Imagine you’re a member of a rock band. A band so influential, that your work created an entirely new genre. A genre which defined contemporary music for a whole generation of listeners. Then, imagine that despite extraordinary critical and popular acclaim, your band broke up. Imagine that your band’s disappearance actually increased its legend and influence to the point that popular demand forced you to reunite. And after a 13 year hiatus, your band became more popular than ever before. Now imagine, 14 years after returning to the scene, you’re back in the studio recording a new album, to build on your legacy and take your place at the forefront of the genre you created. Imagine – you are a member - of the Pixies.
Imagine you’re a member of a rock band. A band so influential, that your work created an entirely new genre. A genre which defined contemporary music for a whole generation of listeners. Then, imagine that despite extraordinary critical and popular acclaim, your band broke up. Imagine that your band’s disappearance actually increased its legend and influence to the point that popular demand forced you to reunite. And after a 13 year hiatus, your band became more popular than ever before. Now imagine, 14 years after returning to the scene, you’re back in the studio recording a new album, to build on your legacy and take your place at the forefront of the genre you created. Imagine – you are a member - of the Pixies.
'Its a Pixies Podcast' an unmissable podcast series coming in June. As Pixies create their new album at Dreamland studios near Woodstock, NY, acclaimed music journalist Tony Fletcher reveals their story. Through daily conversations and a forensic examination of their past, Tony discovers their creative ambition and drive remain as relevant – and weird – as ever.
The album's guiding spirit, Tom Dalgety, discusses his multifaceted role as producer, mentor, father confessor and chief of time management. Charles finds his ‘thinking stick’, compares creating a song with making the perfect sandwich and claims “This is the part of the recording process that kind of kills the soul”. Joey, on the other hand is “…thinking too much”.
German beer halls are invoked, a custom-made vampire tooth guitar makes it’s presence felt, Paz reveals the history of her bass flower as well as the secret to staying on the click, Dave goes bird watching and unearths the inspiration for the album's title and Charles and Tom find themselves on different pages about the guitar sound.
Someone’s up for 2 Grammy’s, Charles has been up all night drinking with Paz, Joey has been up since dawn worrying about one particular song, Charles realizes he gave Joey the wrong chart, and Joey is trying to come up with something different.
Oh my God Tom Charles just wrote another one, Joey goes wild, Paz talks surfing and lyrics, Charles has James Taylor in his head, Tom’s capturing everything and anything, Charles explains his ‘intension’ and why he’s a snake, and everyone is “just sayin!”
In this episode: Dave explores science, metal detecting, skids ‘n jocks, a huge bag of weed, magic, electronic engineering, confidence, hunting and searching, UHF radio, scorpions, fluorescent minerals, bats, birds of prey, humming birds, RFI, meteors and satellites while Charles reveals the best way to eat cake.
Paz flies through her bass parts, adds some peculiar piano, sings, reflects on her childhood in Argentina and California and the influence of her parents, describes her classical training and her musical journey, expounds on her love of surfing and it’s impact on two songs on Beneath the Eyrie, and when it comes to taking a five minute break, Paz is calling it because… Paz is always right.
Charles reveals his creative outlet between Pixies albums, a couple of problem lyrics are resolved, the Eagles Greatest Hits make their influence felt, Captain Beefheart, David Vanian and Elvis all get a name check and Charles is instantly sold on Tom’s kooky shit.
It’s time for overdubs so Joey is really busy sprinkling arsenic icicles, the best Pixies cover band ever, the Joey Santiago technique for buying a guitar, the beauty of a Gilligan, the original intension for fuzz pedals - oh, and ....the notebook.
Tom is digging into his toolbox of tricks, Charles brings out his Broadway voice, Dave’s doing bells and whistles, Paz is on the Mellotron and there’s an actual kitchen sink being thrown in.
It began with Charles swerving to avoid a large deer, it gained Joey’s instant approval, involved a series of complex chord changes, needed a magic middle eight, required Dave to tune the Timpani and ended as the only ballad on Beneath the Erie. The story of ‘Daniel Boone’. A forensic exploration of how a very special song came to life.
Looking back at the days at Dreamland, looking forward to September 13 and the launch of Beneath the Eyrie, and looking ahead to a global tour and playing these songs to fans all around the world.
2022... Pixies return to the studio, as does 'It's a Pixies Podcast' for one special episode.
Renee M. Sweeney
I heard the new song, it felt just right. When will the podcast come out?