Watch The Halamays new video for This Boring Party
When we first starting playing together we were just two college kids that played acoustic guitar in coffee shops and at open mics in bars -- we had this one gig where they offered us money to fill a 3 hour show, so in order to kill time we just played some songs together. People really responded to that. The next thing we knew, we were playing together all of the time and we needed a name. That was that. We kind of did the whole "band" process backwards. As we have grown together as musicians and continued to learn new instruments and experiment with different stylistic elements in songwriting, we started to realize that Katie & Pat was one thing, and what we were doing now was something completely different - that is when The Halamays came to be. At that point a "re-branding" was a must.
Where did you record your new album? What was your favorite part of recording there?
Katie: We have our own little studio in our apartment where we record, and my (Katie) favorite part is that I can wear my pajamas when I record. I also like not having to work around someone else's schedule.
Patrick: I enjoy working at home. I'm currently in a big self education phase. Slowly building our studio is what has really helped to shape our new sound and our live set up. Without it, we might not be The Halamays.
Since you both switch instruments frequently, do you prefer to have brighter lights when performing?
Katie: We are always excited when there are lights, period. We like lights. They help us to see.
Patrick: I don't actually. Bright lights mean sweat to me. Of course I need to see, but performing in super bright light or outdoors in the sun, actually makes it harder to read the screen of my MPC 500, which is super important to the show. I could trigger the wrong sample or mute an important track at the wrong moment. Eeep!
Patrick: I don't actually. Bright lights mean sweat to me. Of course I need to see, but performing in super bright light or outdoors in the sun, actually makes it harder to read the screen of my MPC 500, which is super important to the show. I could trigger the wrong sample or mute an important track at the wrong moment. Eeep!
Do you collect anything?
Katie: I would like to start a collection of cats, but Patrick would not allow that. We do, however, collect movies and music on Vinyl/CD. I have a small stuffed animal collection and I also collect keepsakes from important moments in time.
Patrick: I don't really have any particular collections. I do like Horror movies though, and a large part of our DVD selection is made up of both classic and modern horrror.
Do you enjoy it when musicians talk in between songs? When is it necessary? When does it get annoying? (question asked by Michael)
Katie: This is a great question for us as it has been the subject of much debate. It can be charming when musicians talk between songs. I don't think it is necessary for bands to be chit-chatty -- I think it just depends on the individual and the "feeling" the band wants to give to the audience. I personally feel that breaking that wall creates a special connection and bond with the audience that I enjoy. When it's me up there on stage and the crowd responds to something I say, I feel like they are on our side.
Patrick: I think it depends on how much I've had to drink. But, I generally try not to say too much. It all depends on what is being said and why.
What should I ask the next person to be on the blog?
Have you seen "Under These Great Northern Lights" - it is the documentary of The White Stripes traveling around to every Provence in Canada and performing in these off the wall places like on a barge or in a bowling alley or in an Inuit retirement home -- if you could perform anywhere off the cuff or special, where would it be?
Katie's favorite songs:
(click here to stream them at 8tracks.com)
1. for getting through a tough day at work: "So Many Ways" - Mates of State
2. that you were part of the recording: "I Heard My Mobile" - The Halamays
3. from before 1970: "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" - The Monkees
4. to listen to at high volume: "My Girls" - Animal Collective
6. best heard in live performance: "Rebellion (Lies)" - Arcade Fire
7. in an odd time signature: "All You Need Is Love" - The Beatles
8. by an mostly or all-female band: "Double Knots" - The Living Sisters
9. that has the sound of jingle bells in it: "Maple Leaves (EP Version)" - Jens Lekman
10. from a lesser-known artist: "Book Song" - Sally Seltmann
11. from a Chicago artist: "Sally" - Tiger Cry
12. you loved in the 8th grade: "Spiderwebs" - No Doubt
13. to dance to: "Rock Lobster" - The B52's
14. for riding bike: "Walk In The Park" - Oh No! Oh My!
1. for getting through a tough day at work: "So Many Ways" - Mates of State
2. that you were part of the recording: "I Heard My Mobile" - The Halamays
3. from before 1970: "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" - The Monkees
4. to listen to at high volume: "My Girls" - Animal Collective
6. best heard in live performance: "Rebellion (Lies)" - Arcade Fire
7. in an odd time signature: "All You Need Is Love" - The Beatles
8. by an mostly or all-female band: "Double Knots" - The Living Sisters
9. that has the sound of jingle bells in it: "Maple Leaves (EP Version)" - Jens Lekman
10. from a lesser-known artist: "Book Song" - Sally Seltmann
11. from a Chicago artist: "Sally" - Tiger Cry
12. you loved in the 8th grade: "Spiderwebs" - No Doubt
13. to dance to: "Rock Lobster" - The B52's
14. for riding bike: "Walk In The Park" - Oh No! Oh My!
Patrick's favorite songs:
(click here to stream them at 8tracks.com)
1. for getting through a tough day at work - putting the dog to sleep - the antlers
1. for getting through a tough day at work - putting the dog to sleep - the antlers
2. to listen to at high volume - daft punk is playing at my house - lcd soundsystem
3. best heard in live performance - norway - beach house
4. in an odd time signature - snare hangar - battles
5. by an mostly or all-female band - what's mine is yours - sleeter kinney
6. from a lesser-known artist - mazes - moon dou
7. sung in a foreign language - staralfur - sigur ros
8. you loved in the 8th grade - streat spirit (fade out) - radiohead
9. to dance to - call your girlfriend - robyn
10. for riding bike - um, that's unsafe, wear your helmet and watch the road
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