It’s a widely known fact that I don’t go looking for new bands to stay in the know. This isn’t because I’m above that, it’s because I’m too tired to try and stay “with it.” It’s the 13th day of the year and I’ve already written over 50 pieces for the month. How much I’ve made for that is dismal so we’ll just focus on another fact – I’m happy when bands like The Millenium fall into my inbox. They have a sound that reminds me of having genuine fun at shows when my back wouldn’t go out after an hour.
Back when bands like Self Against City were a norm in my existence and the reality of rent and bills wasn’t. I’ll pretend I’m 19 again as I continue to listen to The Millenium and you check out what they had to say about everything from having a lot of Kyles, living that Wisconsin life and their goals both musical and personal…
Kendra: First off, how do you all differentiate between the Kyles? It’s not like they’re related but still…Do you go by initials, nicknames?
Kyle Culver: It’s gotten pretty easy over the last few months. Some people call us Culver and Feather respectively, akin to something you’d hear in a high school locker room. We’ve just kind of embraced whatever comes along.
Kendra: I’ve been listening to It’s So Much Friendlier With Two like a madman for awhile and am wondering if you had to compare it to a place in your hometown out in Wisconsin, where would you compare it to and why?
Kyle: It varies for each song. “Garnish Our Love” and “No Knocks Tonight” resonate with our (me and Matt’s) 2012 home, as that’s what the songs were written about. “Ghost Town” was about a dingy, neon lit bar on our hometown party strip. And “Not Enough Rain:” a concrete dorm room, waking up in a place we’ve never been, with people we didn’t know, feeling a way we really, really didn’t want to feel.
Kendra: Also, friendlier with two – so you’re saying three’s definitely a crowd? Is this in terms of just romantic relationships or friendships as well?
Kyle: We have a five song EP currently out, affectionately titled It’s So Much Friendlier With Two. The name was sort of a happy accident While working on the demos for the songs I was moving into a new house, and Matt and I decided to take advantage of the vacancy before everyone else moved in. So we created a portable studio out of one of the rooms to start tracking. While working on “Ghost Town,” we found a small, 5×5 placard with Winnie the Pooh and Piglet on it, holding hands, peering into the sunset. Below were the words It’s So Much Friendlier With Two – a very ironic and spooky phrase, considering we had left our previous band to become a duo. This was before Kyle and Sean were added as members, of course. The name stuck and it seemed apropos. As far as the songs go, they are a testament to love, loss and learning – themes that resonate not just with each member individually, but have gone as far as defining our generation as a whole.
Kendra: You’re heading out on tour pretty soon. Do you reach out to tour mates beforehand or wait to make introductions until day one?
Kyle: Thankfully, this tour in particular, they’re all great friends of ours, so there really isn’t an element of surprise. (Shout out, love you all)
Kendra: What can the kids heading out to these January shows expect from you guys? Any cover songs making the cut or just all originals?
Kyle: Expect something very different than anything we’ve ever done. We’ve reworked our songs from the album to create a more intimate experience. An 80’s cover. That’s all we want to say for now, come out to a show!
Kendra: Your Facebook says “Stay Golden.” Is that in any way related to The Outsiders’? If so, which Outsider would each of you be? If not, skip this question like a Choose Your Own Adventure book and head to #7…
Matt Hasenmueller: “Stay Golden” is something I started saying to customers I liked at my last job. It was a way to keep the air positive for myself, and for everyone around me. Every time I said it the customer was surprised it was anything other than a thank you, and coworkers would laugh cause it broke the mold. It originates from the book The Outsiders by S. E Hinton which is one of my favorite books. It then carried over to the band because I wanted the people who listen to our music to have the same air of positivity about the music. It’s kind of a phrase of self-actualization, being that it means to keep a positive attitude knowing the situation you’re in is not a good one. That’s why I like it, it’s not blissful ignorance, it is willful defiance against the negativity we come too familiar with.
Kendra: Did you ever find the thumbnail girl from the “Garnish Our Love” video?
Kyle: Yes, we did, with the help of the internet!
Kendra: What are your resolutions for 2015; one personal and one musical?
Kyle:
Personal: Investing more time in my community. Whether it be volunteering, or philanthropic. This community has done so much for me that I just want to give back.
Musical: Work on my production and the idea of being a producer.
Kyle Featherstone:
Personal: Starting towards the end of 2014 I started working on reestablishing and strengthening my relationships with people that I had sort of fallen out of fashion over the year. When I’m on tour with long van rides, I try and test myself to text one new person every day. I plan on keeping this going in 2015.
Musical: It is my goal to practice much more. I often cut a lot of work out for myself with multiple instruments, and sometimes others fall to the side while one takes precedence for the time being. Whether it be guitar, piano, drums, or singing; I am working on setting aside multiple chunks of time each day to better my musical abilities.
Sean Koran:
Personal: Work on being a healthy individual, which is super difficult on the road.
Musical: Get better at being a multi instrumentalist, particularly guitar.
Matt:
Personal: Read more
Musical: Play shows on the west coast/southwest.
Kendra: If you had to make a mixtape to survive a typical night in Wisconsin, which five songs would have to be on it?
Kyle:
“Hazelton” – Justin Vernon
“The Dome” – S. Carey
“Holocene” – Bon Iver
“Always Forever” – Vondelpark
“Dream a Little Dream of Me” – Ella Fitzgerald
Leave a Reply