Posted on May 29, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Channel Owls

It’s hard to get out from the colourful wold of “The Owls” once you’ve entered the fabulous imaginery of their works. And which kind of animal is more adeguate to introduce us to a fairy tail, or guide us through the fashinating melodies of spellbound melody? Soft fashoinable synths à-la-stereolab on jingle-janglin’ melodies that would made Devics and Grandaddy producers quite proud, here’s my interview with Allison LaBonne.

Mark Zonda: How it cames that you started a band, and why “The Owls”?

Allison LaBonne: In 1999 my boyfriend (now husband) Brian Tighe helped me record 5 songs I had written, and I decided to call the recording project “The Owls,” before there really was a band.  I believe the band grew from those recordings.  We asked the musicians who joined to contribute their own songs, and so the spirit of the Owls has always been very collaborative.  Like a songwriter’s support group almost, that performs and records.  The band is enriched by the variation between songwriters, and I think a mutual love of strong melody and harmony.  Maria May has been with us since the beginning; and John Jerry joined in 2004 and plays drums and bass but hasn’t written songs yet for the band.  But I believe he will. I chose the name The Owls because to me it has a story-book quality.  Also an intensity.  And a mystery.  And an intelligence.  All things that I like.

Mark Zonda: I see you’re from Minneapolis. Has Prince ever influenced you? And what about Would-be-Good?

Allison LaBonne: I can’t speak for all of The Owls, but I’m quite certain I’m not influenced by Prince.  I’m very un-funky.  The Minneapolis bands I was most influenced by are The Replacements, The Hang Ups and The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group.  I’m not familiar with the music of the Would-be-Goods.  Do you think they sound like us?

Mark Zonda: You should get a listen. They were one of the project that influenced the c86 sound and, in some ways, Stu Murdock too. Talking of which… how much Belle & Sebastian helped to define nowadays indie music? Are they overrated?

Allison LaBonne: I’m no expert on Belle & Sebastian, but they have many impressive qualities.  I saw them in concert once and they put on a beautiful, thoughtfully orchestrated show that was actually worth the high ticket price.  I was most impressed by the quality of Stuart Murdoch’s voice live, how it comes off so mellow and whispery but still filled the room richly.  I’m not sure if they are over-rated, or just unusually popular for a fey sort of literary band.  They are doing something right!

Mark Zonda: What about “Macig Marker Records”?

Allison LaBonne: Magic Marker Records is a wonderful label run by people who love music and want to help musicians be heard.   Jeremy from the band Walker Kong recommended the label to us because he thought that Curt and Mark of Magic Marker would really like the Owls.  Recently for their 10 year anniversary Magic Marker released a collection of Magic Marker artists covering eachother’s songs.  The Owls covered a song by Dear Nora called “Springtime Fall.”

Mark Zonda: Really nice project! Trattoria Records used to do that stuff in the 90′s. Ever heard any japanese pop?

Allison LaBonne: Yes, I got to travel to Japan while I was a member of The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group.  Trattoria Records released Jim Ruiz in Japan.  We met Keigo Oyamada (Cornelius), Kahimi Karie, Hideki Kaji and others.  The trip was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.  I hope the Owls could go to Japan one day.  And Italy!

Mark Zonda: Was it hard to record “The Way On” video?

Allison LaBonne: Yes!  But not for the Owls.  We are lucky to have talented friends. Director Todd Cobery, Producer Brady Kiernan, and their crew of over 30 people worked so diligently and efficiently, and everyone donated their time and resources.  Props, storyboards, locations, set design, graphic design, it was all very well planned and beautifully executed.  We were stunned.
Mark Zonda: Was the song for the video suggested by the label?

Brian: No.  The song was chosen by the director and creative crew.  Perhaps you are noticing it isn’t the most obvious choice for a single?  The video was made independently of Magic Marker and we just surprised them with the finished product!  Some of the look of the video was inspired by the children floating down the river in the film “Night of the Hunter.”  I’ve always had an interest in film, so it was quite a thrill to get to shoot it on 35mm.
Mark Zonda: Ever written a song on request?

Allison LaBonne: Once we wrote a song especially to play when we were the musical guests at an Electric Arc Radio Play. They encouraged us to match their theme of “Christmas in Jail.”  Maria and Brian are good at improvising! Also we participated in a story by radio station 89.3 The Current in Minneapolis about the songwriting process.  We were asked to set a poet’s words to music.  Here is a the song that resulted…

Mark Zonda: Talk us a little about “Electric Arc Radio”…

Allison LaBonne: They call it a “literary musical tragicomedy.”  A group of Minneapolis writers created an ongoing radio play sit-com, that is performed before a live audience and then the audio is podcasted online.  Each episode has a musical guest and they write the musicians into the script.  It is a whole lot of fun and the project has added a fresh dimension to the Minneapolis theatre scene.

The Owls – Forever Changing

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