IndieHQ / Article Detail

May 15th, 2007

Interview with Andrew Paley of the Static Age

I am excited to bring you this interview with Andrew Paley of the Static Age. I had been familiar with the band’s name for quite some time, but it wasn’t until one of our distributed labels, Reignition Records, had started working with them and their latest album, Blank Screens, that I really started to pay attention. It is funny that having those types of personal experiences is usually what it takes to put a band at the forefront of your thoughts. I am glad that I have had the experience to get to know this band; their sound is incredible and every time I listen to their album, I think, “When is this band going to get the notice that they deserve?”

Their sound can be described as the vocalist for Knapsack/Jealous Sound fronting The Cure of Depeche Mode. The band rocks while also retaining the beautiful textures of electro pop. I love this band and hope that this interview inspires some of you to check them out. The band recently inked a deal with Leave Home Booking and with luck, they will start to get on some killer tour packages. I saw them recently in Denver and they blew me away.
Andrew Paley was kind enough to elaborate on his thoughts on what he looks for in a label, what he thinks of the future of label business models, and the bands/records that inspire him. Thanks Andrew for taking the time to do this interview.

IndieHQ: When did your band start? Where is your band based? What label is your band on? Do you do the band full time? What don’t most people know about you/your band?
StaticAge: The band started practicing in 2001, but played shows in 2002. Our previous band had broken up, and we had been left without a singer. I’d always been a guitarist, and someone talked me into trying to sing, as I’d been writing many of the band’s songs for years, and I suppose it seemed like a good idea at the time. We practiced without a name through the end of 2001 and booked a few local shows in Burlington, VT in early 2002. We settled on The Static Age as a name pretty last minute so someone could make flyers. We then started working on our demos in a friends bedroom (which became “The Cost of Living” record). The drummer broke his leg, and we didn’t do much until a DIY tour that summer (around school schedules, of course). The band is currently split between New York and Vermont, with members getting together at our practice space outside of Woodstock, NY every other weekend. Our most recent record, Blank Screens, is out on ReIgnition Recordings. As for full time? At this point, we just got home from a 7 week tour with plans to leave again in June. In the two months between, we’re going to be writing and demoing songs for the next record. It may not pay all the bills, but we’re all living it pretty much non-stop.

IndieHQ: Where can people sample your music? Myspace url? Website? What is your latest album? What is your best selling release? How many has it sold?
StaticAge: People can listen at myspace.com/thestaticage, purevolume.com/ thestaticage, or thestaticage.com. You can also grab the record on iTunes, if you’ve got virtual money burning a hole in your digital pocket. The latest album is “Blank Screens.” The one before that was “Neon Nights Electric Lives” (which came out in 2005). Which one sells best? I’ve no idea.

IndieHQ: What do you look for in a label? How did you hook up with your label? Would you ever consider signing to a major label? What advice do you have for bands attempting to get a label’s attention?
StaticAge: I look for absolute creative control and a label head that doesn’t have sticky fingers. They’re hard to come by. We hooked up with ReIgnition out of friendship, originally. Same goes for Tarantulas Records before that (for “Neon Nights”). As for advice, watch your publishing and remember that you’re the artist — the labels need you (and, given the state of things, you don’t necessarily need them anymore). Protect yourself and know what you’re getting into.

IndieHQ: I run a label and attempting to sell music in the post-file- sharing, post-Tower Records retail landscape is more difficult than ever. Do you feel that file-sharing/copying has helped or hurt your band? How??
StaticAge: It certainly hurts record sales, but it’s a sign of the times — and it’s a gigantic opportunity for artists that are willing to work and labels that are willing to adapt. We can’t stop it, and the smartest ones will take advantage of it early (they already are). The change will be good in the long run because the record industry was painfully bloated on the major level, and it was seeping into the mindset of some on the “indie” circuit as well. The system needed an overhaul, and it’s getting one. Where it all goes from here in terms of the big picture, however, is anyone’s guess at this point. And people might as well get creative with it in the meantime.

IndieHQ: Do you have a booking agent? Who? Do you have a manager? Who? How important is it to your band that you have a booking agent and manager on your team?
StaticAge: We do have a booking agent and a manager. We work with Leave Home for booking (they also do AFI, Rancid, The Damned, etc). We just recently started working with them, and they’re some of the greatest people we’ve ever met. As far as management, we work with Melissa Emert-Hutner. We fought off having a manager for awhile, but were willing to talk when we found the right person. So far, it’s made life much easier and allowed me to focus more energy on actually being in a band and writing (rather than dealing with the day-to-day stuff that goes along with it). We did it without a manager or a booking agent for the first couple years, and I think that was extremely important in terms of developing the band within itself. It tested us and made us into a family. Having gone through that, we were more willing to entertain the idea of an outside manager so long as they could become part of that family. So we adopted Melissa, so to speak. And the same goes for Stormy, Jeremy, and Nicole at Leave Home.

IndieHQ: As music sales continue to decrease and music distribution changes, there has been lots of talk about a new label business model where labels will need to start taking a share of the band’s merchandise, publishing, and ticket sales. How do you feel about this idea?
StaticAge: I’d say many labels have been trying that sort of stuff for a few years, actually. We’ve been offered deals with all that stuff included (minus maybe the ticket sales). We turned them down. My feeling is that labels will have to bring a considerable amount to a band to try reaching that deeply, and bands should always be careful about giving up too much of themselves to someone that doesn’t deserve that sort of reach or control. It’s all in the how the deal is worded, ultimately, but I’ve seen a lot of grotesquely one-sided language in contracts that young bands are strong-armed into signing for fear they’ll miss their “big opportunity.” I think people are afraid of waiting and pushing ahead on their own, and I think that’s one of the big reasons labels have been able to get away with so much, unfortunately.

IndieHQ: If you were forced to describe your band to someone by mentioning the 3 bands that most influenced your songwriting, which bands would you mention?
StaticAge: That’s nearly impossible for me, as I think our songs can vary across a wide spectrum. In terms of artists I admire, I’d guess Peter Gabriel, The Psychedelic Furs, and maybe The Clash…but that really doesn’t cover the spectrum of what I think we do or where we’re headed next at all.

IndieHQ: What do you see as the future of music sales?
StaticAge: Good question. If you find out, let me know.

IndieHQ: What 5 albums are you currently listening to most?
StaticAge: This only really covers the last couple days, but…
Tom Waits — Orphans
The Draft — In a Million Pieces
The Mountain Goats — Tallahassee
Nine Inch Nails — Year Zero (this record is really growing on me)
The Knife — Deep Cuts (I came late to this band, but “Heartbeats” is a fantastic song)

IndieHQ: If you could get everyone in the world to listen to one song by your band, which one would it be? Why? Is it on your Myspace page?
StaticAge: I wouldn’t know which one to pick. I’m a bit attached to quite a few of them. Start with the ones on the Myspace page, in any order you like.

Written by Virgil Dickerson