Interview with
Kevin Robinson of
Viva Voce
By:
Brad
Rose
Stress can break a person into tiny
pieces. It can also push people further than they thought possible; it can
push them to do great things. I was unaware of Viva Voce until late last
year when they released their brilliant album, "Lovers Lead the Way!" on
Asthmatic Kitty Recordings. This album is one of the most densely textured
records of 2003 and was an album that just made me feel good about the
world. Only their second record in five years, the wait was worth it. With
its combinations of hip-hop beats, Kevin Robinson's organic
instrumentation, and Anita Robinson, his wife, providing her angelic
voice, the album had few rivals. Vive Voce further destroy the myth that
married life has to be stiff and boring. Besides that, they're just really
cool people making really wonderful music. Brad Rose conducted this
interview with Kevin via email throughout January.
Brad Rose:
What's the history of Viva Voce? What made you all decide to start the
project and how has it changed since it's inception?
Kevin Robinson: We met rockin' out in Alabama. Simple
as that - rock. Boom-bap. Kick the beat and plug in. We started the band for
that reason. Rockin the beat. Rock yr amp & rock the fist. It hasn't changed
much.
BR: How is it
different recording with your wife as opposed to other friends or bandmates?
Does it ever cause any additional tension?
KR: Tension is good. Guitars wouldn't sound
right without tension. Most musical instruments have that element - of
something pulled taught. Drum heads, guitar, piano, violin - they're all
tense. We're tense. We operate like a musical instrument. Recording with my
wife is tense. There's no excess baggage that some typical band members /
friends have. Arguments over girlfriends, the dinner check, your share of
rent money, how much you chipped in on merch and what your % of sales is,
how much you contributed to
the artwork and other typical band dribble. 99% of most band crap is non
existent with us, especially in the studio.
BR: Your
latest album, "Lovers Lead the Way!" is a total feel-good album. It's
full of rich and warm textures and most of the vocals are about love.
What was the biggest inspiration behind the album for you?
KR: We had been going through the most stressful
time in our lives and I'd been listening to nothing but hip-hop. This
probably wasn't what you were expecting to hear - but it's the truth. I
guess the inspiration was to pull our heads up out of the dirt and sing
about some hopeful, upbeat stuff during the down times. Our own
cathartic way of dealing with evil.
BR:
There are so many styles on "Lovers Lead the Way!" that it's one of the
most interesting listens I've heard in a while. What kinds of music do
you find yourself listening to regularly and who would you consider your
major influences?
KR: I listen to a lot of hip-hop and old school
grooves and lately have been getting into Alan Parsons Project. Anita
likes crazy music & we both like ELO. We listen to the Zanadu soundtrack
regularly. Anything in the record collection really. When it comes to
recording - I'm a huge fan of Curtis Mayfield's earlier albums. The man
was a genius.
BR: Who and what kind of hip-hop stuff are you into mostly?
KR: A broad spectrum really. I absolutely love
Cannibal Ox and think El-P is a great producer. Def Jux had a strong
first year. Mad Lib is great, Blackalicious, Aceyalone, Mr.Dibbs,
Quasimoto, Aesop Rock, all the Stones Throw & Quannam cats - the list is
too long. |
|
BR: I've
mentioned in a previous article that "Yr Epic Heart" is one of my favorite
songs from 2003. Keeping with the title, it does have this kind of epic feel
to it. Two questions... what was your main inspiration for this song? And
are those real orchestra bells?
KR: Glad you dig the song. It's a fun tune to play.
The inspiration was the bass line I guess. That's how a lot of our jams
start. Except this was done on the baritone guitar I think? Anyway - it was
just an excuse to loop a cool bass line and freak out.
And what you hear in the song aren't really bells. Those are chimes - big
brassy chimes. Dangling metal chimes. They hang on this contraption and you
mash a pedal to un-damp them before you whack them with a mallet. Oxidized
and slowly rusting - but sound good.
BR: Another
favorite track of mine is "Brightest Part of Everyone." I love the sort of
stomping, dark feeling to the verse combined with this sort of hopeful,
choral sound of the chorus. Is it difficult combining two (or more)
different sounds/feelings? What is the biggest challenge in doing so?
KR: Those were two different songs we just sliced
together that just made sense. Everything,...down to the lyrics were just
sliced and mashed together. Like a big song sandwich. We do that a lot. We
have a lot of songs that aren't really songs - but are cool ideas. Snippets
of something. Put in the right order, they make perfect sense and compliment
each other,..like a pickle on the side.
BR: How did you get involved with the Asthmatic Kitty label?
KR: Our cat - Lou - is what drew us to them. They're
very active in animal shelter organizations. We liked that and decided to
start licensing our records to them. More bands should make decisions about
their records based around their pets.
