Posted on November 10, 2009 - by Mark Zonda
The Origins of the Sarcastic Dharma Society
It’s rare to find bands you would die to support, being ready to follow’em across the World for not particular reasons, if not for the love of their music and the vision of the World they fit in. Just out of the blue. As for me it happened with Momeraths before, and history’s repeating with The Sarcastic Dharma Society (Portland). What is this sensation? I’m sure I dealt again. Are we dealing with a flash forward? Will this feeling change? Only Wayne Coyne would be able to answer that… Whatever happened happened! That’s how I ended to interview Mat from “The Sarcastic Dharma Society” and will probably change my mind. He’s got a sweet tooth for good music anyway and he’s so uncool (in a positive way) that he’s got not even a clue of what “Lost” is.
Mark Zonda: Is there life in Portland beside the Dharma?
Mat: There’s a little bit–Portland is an exceptionally wonderful place to live. I see a lot of music, ride a lot of bikes, dry out a lot of wet clothes, play a lot of tetris, drink a lot of tea, drink a lot of coffee. It’s really nice.
Mark Zonda: How did you decided to stop being idealist freaks, quit Dharmaville and form a band?
Mat: If ever I were an idealist, I think I might still be an idealist. Most of The Sarcastic Dharma Society songs are written from very absolute and uncompromising perspectives: love is forever (or non-existent), death is unacceptably horrifying and finale, life is full of unrectifiable mistakes, constant injustices, and insurmountable problems that leave us, at our best, endlessly settling, etc, etc. I tend to think of things in those ways, or feel doing so is beneficial, at least when writing. Or harmful. Or mostly just interesting, I suppose. I don’t know even what “Dharmaville” is.
Mark Zonda: Supposed your band was named after the TV Show known as LOST. But you tell me that you don’t know what Dharmaville is. Was I wrong?
Mat: I’ve not seen that show.
Mark Zonda: Will you start to record your own material for a Sarcastic Dharma Society N°2? Or will it be a collection of songs written by The Others just for you?
Mat: Right now, I’m recording the next album of original songs, which will be called “Sannyasa Songs (Of Love And Death)”. This will be the first physical, purchasable album from Less Than Three Records, and it’s the scariest, most difficult thing I’ve ever worked on. It will probably be separated into two parts, one with songs that focus more on love and interpersonal relationships and one that speaks more to death and selfish desperation, but all of the songs are about both of those things, and about how they interact with each other (and about some other things, too). Coming soon. Also: “Other People’s Songs (Volume Two)” is about half done and will be made up of another 10 cover songs, including this Casiotone For The Painfully, Kelli Schaefer and an Hoagy Carmichael song. There is also an in progress album from a new collaborative, mostly instrumental, project I’m working on that I’m really excited about in a serious way. I think it is sounding very cool, and has lots of work from these awesome guys: The Brofam Collective, Padraic Finbar Hagerty-Hammond, Duck. Little Brother, Duck!, Svay Pak, millah, Lavender loops, With eyes abstract. Soon! Lots and lots of recording to be done in the coming days…
Mark Zonda: Tell us a little bit more ’bout “Less Than Three Records”
Mat: Less Than Three Records is a very young record label that I’m hoping will help organize, distribute, promote, and showcase some of the music that is important to me, or that is made by me, or that is both important to me and made by me.
Mark Zonda: Where the Sarcastic Dharma Society usually have his shows?
Mat: I played in the street in front of Fin’s house on his birthday a few month’s ago, that was pretty fun! Portland has a lot of really great people putting on really great shows in their living rooms, basements, backyards, and some really hip cafes and bars to boot–it’s an unbelievably great town for music, and I keep MySpace and Facebook up to date if you’d like to know when and where we’re playing. Also, you can email me at sarcasticdharma@gmail.com if there is somewhere in particular you would like us to be that we are currently not. (Or if you’d just like to say “hey”)
Mark Zonda: Will The Sarcastic Dharma Society be the american response to Belle & Sebastian?
Mat: Yes. No actually.
“Sannyasa Songs (Of Love And Death)” preview
The Sarcastic Dharma Society – “Alone Song” ( Casiotone For The Painfully cover)
The Sarcastic Dharma Society – “Song for a Friend” (Kelli Schaefer Cover)
Let it ring on...
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