TPR Featured Interview: Dead Leaf Echo

By: Jordannah Elizabeth

Dead Leaf Echo have just announced the release date of their first full length album. This full-length debut has been a work in progress for over three years, as this influential New York-based band, self-described as brandishing a  “Nouveau Wave” and Shoegaze quality of sound. Of course, the patient anticipation up until the forthcoming release has allowed Dead Leaf Echo to experiment with, discover, and perfect their unique sound, in an honest effort to produce a work of art that is both relevant and psychedelically spectacular for their listeners.

 Lg Galleon (Guitar / Bass /Vox) was happy to open up to us about the great journey that the band has traveled to complete this record, and how he’s coped with the long, and sometimes arduous process.

You guys are coming out with a new album in March of this year. Tell me about the process you embarked on to write and record this album?

It took a very long time and was quite a journey.  Writing was done from 2009-2010. We played rehearsals though 2010 and did all the basic tracking in 5 days at Mission Sound in December 2010 with John (Fryer). Some additional tracking was finished there after another 5 days. So we spent 10 days total at Mission. Then we did another 5 days of tracking at Strange Weather studios with Justin Colletti.  Mixing was done in Olso, Norway with John in October 2011. Mastering, artwork, films, and final mixes were all completed last year.

In this new, “digital music age,” it’s very hard to find support to properly fund and release a professional album. How do you wade through this new D.I.Y. generation to find the proper backing you’re looking for to be able to create the conceptual art that you imagined from day one? 

It’s very hard.  It’s all about drive and D.I.Y., but it had always been that way.  There’s nothing new about that. It’s hard for any band. Now, it’s just less money coming from one market (record sales).  So now, everyone’s scrambling.  But now [bands] have a platform beyond the live show. They have social media, video channels, etc. and that brings this instant gratification. You now have internet bands born out of dorm rooms. Very few bands made videos in the 80’s unless they had the budget from a legitimate major label. Now you don’t need that.  You’ve got a buddy with DSLR camera, you’ve got garage band, and “boom.” But you have to be willing to tour your ass off which is almost just as unreliable of a plan if you ever expect to live a rooted life by the time you’re over the age of 25.

Congratulations on signing with a new label. What made you decide to go with Neon Sigh Records? 

They’re an extremely supportive, optimistic west coast collective that has continually renewed my faith in what made me fall in love with indie record labels in the first place.  This is their motto- “Neon Pop Record Label in the tradition of Factory, Creation, Clairecords, Sarah, 4AD, etc. Never Lose That Feeling but always search for new horizons…” How could you not love that?

Do you plan on touring once the album is out?

We’re going on a three-week tour including a release party at Mercury Lounge on 2/27 for the album release.  After that we’ll tour out to SXSW, which will cover the east coast and southeast.

Do you find it easier to have a slow and steady approach when it comes to the pace of the advancement of your career? Do you sign contracts that last more than a year or one album, do you take months on your videos and albums, or do you tend to work quickly and produce large catalogs of work in a short amount of time?

It really depends on the scope of the project you’re working on. Being that we waited so long from when we formed (2006) until we actually released a proper LP it has been a bit built up, and a bit too much of one if you ask me. Our previous releases were EP and singles built around visuals have slowly come out every one to two years, but the LP became this larger than life thing built around a strong hold-fasting concept.  To be honest with you it all just took too long. We just couldn’t get the final details perfected and weren’t sure if the album would even be released. I work on inspiration so when that hits you have to tap in because it could be gone the next day.

What and were your musical influences for your next record? 

I have no idea if there will be a next record. This current one has taken quite a long toll and will continue to do so throughout the promotion of it for part of this year. There are some demos forming, but it will take a while to happen, I’m sure.

How was it working with John Fryer?

We’ve worked with him for quite a lot of our material.  We worked on a few singles, one EP, and this LP. It was fun in the beginning, like tapping into some mysterious British force.

What do you anticipate in regards to your plans for 2013?

I don’t anticipate anything anymore. I expect nothing to happen and thereby, I save myself from any fallout due to built up expectations. It’s really the way to be.  Remove the emotions. Get Buddhist on it.