All photos by Mariana Agostini.
After Market’s performance at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, our event photographer Mariana Agostini caught up with the band and talked to them about their music and history.
What was the inspiration behind the name and cover of the album?
Market: The name actually comes from a Market song that didn’t make the album. The title felt relevant to me still, and sort of summed up a lot of what was going on with me while writing the songs. The “gong” is one that rings when something is internally wrong, a little mental tickle that says you’re not yourself, you’re off, you’re full of it. It’s not necessarily a bad thing or something worthy of judgement, but instead something to notice and regroup and address. It has to do with the balance between self critique and self acceptance. I’m being a little vague. I also just like how it sounds and think it’s funny. It’s life. There’s always that brutal gong ringing in your ears. Then you die.
How long have you been writing and making music together?
Market: Market has existed for about seven years in various forms, and we have all been part of it for much of that time, but this exact formation and this set of music is more like 3 or 4 years old. We’re all good friends from college so we’ve been making music in this and other bands for much longer. Some of that music has sounded very different…free jazz and experimental soundscapes and folk bands. It has settled out into this version of Market, my favorite yet.
Can you speak on your time in Massachusetts while making the album?
Market: We did nice fancy studio basics of the band, then went to the woods of Western Massachusetts with those tracks to add lots of little layers and get weird. The record still does essentially have the feeling of the live band at the core of it, which is crucial, but the fleshing out and experimenting stage in the woods was my favorite part. Handclaps and group vocals and clarinets and weird percussion and hitting blocks of wood on the ground and droney synthesizers and a lot of fuzzy guitar…it’s all in there. There are lots of small details and mistakes that we decided to leave in. Whenever I hear the record I’m reminded of this big carpeted room above the garage where we did everything. The windows were open a lot so you can hear birds in the quiet parts of some songs. We also played a lot of cards and hiked up the giant gravel mountain nearby and ate a lot and went one night to hear Cate Le Bon play. It was one of my favorite weeks.
Do you have a ritual before you go on stage?
Market: We probably each have a slightly different one. I definitely try to have a connective moment with the others before getting up there. Nothing special, just hanging out and laughing and being present instead of running around dealing with the guest list and friends arriving and stuff. It’s corny but if you’re not having fun up there it won’t be a good show, so the best way to treat the moments right before is to forget your preparations and enjoy each other, pretend you’re in rehearsal. Our rehearsals are really fun, there are a lot of dumb jokes. Possibly more dumb jokes than music playing. I think bringing some of that energy right before you start is a good counterbalance to how official and presentational and sometimes nerve-wracking it is to be on stage. Less vocal warmups, more butt jokes. That’s rock n roll.
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Mariana also had a few things to say about the venue, Baby’s All Right!
What did you think of the venue?
Mariana: Baby’s All Right was a great venue. Very intimate, had a great ambiance and great lighting. It’s very charming and welcoming. I would 100% go back to see another performance. I loved it!
How was Market?
Mariana: It was the first time I heard of the band Market, and I loved their music. I’m glad I got to hear it live, which to me is always better.