BR: What kinds of equipment do you use to record with?
KR: Tape and computers. 4 track cassette player, and a
suped up PC that I built with a friend designed specifically for recording
audio. It's great for recording multi-tracks and such. Most of what we have
is very modest - and my gear purchasing decisions are usually based on price
rather than quality. I don't shy away from digital stuff either - which
seems to be a trend - to prove how analog purist old school you are. We
don't want to be old school... those people graduated and aren't there
anymore. But there's no deep science to it - it just sounds good to us.
|
|
BR: If money
were not an issue, what's the one instrument you would want?
KR: If money were truly no issue, I'd have someone
dig up Barry White and make a mold of his vocal chords. Then I'd have
reconstructive surgery to my throat and implant his voice box. Either
that or a Ukelele.
BR: What
upcoming releases are you all currently working on?
KR: We're tracking the new Viva Voce album now.
It's turning out great and will be a step above Lovers - in my opinion.
We're both really excited about the tunes.
BR: Where did you learn the technical skills you have when it comes to
producing and recording music?
KR: Listening to a broad spectrum of music, and
making tons and tons of crappy recordings. There were the 4-track
cassette days that anyone who records goes through. Weeks spent
recording pots & pans, spoken word narratives, shred metal, painfully
whyte hip-hop and lots of other terrible stuff. I've never been properly
schooled on it - so most of my knowledge is ghetto to some degree. The
key is just "really" listening to records and figure out why they sound
the way they do - and then start making mistakes. |
BR: What do
you love most about playing live shows and what do you like least?
KR: Live is great. I love it. It's so much more animal
and not so much technical. Sweaty and hot. I shout a lot under my breath -
so I'm usually hoarse by the end of the show, regardless of if I've sung
much. Anita and I both love touring and playing live. The least favorite
part is getting stiffed when it's time to get paid.
BR: Where's
the most awful venue you've ever played?
KR: An outdoor gazeebo in Oklahoma. The promoter
"lost" the original venue and we wound up in the middle of a park. We played
for a family on vacation and by the end of our set, they were onstage and
playing all our instruments. We just let them play & shouted requests.
BR: How much
of an influence do you think where you live has on your music? And what kind
of influence is it?
KR: Where you live doesn't factor that much. In my
opinion. We've been getting reviews that contribute the sound of our last
album to where we now live. We didn't live in Portland when we were
recording Lovers - so it ends that argument. You're artistic surroundings
are probably more important than your physical surroundings. In any artists
history you can trace what they've been around by their output. The Beatles
are the easiest example; it's easy to listen to their catalog and point out
when they were into Dylan, when they were into Wilson & the Beach Boys, when
they were into the indian sitar / norwegian wood thing.
BR: Have you
ever thought about setting up your own recording studio to record other
bands and artists in?
KR: I do record friends albums from time to time & I'd
like to do that eventually. I'm up for it - but need to feel like I can get
behind what I'm recording.
BR: Do you
read reviews of your own music? "Lovers Lead the Way!" has been getting
quite a bit of good press lately.
KR: Sometimes - and it's nice. I like to read the
foreign language reviews: Anita is a "praise, praising nun" and "guitar
banshee". American reviews are too clinical sometimes.
BR: What can
fans expect on the next Viva Voce album? How is it different from "Lovers
Lead the Way!"?
KR: It's probably more.....good. Hopefully a better
record. We're not into making the same album over and over again - so it's a
step off in some direction. Much more into the purity of sound and not so
much gimmiky tweaks - although all the tunes are pretty over the top thusfar.
BR: Are you
involved in any other projects currently?
KR: I started a hip-hop collective called Electric
Ill. I had all my emcee friends from around the country call and leave dope
rhymes on my answering machine which i cut up and edited into some jams. It
turned out pretty cool and I hope to have something out soon.
BR: What do
you think is the main thing missing in most music today?
KR: I don't have a lot of complaints - there are
always gems shining out. Current modern music is bi-polar (if I had to
criticize) & the pendulum swings too wide. Each new phase is a rebellion of
last weeks fad. Reactionary. The 16bit-beat turns it's back on a melody, and
vice versa. One plays directly to the "buying public" and feigns artistic
expression - the other turns away from the thought of anyone listening
and/or enjoying their music except themselves. Neither are good.
BR: What's
your favorite piece of trivia?
KR: Keith Moon used to play barefoot and have drugs
injected into his heel just to keep him coherent during concerts. Not really
my favorite - but sad and interesting.
BR: Any
closing comments?
KR: Keep your eyes out for my tag when we tour through
your town. It will be bombed. Thanks for checking out our music.
by Brad Rose
