(Credit: Orrin Anderson)
Before a gig in their hometown of Los Angeles, Hazard and Dragonetti sat down with us to talk about “Honeysuckle Weeks” and to offer some advice to other indie rock couples looking to make music together.
The stereotype with artists is always that if you have lots of turmoil and strife, that makes for better music. But it almost seems like the opposite is true with you guys—for this record, you were happily back together, but I think it might be even better than “Declare a New State.”
Blake Hazard: Well, I don’t think there’s any total lack of turmoil and strife.
[Both laugh]
John Dragonetti: Yeah, it’s not a perpetual honeymoon with us. So yeah, it wasn’t always an easy record to work on.
BH: But we had a lot more fun this time.
So what the biggest thing you disagreed over when you were working on this record?
JD: We didn’t have too many disagreements, really. I think there’s just a natural tug and pull along the way when you’re working on something creative. You could get caught up in getting rid of that sample there or changing that word here—it’s all kind of petty stuff, really.
BH: Yeah…or someone’s reaction to having to record the 29th vocal take.
JD: You’re always trying to learn how to work together.
BH: Well, I think it’s good not to settle into any pattern, anyway. As soon as things get too easy, they’re probably not any good anymore.
You guys have a home studio, right? What’s the setting like?
JD: We have a house in [the Los Angeles neighborhood of] Eagle Rock. It’s got a nice little yard and there’s a converted garage in the back of the house.
BH: So you walk through the yard to get to the studio.
JD: Yeah, it’s been great. We used to work in a closet, basically.
BH: Where there was nowhere to sit down, even. Now you can sit down!
JD: Yeah, there’s actually a couch in there. People can come over and hang out. It’s still really small, but it’s wonderful. I’ve always worked at home over the years, so I can’t really see doing it any other way.
There’s a lot of gardening and plant imagery on this album. Are you guys avid gardeners?
JD: I wish.
BH: Yeah, we’d love to be. The yard could use some work. But hanging out in the garden under the trees outside our studio definitely had an impact on our songwriting. But it’s also [from] being really invested and interested in the green movement—having that really on our minds.
Are you guys looking into touring green, or anything like that?
BH: Well, one percent of the profits from our album are going to 1% for the Planet, which is an organization that benefits non-profit environmental organizations. And then, it’s actually been really interesting, because we’ve really wanted to do things like print the album on recycled paper using soy-based inks, but it becomes prohibitively expensive. There are still things that have not come around yet so that they’re actually doable.
Do you have any advice to pass along to young couples who want to start a band together?
JD: I think the challenge is basically, you have these two relationships going on. There’s a relationship with your bandmate and then there’s your real-life relationship. So if you can have some sort of separation…you know, actually, I don’t have any advice. I think everybody’s [situation] is different.
BH: I think we’re trying to figure it out. I do think touring takes a toll on your relationship and I think you really have to work to make sure you’re keeping it together. But when it gets down to it, it’s actually pretty great and fun to get to travel together. We’ve had incredible adventures through Europe playing music, and those moments you have along the way make it all worthwhile. I would recommend it to any couple, sure, if they’re interested in playing music together.
There do seem to be a lot of other couple bands out there these days: Mates of State…
BH: Viva Voce, Sonic Youth.
J. Lo and Marc Anthony.
BH: There you go! They have their own staffs to keep them happy.
JD: They have their own buses. That’s my advice! You should each have your own bus.
BH: Someone, with zero irony, not joking at all, last night suggested to us that we get separate hotel rooms when we tour. And that cracked me up completely. Aside from it just being completely expensive, that would be kind of sad. I think there are a lot of great things about touring together.
And you save a ton of money on long distance.
BH: That’s true.
JD: It’s economical, for sure.
