Let’s start by talking about your new CD; “Arms Around A Stranger”
is your first full-length release, and it includes a few tracks from
your EP, “Selections.” Why did you choose those four songs and leave
“Guns” off the full-length album?
We played around with the order and the sequence for so long that I’d
like to think we came up with the best order, but the truth is, you
never know. But there are some other songs that people haven’t heard
and hopefully we’ll be able to release them as b-sides.
What’s the difference between the previous versions of these songs,
and the current version on the new release? And can you also tell us a
bit about the new tracks you’ve added?
What we tried to do is make it as diverse as possible so there are some
more upbeat ones that people are hopefully familiar with because of our
selection with the EP. But there are some songs with even more
orchestration. There’s a song called “You Could End Up In Love” that
has a bit of a slow tempo type of vibe and then there’s the last song
on the record where we’re going places with different time signatures
that people haven’t heard at all from us so it’s all over the place,
but I mean that in the best way. You can tell that it’s us, but we
didn’t necessarily record the same songs twice.
Something that we hear with you guys that you don’t hear at all with
any other band is your use of the orchestra. How did you come up with
the idea to use horns, strings, and piano?
That’s just something that we wanted to do from the get go where we
wanted all kinds of orchestration but in different capacities that
that’s something that, in working with Jason, who was hired to write
the strings and horns for the record, there were things that we were
really attracted to. The scores that Jason wrote are all original
scores but with the direction that we sort of pointed him to. I really
think it just chalks up to having inspirations and not listening to the
same band over and over. It’s obvious that we like the Beach Boys and
the Beatles but we’re also fans of a bunch of different composers.
With the CD release slated for May 1st, do you have a big tour coming up to support the release?
We do, we do. I don’t know if it’s technically been announced but June
4th we’re heading out, I guess I can say it, we’re going out with Jesse
Malin for almost 2 months and we’re waiting to see what happens. But
I’m actually going to go play some shows with Owen in May before that
tour. We toured with him in November so we’ve become good friends so
I’m gonna fly out and meet him in Florida for some shows.
Since it’s a bit hard to pinpoint your sound… how would you describe your music?
The way that Dave Trumfio, who produced our record, describes us as
“orch-pop” which I’ve never even heard before and I had no idea what he
was talking about. He explained that “orch” is short for orchestral so
that’s what he called it… orchestral pop. It sounds a little indulgent
and pompous but I kinda like it actually. It’s very melodic pop songs
with lots of layers of instrumentation.
How did your prior music experience, both as Poulain and as a college DJ, help form the music you’re making now in Acute?
Yes, before I dropped out [laughs]. I grew up in Miami and there’s
where I spend most of my time, and that’s how I heard of a bunch of
bands like the Magnetic Fields. Even with the stuff I was doing there
[with Poulain] it was kind of in the same vein but even slower and a
little more dramatic maybe, but I never really got to see it through
for one reason or another… But I don’t know if there’s anything I did
then that I wouldn’t do now. It was a learning experience and I don’t
think that I was the songwriter then that I am now.
Now for the not-so-serious questions…
What other bands are you listening to right now?
I actually have been listening to “At home with Owen”, his latest and
my uncle has been feeding me classical music, so I’ve been listening to
Beethoven’s 9th trying to understand it a little more and I’ve just
watched the movie “Amadeus” so I’m listening to Mozart.
Pick one, plaid, stripes, or polka dots?
Stripes.
Favorite ice cream flavor?
I’ve actually developed a liking for it now [Isaac had recently had his
tonsils removed] and right now it would probably be Ben & Jerry’s
Chocolate Brownie Sundae but I’ve been trying to find Steven Colbert’s
new ice cream. I’ve looked everywhere and they don’t have it.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
The power of flight. I’d just fly around. I have dreams that I can do that sometime.
What is the craziest thing that you’ve ever seen a fan do?
They’ve thrown underwear at me… there’s this one time where we were
playing in L.A. and we were the last act at midnight and these ravers
from like 1996 started dancing with me, which isn’t so crazy, but it
was just odd because they were dressed like they were in a time warp.
It was so weird. You don’t think people really go to these things
anymore, but he looked like a giant leprechaun.
You’ve toured with bands like The Appleseed Cast and Copeland…. If
you could organize the ideal tour, which bands would join you?
Magnetic Fields, Rufus Wainwright, and Mike Consella [from Owen] in whatever capacity he wants to play.
What is your favorite song to perform?
Probably “Rush to It” or “When we’re Alone” they’re just fun because
they both just build and become really momentous. People seem to really
gravitate to those moments and that just makes it more rewarding.
Actually, we’ve just started playing “saints” live and I think that’s a
really beautiful song and I like being able to play it when people are
respectful and quiet enough to play it.
If you could travel back in time, which time period would you venture to?
Maybe when my parents were kids because it would be fun to see what
they were like. I guess it could be fun to go back and party with Marie
Antoinette. Wait, what am I saying? I’d go meet John Lennon and have
lunch with him.
Is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers and your fans?
Yes. The record comes out on May 1st so please buy it so we can make another one.
