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Dear and the Headlights

Small Steps, Heavy Hooves. The hooves are proving to be heavy by the way the Dear and the Headlights music is quickly spreading and making it's way to your ears.
By: Gian Erguiza - - May 21st, 2008 - 2:18 pm PST



Currently in the studio recording their follow-up to their successful debut, "Small Steps, Heavy Hooves," The boys in Dear and the Headlights are in once again in the lab cooking up another offering due out in the Fall/winter season. Regarded as one of the most highly-anticipated albums of 2008, Dear and the Headlights want you to lower your expectations, or do they? Dear and the Headlights drummer, Mark Kulvinskas, shines a light on how the recording of the new album is coming along and his thoughts on the shift in the music industry.

What’s up Mark! A quick history lesson is called for. Can please give our readers a brief history on the band and how it all began?

Google us. It's a long & boring story.

So I heard that you guys are writing new material for a new album due out sometime this year or the next. I’m pretty sure that it’s going to be absolutely great. How is the recording coming along and what direction are you guys headed with the new album?

For us to have an absolutely great new record, first you should lower the expectations (Try this @ home, it works..) Recording has not started yet as we haven't been off the road, but we go in May 9 to begin. We're keeping our options open as far as the direction for the new material, but pretty much we want it to sonically sound like In Rainbows meets Evil Urges (new My Morning Jacket). What was I saying about lowering expectations?

“Small Steps, Heavy Hooves,” is one great album! How much has changed in the songwriting, production, or sound since that album and where are you guys currently drawing inspiration from while writing the new album?

Thanks. Pretty much the songwriting has changed from the band arranging Ian's songs he had written before the band was complete, to the new material being a group written effort. The production will change from us using all metronome click tracks & recording in a sterile track by track method, going to a more live feel, where we'll record in more of a free time method and record parts together.

So it is it safe to say that you guys are going to be hitting the road real soon to support the album? Any plans of making a video or a live DVD to supplement the release of the new album?

Yes, on the road in July with Motion City Soundtrack & Spill Canvas, which will be post-recording but pre-release & forever touring past that. Video for sure, sometime, maybe & DVD absolutely--but still not quite sure. Vague much?

The ever evolving world of music is growing to massive proportions everyday with everyone clamoring for the top spot. Where do you guys fit into this musical landscape and what are you guys’ thoughts on the current music scene?

I don't don't know & don't don't really really care. There's good music out there to be heard, but generally doesn't have anything to do the musical scenes.

Let’s take a detour here. Somebody came up to me the other day and started ranting about the dangers of global warming and such. Do you guys believe in global warming and are you guys going green anytime soon?

N/C

While watching the band’s you tube videos for ‘record writing process,’ it dawned on me that you guys put a lot of thought into your songs. It’s really nice to see that you guys are dedicated to the music but what do you guys do to relax and pass the time when not making music?

Hang out with our families & friends and do a lot of outdoor activities like ride bikes, shoot hoops, & throw balls. But sometimes nothing.

"I don't don't know & don't don't really really care. There's good music out there to be heard, but generally doesn't have anything to do the musical scenes."

Do you guys ever pay attention to the charts or what’s going on in the radio?

NO.

Bad nights suck and I mean they really really suck. How do you guys handle the bad nights and what do you guys do to get over the bad nights?

N/A

More and more bands are coming up with new ways to sell music and get it out to the public, without any help from the big boys. What do you guys think is happening to the shift in the music industry and how does it affect you guys as a band?

I suppose the affect has yet to be determined for us. We don't really know what those trends & shifts are.

I’m pretty sure that you guys get a lot of messages on your site or myspace. Who gets to answer all the messages and how do you guys deal with weird/nasty messages if any?

I do. We've gotten some angry Paramore fans who have taken the time to tell us how horrible we are and to kill oursleves. We thought it'd be fun to post their message to our fans to let them know what they think of that negative person, but that would probably piss off the MySpace police to publicly post someone's private message to thousands of people.

As a soon to be father, I need all the advice I can get. I heard one of you guys welcomed a new-born baby into the fold. Can you guys give me any advice about welcoming my baby into this world?

N/A

Has there been any artist or band lately that have inspired a competitive fire inside of you guys?

Fog, Dr. Dog, My Morning Jacket, Radiohead for inspirations, but we don't treat writing music as a competition. But I would say we've picked up some tips from bands we've toured with of how to better our live shows. We would like to be the best live band every night.

Any additional comments or shout-outs?

N/A

Thanks Mark!



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