Pinsky Interview
Tell me the story behind the music. How did you get started?
Jeff: Pete and Andre have known each other forever. They grew up within spitting distance of each other so the seeds were sown early. They started a band called Local Nothing with their good friend Adam Croteau. Years later after the band had lost some of its steam, the three of them moved in together in downtown Portland. I had moved into town around the same time and met Andre at a Starting Line show. The following week I went to a party of theirs and hit it off with Adam and Pete, having to put my beer pong and Nintendo skills to the test. It was pretty much carved in stone that night that we would start a new project together. Later, after the release of “Two for the Road,” we ended up having to part ways with Adam, leaving us to find a new bassist in our good friend Mike Graton.
Your most recent album “Losing Touch” debuted in July. How was the production of this album different from the first EPs?
Jeff: Pete and I had both been collecting recording equipment when we started the band, so producing the first EP “Two for the Road” ourselves was a go-to choice. We then went on to record a set of two songs with Ryan Stack at Andrews Lane Recording, and another two songs with Jay Maas at Getaway Group. When it came time to record the full-length, we decided to return to our original method of recording at home, but we knew we should do things a little differently. All the drums were recorded at Halo Productions in Windham, ME with everything else being recorded by ourselves at Andre and Pete’s new apartment. Having complete control and the time to explore new ideas without being on someone else’s clock has always been a big selling point for the DIY method. We ran into a few complications during the recording process which consistently pushed back our finish date. Most notably were our constant technical issues with the recording gear and my 9-day hospital stay after my appendix burst in January. Hardships aside, we’re proud of the record and everything it took to get it finished.
You describe the concept of “Losing Touch” on your blog stating, “uniting the album is a theme that in this day and age, when it’s hard to tell if things are getting better, it’s nice to have each other.” Can you expand on the deeper themes of the music and the message you’re sending to fans?
Jeff: With this new album we really wanted to capture the feelings and emotions we’ve experienced pertaining to the band itself. In other words, what it’s like to spend 5 out of 7 days a week practicing, writing, recording or playing shows instead of hanging out with friends and family. There’s a love song or two on the record, but we also wrote about how messed up wakes and funerals can be, or the importance of not taking life too seriously.
^ Click to Listen to “Losing Touch” ^
I heard you have a new secret jam space in the heart of Portland. What do you see for the future of the Pinsky sound?
Jeff: I think the next batch of songs will be a natural progression from our favorite tracks on Losing Touch. We used a lot of alternate tunings on the record which I think will be a recurring motif throughout new songs. It opens up new possibilities between guitars and keeps things from sounding too stale. I think the newer material will also have a bigger emphasis on drums and bass as we build parts that groove better, rather than going for speed. With each recording we’ve grown more and more comfortable with ourselves and the sound we’re trying to reassemble from our collective thoughts. I’m excited to see where the next batch takes us.
What else goes on in this secret spot?
Andre: Playing with puppies! We have a patio and backyard now, too, where we’ve created some ridiculously stupid games to kill time and blow off steam in between practice sessions. This winter we plan on turning it into a jib spot by building a drop-in off our unfinished deck. I’m sure we’ll find a way to nearly kill ourselves. Rest assured it’ll be filmed if we do.
Are you planning on touring this winter?
Andre: Miketon’s been on the hunt for a new van for us since our last one isn’t up to snuff right now. Our families have been cool with us borrowing rides for long distance shows, so we will see what happens as far as a longer tour. We definitely will be doing weekend stints around New England and going as far out as our situation allows us to.
What’s next for Pinsky?
Andre: We are working on figuring what the next release will be. We obviously are planning on putting out a new record but we want something in between. All of us enjoy vinyl so a 7″ is something we have been thinking about. We’re also working on a DVD which will consist of a documentary, live footage, our music videos etc.
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Interviewed By: Cat Reagan
