Wye Oak drummer, keyboardist and backing vocalist Andy Stack took time out from the duo’s tour to chat with the Flavors team. New Yorkers can catch them tomorrow, April 14, at Bowery Ballroom.
Flavors: You received a good amount of press coverage around SXSW, and played a lot of shows that week! How was that experience, and how has it changed the band’s public profile?
Andy: This was our third time performing at SXSW, and it was certainly our most positive all-around experience. In the past, I think we had the tendency to look at that festival as some important opportunity or defining moment for our band. This time around, we looked at it more as a chance to eat tacos and see good friends, so it and that made for a much more enjoyable trip.
F: Which song tends to give you the most release to perform live?
A: The answer to this seems to change from night to night, depending on my mood. Lately though, I’ve really been enjoying the song “Plains” from our new record.
F: How does your home city of Baltimore influence your sound?
A: There’s a ton of inspiration to be drawn from the music scene in Baltimore — lots of collaboration going on and a lot of prolific artists. Honestly, it’s less about drawing from a particular style which comes out of the city, and more about feeling like a part of a supportive community. It’s pretty amazing to be constantly interfacing and sharing ideas with folks who I can say I’m genuinely a fan of.
F: Why did you choose Flavors to power your official site?
A: I have little to no web design skills, and it was very important to me to find a platform with which I could create a dynamic, visually appealing page without having to deal with a bunch of coding. Flavors has been very easy to interface with, and has also continued to add helpful features.
F: How has being on Flavors helped the band?
A: In the past, our website has tended to sit unattended and stagnant. Using Flavors has meant that we have a website which reflects our most up-to-date news and tour dates.
F: What albums will you be on the lookout to buy in April?
A: I’ll absolutely be getting the new Bill Calahan record, as he is a hero of mine. Also looking forward to the new record by Bachelorette.
