When is the last time you went to a show and the band’s frontman (or woman for that matter) just absolutely blew you away? I mean truly 100% kicked you in the teeth, complete energy, couldn’t take your eyes of them, blew you away? If you are one of the initiated, like myself, it was probably when you saw Ume and their singer/guitarist Lauren Larson live. Ume (pronounced 0oo-may) is a three piece, heavy-yet-melodic band with a rhythm section that see’s Lauren’s husband Matt Larson on bass and Rachel Fuhrer on drums. I first saw Ume open for Cursive and to be honest about all I can remember from that night was Lauren’s insanely energetic performance. (My very good friend Amanda was in the audience that night as well, re-live that performance here.) After seeing them live that first time I have never missed an opportunity to attend an Ume concert. Currently, I am eagerly awaiting Ume’s headlining show March 27th, in Salt Lake City’s Kilby Court and have been spinning their new album Monuments non-stop in preparation. Monuments which is the band’s second LP dropped on March 4th and flat out kills it with it’s sonic range and straight up ferociousness. It’s definitely a huge step forward for the three piece band from Austin, TX. Be sure to check out stand out tracks such as “Too Big World”, “Chase It Down”, “Oh Fate”… Ah hell, listen to the whole damn thing. Seriously. It’s awesome, you’ll dig it. If you don’t then there’s something wrong with you.
I was fortunate enough to get in touch with Lauren and ask her a few questions about Monuments, the band’s successful Kickstarter campaign, and the bands encounters with Anthony Bourdain and Perry Farrell among a few other things.
I have been a big fan of Ume ever since I first read about your band in the “Choose the Cover of Rolling Stone Contest” in which your Sunshower EP was featured. Do people still ask you about that?
Thanks! Yes, occasionally.
I have been listening to the stream of Monuments, can’t wait to get my hands on my own copy! It shows a ton of growth as a band. What was your main focus when writing this record?
Perhaps honesty – both emotionally and sonically. A lot of these songs are a commemoration of a particular emotion or experience. This was the first record where I actually saw myself as a “songwriter.” This didn’t mean I played it safer. I felt free to take more risks. I could let go of expectations of what our band “should” sound like and just write what my heart had to say at the moment.
Monuments touches all ends of the sonic spectrum ranging from loud and riff-heavy to pretty mellow and acoustic driven. Yet no dynamic really overshadows another and the album is really cohesive. Were the songs all written at once? Or were they written over a longer period of time?
Some songs were labored over for months, and then changed in the studio. Some tracks I actually completely wrote in the studio late at night. I think I came up with 2 songs in one night, including Embrace and the version of “Gleam” that appears on the record.
I would have to say that currently my favorite song is “Too Big World” can you tell me a little bit about that track?
This song started with the bass line; it still appears on set-lists as “Bass Face,” ha. This song is about that struggle with what’s forever out of reach — that yearning and battle against that which you can’t control. The title comes from a Jack Kerouac line that I love from On the Road,
“A pain stabbed my heart, as it did every time I saw a girl I loved who was going the opposite direction in this too-big world.”
How did working with producer Adam Kasper influence the making of Monuments?
Working with Adam Kasper and his engineer Nate Yaccino was amazing. The focus of this record was the sounds and the songs, which might sound obvious. But it meant there wasn’t a lot of post production. It was about getting good sounds from the start. There was a bigger focus on songwriting, which was very freeing for me. I could bring in demos of songs that I’d never dream would be “Ume” songs. Adam would say, “that’s a good song,” let’s track it. He also helped me know when to stop. I can be very obsessive and unsure of myself. When I wanted to do 20 vocal takes, he’d assure me “we got it.”
You recorded Monuments at Robert Lang Studios and Studio X in Seattle. Did you feel that being in Seattle influenced the overall vibe of the recording process at all?
I love Seattle, but the team and gear most influenced the recording. This record was done in just about 2 weeks, and Seattle did provide a very relaxed environment and a lot of good coffee and amazing food to keep us going. Living in the studio while at Robert Lang enabled me to stay up all night in the basement writing. It was where Nirvana last recorded which was very inspiring on a personal level, since I never would have picked up a guitar if it wasn’t for this band. The studio was haunted too, which I think might have had a little bit of an impact.
