and the Jersey shows sound so much better. Our last Jersey show was the last show of the tour so it was special.
DRE: Do people you know show up at the hometown shows?
PY: Yeah a lot of kids from high school and some friends from years ago. That was cool to see.
DRE: Anyone that used to pick on you?
PY: No theyre probably dead.
DRE: I was just on Suicide Girls today and someone mentioned that you were a production assistant on a movie.
PY: Yeah I was a production assistant on a couple of movies. Particularly films from a company called Jersey Films [Danny DeVitos company].
DRE: Which films?
PY: Not Pulp Fiction. I was still in college for that one. Lets see a movie called Living Out Loud which was directed by Richard LaGravenese. I was an extra in it too. The first AD was like We need two people. you get in there. Theres a scene where Holly Hunter and Queen Latifah are sitting at a bar. There I am in the background just moving my mouth like Im talking but Im not talking. At the time I was obsessed with going to Bali so I think I ended up talking about that but even now I still havent gone to Bali. We were just talking shit; I saw it and it looked really bad. I was moving my mouth really bad, it wasnt subtle at all.
DRE: Is the Trampoline DVD going to happen?
PY: Yeah I just saw the final DVD version last night with all the menus on it and everything. It came out really nice, Im really happy with it. So thats coming soon.
DRE: What is on it exactly?
PY: Its kind of a compilation of these two House of Blues shows we did. It was called The Trampoline Records review it was kind of like the old Rolling Thunder Review where all the bands on the compilation came down and we all played about three songs. Then everyone jammed together so it was a fun night with a sold out crowd. We compiled tape from the two nights and put it on the DVD.
DRE: Did I hear about Minnie Driver doing an album for you?
PY: Minnie is on the new compilation.
DRE: That must have been interesting. Were you surprised she could sing?
PY: Well Ive known her for a few years but I didnt know that she had that much of an interest in music. While I was away she started working with Doc and Rami on a record. They kind of worked with her in the studio. I stopped by Docs and she was there. It sounded great. She has a really nice voice. Shes really talented so she can do anything.
DRE: I saw some weird quote from someone where they said that youve been working with the saucy chameleon Liz Phair.
PY: Saucy chameleon?
DRE: Yeah I dont know what that means either. Did you find her saucy?
PY: Did I say that?
DRE: Oh no.
PY: That does sound like something I would say as a joke. But Liz is quite saucy though.
DRE: Which means what?
PY: I dont know [laughs]. I never knew what saucy meant.
But working with Liz was very cool. As far as what we did with her record it was a while back early 2002. I just played some drums, we hung out and since then weve become good friends. Shes touring right now, super busy which is good but weve become pals.
DRE: There has been a little controversy with Lizs newest album because shes working with Avril Lavignes producers.
PY: Yeah The Matrix.
DRE: What do you think her working with them?
PY: I think she did what she wanted to do. She wanted to explore that. Thats cool. Thats her thing.
DRE: I read something that when you got music for the morning after on vinyl and put it on your record player you and your brother said Ahhhh. It never sounded better."
PY: Yeah we were psyched to hear it on vinyl.
DRE: How old are you?
PY: Im 29 already. I turned 29 in July.
DRE: My birthday is in July too. When is yours?
PY: July 27.
DRE: Im July 4th.
PY: My brother is July 4th.
DRE: Whatd you do on your last birthday?
PY: What did I do on my birthday?
DRE: Sounds like you were drinking.
PY: No I was out. Hmmm. Thats bad I cant remember. I know I was in the Hamptons a week later and we had a big party. But Im trying to think of my actual birthday what I did. Wow I cant remember thats horrible.
DRE: Back to the vinyl thing its good to hear people actually caring about vinyl.
PY: We love records. We respect a good album side. CDs and iPods are great, but I like sitting back and hearing a whole album side without skipping around. With iPods well get on the bus after a show, were driving and we plug it into the stereo system. But youll be halfway through a song, youre scrolling through and youll stop and switch to a new record. You keep skipping around and you dont hear a whole song anymore. I guess its the state of mind youre in but with the iPod I just keep skipping around.
DRE: I was talking to someone about 8-tracks recently and they told me that the songs come in blocks of four and if you wanted to hear your favorite song you had to sit through 3 other songs.
PY: Yeah and then there is different channels on the 8-track. So there is a button you can press that will put it on the other side of the tape or something and you hear the other four songs. Sometimes you have to listen halfway through one track and then hit the button to get to the other song on the other side.
