ReadysetDC A CREATIVE URBAN ENTERPRISE

Words w/ B L U E B R A I N

All photos provided by B L U E B R A I N.

I feel like there’s an energy to DC currently that I haven’t felt anywhere else and haven’t really experienced here for a long time … I think for the first time in a while people seem to be looking forward.

Brothers Ryan and Hays Holladay are back in DC. They both have long musical histories, but more recently they were Brooklyn-based as one-half of the Epochs. They returned home, and last year released their EP Cult Following. Next month they will release their full-length Soft Power.

JY: So next month you are releasing “Soft Power”, your debut full-length. What was the inspiration behind the record?

BLUEBRAIN: I don’t know if there was so much an inspiration behind the record as it was a product of a strange time in our lives. We’d both moved back to DC after being in New York for a long time and had just decided we were going to start this new project. The trajectory and tone sort of changed when Hays was misdiagnosed with a serious disease, one that would have rendered him unable to play anymore. It took months for the doctors to realize they’d made a mistake. The album had been written for the most part, but much of it was recorded sort of in the shadow of the fear that we might not be able to do this much longer. That sounds crazy, I know, and we’re fortunate it turned out to be less serious than originally thought, but it’s hard to talk about creating this record without talking about that experience. Sorry to kick things off on such a downer note!

JY: Where and when did you record?

BLUEBRAIN: We recorded it here at our home studio. Hays does all the engineering for our music. He also mixed the record. This album had a number of starts and stops in the recording process for various reasons so it took about a year to complete in total, which seems insane to me now. We finished it about a year ago.

JY: Can you describe the general process you take to composing a song?

BLUEBRAIN: It really varies. Certain songs take years and years to materialize. For instance, there’s a song called ‘Caught Up In The Laughter’ that Hays wrote, I think, shortly after graduating high school. We’ve always tried to get it off the ground but never could until now. Other ones, such as ‘Royal Blue’ just sort of roll out and they are what they are without over thinking it. We’re very good at starting songs but need to improve on finishing them more efficiently, I think.

JY: What is your musical history? How did you two get to this point?

BLUEBRAIN: Hays and I have almost always played in bands together. And throughout that time we’ve always recorded our own music. Our first band in middle school was called Evan Sees Red. Then in high school it was The Triffids. In college we were in a number of bands, most importantly Sirhan Sirhan, then for a long time a band called The Epochs. And now we’re here!

JY: What brought you back here to DC?

BLUEBRAIN: I feel like there’s an energy to DC currently that I haven’t felt anywhere else and haven’t really experienced here for a long time. I loved growing up here but always felt like I’d been born a little too late and that we, speaking specifically about the music scene here in Washington, were all standing in the very long shadow of such great bands as Nation of Ulyssess, Fugazi, Bad Brains, etc. and that the glory days had sort of come and gone. I think for the first time in a while people seem to be looking forward.

JY: What DC bands/musicians do you like right now?

BLUEBRAIN: My favorite live band is The Points, hands down. Beauty Pill has been a big inspiration to us over the years. Chad Clarke has been a big supporter of us since we were making music in high school, actually. But they haven’t played live or released an album in some time. I’m hoping they do soon. The dance/DJ scene seems to be pretty remarkable here. I don’t know anyone involved in all that but it seems they’ve been able to build up something pretty special. Will Eastman is one that comes to mind. I’m happy to hear he’s opening a venue soon.

JY: What do you love about DC?

BLUEBRAIN: The FDR Memorial, Maoz Falafel and Blelvis.

JY: What do you hate about DC?

BLUEBRAIN: It sounds cliche bit I really do miss New York pizza. Quantity over quality is a valiant effort but still doesn’t cut it. Sorry Pizza Mart.

JY: What do you have in store for Saturday’s show/party at the Fridge?

BLUEBRAIN: Free hugs for anyone who crowd surfs.

JY: What plans do you have for 2010?

BLUEBRAIN: Personally, I am taking a class in neon art. The Myers-Briggs test informed me that this was my calling in life and so I’m giving it a shot. I realize that’s probably not what you were asking but I just enrolled and was excited to tell someone. Thank you for listening.

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Check them out live tomorrow night at The Fridge, along with Outputmessage and Autorock. It’s absolutely free and starts at 8:30pm.

The Fridge
516 8th Street SE (rear alley)
Eastern Market Metro