Interview Sergie Loobkoff (May 2006)

1) What's the title of the new album?
we are kicking around a few ideas...the one I like is from Jason: 'who needs you'. I like it without punctuation, so it depends on how you see it. It could mean "who needs you?" like, "excuse me, take stock of yourself...does anyone care about you. OR it could be an angry statement like, "who needs you!?!?!?' I don't know if we are going to used it or not, but I like it. Other ones we were kicking around where "let it die' and sean liked some japanese headline that was "superstar sound machine" or something like that...

2) Could you briefly summarize the main differences in between your new album and "Astray"?
I'm sure people are going to say that this record is so different. The people that like it are going to say, "it's a new direction for the band.." and the detractors are going to say, "it just isn't the same anymore..." Until it's done, I can't answer...we are going into it like any other record..just with a bunch of songs written and we don't know how they will turn out. we definately aren't saying, "OK, lets mellow out" or " we better prove that we aren't THAT old and make it more punk." I guess you can say all samiam records are a crapshoot...you get what you get.

3) How many tracks are going to be on the new album?
we wrote a ton, but decided to record 16...15 originals and 1 cover (it's a secret...no it's not, we are doing "this will be our year" by the zombies). I would guess that there will be 12 or 13 songs on the cd and we will have 3 or 4 for bonus tracks in japan or whatever...

4) Who was in charge of writing music and lyrics for this album?
Jason is the man that usually writes the lyrics...on the last record sean and sergie wrote one each. This time, sean wrote for one songs also...I, sergie, wrote one but jason read it and promptly hid it and wrote his own for the song. ha, ha...I guess it was not a masterpiece like 'mudhill'...ha, ha... As for music , I wrote 9 songs, sean wrote 5 and jeremy contributed one. We wrote a bunch more, but these are the ones we recorded.

5) How did you approach writing the record, did the songs evolve more naturally or did you consciously sit down to write the songs?
I think for jason, the process is painfull and takes a lot of time. I mean, words are really hard, at least good ones. So far I see alot of songs are about relationships and how fucked up people are to each other. I think there are going to be a bunch of sweet pop songs with really messed up lyrics over them...like listening lightly, you might think they are light, love songs...but if you listen to the words you say, "man, that is fucked up. musically, it is easy for sean and I...when at home we are always playing guitar and writing songs. when we started this writing period in september...I was a little bummed because everything thing was coming out a little slower and mellower...so sometime in february, I did actually say, "fuck, I want to write some faster, 'samiam-sounding' songs" which is something I don't usually do...make an effort to go in a certain direction. But I'm glad. I would be bummed if I was a samiam fan and got the record and there weren't at least a few heavier, faster, louder songs. So...for what I said before about not trying to write in any way...I was full of shit.

6) Who did produce the record and have you worked with him before?
we have sean's friend from brooklyn, Chris Moore. he is partners with the guy in TV on the Radio...who are old friends with sean. They produce alot of stuff now
(including TV on the Radio and the new Zak Dela rocha from rage against the machine)...but nothing much like samiam...which is good. we are very carefull to not sound like a 'pop-punk' band....which, of course, is very hard because we write poppy songs and play them with big guitars, bass and drums. I think that people that don't care about samiam disregard us as a disposal pop-punk band...but if you take a little time and really listen, you find that we are about more than just that. we pull just as much from sonic youth and my bloody valentine and the beatles and other sources than bad religion or lagwagon...

7) How do you feel about your new album?
I am, as usual, very nervous about it. you never know until it's done how it is going to sound. To me, recording is such a mystery. I know, in my head, how big, powerful instruments are supposed to sound...but as we go along, as usual, I second guess sounds and wonder if it will all sound good at the end. unfortunately, there are so many more variables than just putting up a mic infront of a drumset and pressing record...it is magical stuff! hopefully, Chris is going to rock it!

8) How was it to work with on your new songs with a new guitarrist? Did the dynamics of the band change in any way when Jeremy joined the band?
Jeremy is a real solid bass player, he has liked the band for years...even saw us in a basement in his hometown in minnesota in 1994! so he knows what our band requires...and he has the perspective from a 'fan's point of view..so that is really great for us. You know, when I say, "fan'...well, it's for a lack of a better word. We are so removed from what people that like our band actually like about our band...and he can help fill us in with that. he brings a unique perspective.
As for having sean playing guitar...it is alot different. He is a much better guitarist than James was or I am and doesn't come from the same punk roots...so it is a different dynamic. I think one of the reasons why samiam has put out good records is that james and I were limited players, not shitty, but limited...so we were always pretty tasteful. Not necessarily by choice but we can't play all the crazy technical stuff....so there aren't boring noodling solos everywhere. But sean has been in this band for a pretty long time...so he knows this, I think it will be interesting for people to hear how he and I play together.
 

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