DRE: On one tour I heard you were drinking a lot of whiskey.
PY: Thats all the tours.
DRE: What kind of whiskey do you drink?
PY: I started off with Jack Daniels then moved on to Johnnie Walker Black.
DRE: Does the music come out different with different brands?
PY: No it all does its job I guess. There is the whiskey nights then the beer nights. Then theres both.
DRE: What happens on the both nights? I guess you wake up and dont know what happened on your birthday.
PY: Yeah [laughs]. I really dont think my birthday was anything special but I cant remember. I hate that. Now Im going to have to call someone to ask them what happened on my birthday.
All my birthdays in my early 20s were simple. We would just go to Benihanas. I would bring my family and two friends to eat green tea ice cream.
DRE: Id be afraid of the guy with the knives.
Did you grow up in a metropolitan place in New Jersey?
PY: No it was kind of a rural town. Now all the woods we used to play in have been turned into houses. Its kind of building up quick. Its becoming a popular suburb of New York.
DRE: What was the name of the town?
PY: [indiscernible]ville.
DRE: Mobville?
PY: Kind of. No its Montville. It is referenced in the Sopranos. Where I lived right up the street there was a bunch of horse stables. A lot of woods and not much going.
DRE: Did you have one of those points where all the kids went to go drink?
PY: Yeah it was called The Glen. I remember going out there a few times to drink and its in the middle of nowhere basically it was the woods. I dont know why it was called The Glen.
DRE: Whats coming up?
PY: Just yesterday I finished mastering the live record. 20 songs two discs. Also right now Im working on the material for my fourth record.
DRE: Whats your process for writing?
PY: It changes from song to song or inspiration. My inspiration for writing usually comes when Im at home and Im able to get into my normal lifestyle of just hanging out and playing music with my friends. As opposed to touring. Touring gives me life experience but I dont want to write until I get home.
DRE: So you play like four or five different instruments.
PY: Something like that. Ill play whatever you put in front of me.
DRE: Were you like a child prodigy with instruments?
PY: No the thing is Im not that good with any of them but Im able to play them. I cant read music. I just hear and feel it.
DRE: Whats your favorite?
PY: Probably drums. But I love guitar and I want to get better at piano. Thats the one I consistently find myself wanting to focus on.
DRE: You have a favorite musician who plays the piano?
PY: The kid who plays in my band is one of my favorites, Joe Kennedy. I like that guy, Vince Guaraldi, who does all the Peanuts cartoons. I like the way the Snoopy Christmas song makes me feel.
DRE: What would you be if you didnt get your feelings out through music, a serial killer?
PY: [laughs] I dont know what I would do. This is the way Ive been my whole life, always on my wing.
DRE: If I had to guess I would say you were a moody teenager.
PY: Yeah sometimes.
DRE: Would you say you are about the same now?
PY: No back then I didnt have life experiences or perspective which Im still hoping to gain more of. When youre 21 you think you know everything then were 25 you realize you dont know anything. It keeps evolving.
DRE: What happens when youre 29?
PY: I dont think I know everything. Im excited to learn and experience stuff.
DRE: Whats your favorite candy?
PY: Nerds Rope.
DRE: Whats that?
PY: Fucking awesome. Its kind of long cherry licorice with Nerds stuck all over it. They have them at the movie theatres.
DRE: I havent seen that in New York.
PY: Thats great.
DRE: You have any tattoos?
PY: Nope. I went through a period where I really wanted when I was drunk on the Santa Monica Pier and this henna artist gave me a henna tattoo. I liked it and I was going to get a real tattoo. I pulled up in front of the tattoo parlor and was like, fuck it I dont want it.
DRE: What was it going to be?
PY: This circle with these lines in it on my arm. It almost looked like floppy pizza pie.
DRE: Im glad you didnt do it.
Who would win in a fight between you and John Mayer?
PY: Boy I dont know. Hes really tall. He might have the reach on me.
DRE: Were you ever a fighter?
PY: I try to avoid that stuff.
Why do you want to see John Mayer and me fight?
DRE: I just think it would be really funny. But I see no reason for you guys to fight to please me.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 7 of 7 COMMENTS
jason said:
pete so yorny.
Yorny?
I am not sure I want to know what you mean.
2 live crew.
i know its bad but it was like a communal tick amongst..., right when the first one came out.