The addition of Rachel on drums is tremendous. How has she shifted the writing process?
Rachel is a fantastic drummer. The writing process hasn’t shifted per se. But it is helpful to say, hey let’s try a beat with a feeling like “Gold Dust Woman” and she’s able to do this. She also helped bring in a heavier element to our sound.
Ume successfully funded a Kickstarter project to back the making of the record. You funded over $20,000 of a $7,500 goal, Congrats! One of the incentives for pledging $350 or more was that you would cover a song of their choice. (Murder By Death did the same thing and made a Covers LP, you should make an EP!) It looks like 4 people get to choose a cover, are you able to disclose any of the songs that were chosen?
Thanks!
Neil Young, “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)”
Archers of Loaf, “Web In Front”
2 fan songs!
Yes, we will be sharing these at some point
It seems as though more and more bands and artists are using outlets such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo to raise awareness about their projects. Your experience was successful, what advice would you give to someone who was thinking of starting a campaign through one of these sites?
Don’t underestimate your shipping costs. We’re getting slammed with international rates. And keep in contact with your fans through the process, and show them the gratitude they deserve! The coolest thing has been getting messages from fans who have received their rewards. Many are drawn to tears or overwhelmed with “how much we cared.” It’s a rare chance to make a very personal connection with someone who really cares about your music.
Festival season is coming up. Including SXSW in Austin where you are based. Any bands out there that you think we should keep an eye out for?
We’re playing a She Shreds Mag show in Portland with a guitarist called LKN. I’m very excited to check her out. Our friends Mirror Travel also have a new record out that’s great. And Reignwolf is a guitarist from Seattle who is playing Suburbia Fest with us in May. I’m excited to see him live.
Ume appeared on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations on an episode featuring SXSW artists, (which actually happens to be a favorite show of mine) how was that experience? Was he as cool as he seems? Please don’t ruin it for me and tell me he’s not, haha. But really, is he?
Anthony Bourdain was extremely kind to us and so easy to talk to. He came to see us when we played a Brooklyn Vegan SXSW Party, and I remember during the second song, someone screamed, “It’s Anthony Bourdain!” Later that night we went to dinner with him, and well, we all got a little hammered and don’t remember leaving the restaurant, so it was a good night 🙂
Additionally, you were also personally invited by Perry Farrell to open at the Lollapalooza after party. How was that experience?
Ha, it seemed like a practical joke at first, because why in the world would Perry Farrell call me. But he did and it was awesome! We were hanging out by dumpsters behind a small club in Jacksonville, FL eating saltines and peanut butter when he called to invite us to play their Lollapalooza after-party. Playing Lolla has been a dream of mine since I was 12, so it was pretty rad to be called by the band that started it all. The show itself was the biggest room we’ve ever played and the biggest stage. Yet we only had about 10 feet to set up on, ha. It was a blast though and we’re so grateful for the opportunity
I saw you guys on tour in support of your last album Phantoms and you opened up for The Life and Times in SLC. It was a Monday night and unfortunately there wasn’t a very big crowd, yet you guys played as if the room was full. I really appreciated that. Have there ever been times when you felt that it just wasn’t worth giving that extra effort?
Nope, as a musician I have to appreciate every moment I have to play and every person there. I’ve taken the stage for years playing to small crowds, sometimes to nobody. In this music environment, you have to be doing this for the right reasons to keep going — for the love of the music and for the love of those who let your music into their lives. Is it frustrating sometimes. Absolutely. But that’s not the fault of the people who show up. I remember once playing to 9 people in NYC. I looked up and saw Joan Jett in the crowd! Always give it your all.
Last questions, what are your top 5 favorite songs to listen to while driving?
Queens of the Stone Age, “Regular John.” Beck, “Lost Cause.” Pink Floyd, “One of These Days.” Ennio Morricone, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Soundtrack.” Fugazi, “Faucet Squared.”