Phillyist Interviews... Jarrod Gorbel

I know you have toured with other bands like Switchfoot in the past. Do you like touring with other bands or would you prefer to do your own headlining? I'm sure there are different crowds for different bands that you have toured with.
Yeah. We've done a little bit of headlining. We did the whole country as a headliner and that was awesome. It definitely was. We've done so many support tours.

Right.
We are a band that builds our following mainly through touring. We aren't on the radio so we rely on the internet and word-of-mouth. We didn't have the opportunity to put out the record and go headline. We wouldn't have made any money. But in our headlining tour, it was awesome. Definitely more fulfilling. But the tour is good and depending on the crowd and the genre. It's great to meet new bands. It's a different feeling, you know.

Are you going to do a headlining tour after your album is released or are you waiting to feel it out?
We are waiting but we have a bunch of support shows lined up. Pretty soon after we release the record we will probably end up headlining.

Cool. With the new record, what direction did you take it in? Is it pretty similar to the last record or is it completely different?
It's nothing like - crazy different. It is more of a band-sound. That's what we have evolved into. It started off just being Aaron and myself. Now we have a full band. It's more of a production. The songwriting is a little more focused. We had an awesome producer this time around, Rob Schnapf. But it's not that far-left from what was before. It still kinda makes sense. It still connects.

Is it the same band members that tour with you everywhere, or do you switch out and stuff?
No, we have the same band.

Oh cool, okay. Is it just you and Aaron doing the songwriting, or is it a collaboration between all of the band members? Does everyone have an input?
Most of the songs started with me and then go out to the group. It's kinda messed with that way and then it becomes more of a group thing.

Uh-uh. So how do you start writing a piece of music? Do you usually start with the lyrics or the music? Is it both? Random?
It's both. It's not really one pattern. I'll have lyrics; I'll have music. It's different all the time and there is no set way.

I noticed that you have been studying guitar since you were 13. Did you study music or has this been something you have done on the side?
Yeah - I never studied it, as in going to school for it. I have just been playing forever, you know in bands. I took guitar lessons when I was younger. I played piano when I was even younger.

You have never done it in a college sense or anything?
No.

I've tried to figure out what category of music - I'm not sure if there necessarily is one that you fit into - but how do you categorize your music?
Um...I don't know. It's like Indie-Rock, a bit poppy in a subtle sort of way. It's got folk in it. There's a little punk involved. There is some Brit-Pop influenced - some Americana. I don't know. It's hard for me to describe.

Yeah - I was trying to pinpoint it too and I was like, "I'm not really sure." Do you have a release date for the CD?
It's coming out in June. I don't know the specific date yet. But definitely in June.

You have any favorite tracks off that album or is it still kinda new to you?
Nah it's old to me. I guess a song called, "Far More" and "Stay Away" are two of my favorites.

Now do you do mostly acoustic-based stuff on the CD or do you use any electronicism?
There's not much use of electronicism like digital rhythms or anything like that on it. But, electric guitar, yeah. There is fair-share of acoustic in there.

Okay. Is that you playing or you have an electric guitarist?
Yeah, we have - I play guitar and sing. John and Aaron plays bass and keyboards. John plays organs and guitar. Max plays drums. Everyone sings back-up on it.

Very cool. Is everyone then located in New York?
Yeah we all live in Brooklyn.

I'm curious - if you had to collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Um..... [long pause] I have no idea. I mean....I don't know. I can't really say. I would have to think about that for awhile. I don't know people who I am really a fan of. I don't know if I could make something sound good if I sat in a room with someone. It's hard to say.

What kind of music are you interested in?
I listen to a lot of Indie-Rock, bands like Arcade Fire, Annual, and Ryan Adams. I also like classic Soul music like Urethra [awkward pause...and laughing] - I mean Aretha [Franklin].

We are definitely looking forward to your show on Friday night.
Are you going to be there?

Definitely. Definitely going to be there.
Cool.

Yeah. I am a music teacher and one of my 9th grade students introduced me to your band and since then I have been hooked. When I had the opportunity to do this I was definitely all over it.
That's really cool that your student introduced you to us.

Yeah! Thanks for letting us interview you.
No problem. See you at the show.

Great! See you Friday.