311 – Downtown Magazine

Over 10 years ago, Matisyahu experienced the joy of having his first hit single, “King Without A Crown.” Not only did “King” crack the Top 30, but its accompanying album sold over 500,000 copies within a year of release. Many critics were quick to dismiss Matisyahu as a novelty artist — the lone Hasidic Jew within the reggae world — yet things never slowed down for him. He had the unofficial theme song of the 2010 Olympics. He has toured alongside Sting, 311 and Sublime With Rome. He has collaborated with a wide array of artists, including P.O.D., The Dirty Heads, Wyclef Jean, The Crystal Method, Moon Taxi, and Avicii.

Back in November, Matisyahu released a new EP, Release The Bound. In support of that, he kicked off his annual Festival Of Light tour on Dec. 14, which included three nights at Manhattan’s City Winery. Downtown caught up with Matis for some Q&A to learn more about his past, present and future; the near-future will reportedly include a new full-length album later this year. Matisyahu can be visited online at www.matisyahuworld.com and also followed on Twitter and Facebook.

What do you wish more people knew about you?

Matisyahu: That I am single. (laughs)

In putting out nine releases over the past 11 years, plus some collaborations and one-offs, you have released more music than the majority of major artists. Are you writing frequently?

M: I take opportunities to write and record in collaborations with other artists or musicians pretty much constantly. Most of my time in music though, is spent playing shows. Every two years or so I go into an intensive process of writing. For example, we came off the road in September and went immediately into writing mode. Then I spent three months writing and recording my new record to be released this spring. In a sense though, we write as a group every night when we play because If the improvisational nature of my live show. So even though we only spent three months writing and recording, we spent the better last of two years as a unit on the road creating a sound and experimenting with what the next record will feel like.

How would you describe Release The Bound to a longtime fan of yours that hasn’t heard it yet?

M: It’s a collaborative piece. Three different producers, so there are a few different vibes. It’s a typical Matisyahu melding of sounds and styles blending of genres, but it definitely leans towards a more danceable upbeat up lifting modern sound.

Do you have a favorite song on Release The Bound?

M: Don’t really have a fav. The songs are kind of like kids. Kind of love them the same for different reasons. I guess I was gonna to point to one tune it would be “Shade From The Sun.” It has a more organic sound, kind of African vibe, dancehall reggae flow.

I remember watching Jimmy Kimmel Live the night you made your TV debut. Looking back, was that an enjoyable experience?

M: YES! That was such an exciting time for me. Coming out Yeshiva and the books and the basement in Crown Heights to realizing my dreams in such a surreal way. It was also a lot of travel, and being tired, and waiting around. So it was fun and awesome and at the same time a bit of a reality check on what having a music career is made of.

For your December shows in New York, did the disco dreidel make an appearance?

M: Yes, the disco dreidel made a comeback and was in full effect at this year’s Festival Of Light tour. I love that thing. It lives in my house.

A video of you dueting with a performer in Hawaii that didn’t know it was you went viral recently. Has anything similar happened to you before?

M: Not really. I’ve heard people listening to my music before. I do love the element of surprise, though. That’s always been fun for me.

When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?

M: Well, I manage myself and have four kids under 12, so I don’t really have much free time. If the weather is good and I have a few hours free, I will most likely call up my dad and we’ll go ride motorcycles up state for a bit. Other then that, I like watching my kids play sports and expanding my consciousness.

What is your favorite restaurant in your neighborhood?

M: There is a cool Israeli cafe type place where I live. They have good coffee and it’s a nice environment. It’s called Art Cafe. But my main spot is called Gypsy Donut. Great coffee and mainly just a nice destination when I need to take a walk. Actually all the dudes that work there are in a band, and I’ve even recorded vocals for “Storm Tossed,” a song I released this summer at their studio in town.

What about a favorite restaurant in downtown Manhattan?

M: Downtown, nothing comes to mind. Guess I haven’t been out for a while. Damn.

Other than your EP, what is your favorite music release of 2016?

M: That’s a tough one. Probably the new Bon Iver and then Frank Ocean in a close second. Ooohhh, Flume Flume Flume and my favorite, probably Vince Staples and Popcaan and Jon Belion, Tycho…Lots of great music out there now.

Finally, Matis, any last words for the kids?

M: For the kids: “Stay calm, breathe deep, listen to music that makes you feel better, trust your instincts, pray for a teacher, find a friend. If you have a passion spend your time in it, if you don’t, then just enjoy the ride and emphasize with your fellow humans and the environment you live in. Put down your phone when something really awesome is happening and just breathe it all the way into your soul. It will make a greater impact than capturing it for social media. Peel off the shell and love with all your heart.”

One of the biggest dance-oriented indie-rock bands out there for over 15 years, The Faint has a long-standing history with New York. The Omaha-based group makes its long-awaited return to our area with an Oct. 6 performance at Webster Hall. Co-headlining with the legendary Gang Of Four, The Faint is currently on the road in support of its career-spanning compilation, Capsule:1999-2016; Capsule features a new recording, “Young & Realistic.”

Downtown caught up with frontman Todd Fink, who is also an acclaimed DJ and designer. Beyond talking about what is ahead for The Faint, he explained the band’s history with record labels, which has brought them back to original home Saddle Creek Records. He also kindly entertained some Nebraska-related questions.

The Faint — which guitarist Dapose, drummer Clark Baechle and new keyboardist also includes Graham Ulicny — can be visited online at www.thefaint.com. The quartet can also be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYbxX_j4euM

I had the pleasure of seeing your band at Webster Hall when you guys not only opened for Bright Eyes, but also served as the backing band for Conor [Oberst]. Was that the most tiring tour you’ve ever been a part of?

Todd Fink: Yes, it was a lot to take on each day for the three who did it. I wasn’t one of them though.

What do you remember about your first show in New York?

TF: The first show I remember in New York would’ve been at the all ages punk/art space called ABC No Rio. Booking and communication was foggier in those days. Apparently it was a matinee, so we missed it. One of our first trips out of town was when we drove to New York to play CMJ, in 1998. I don’t remember the first place we played, maybe CBGB Gallery? I do know that some of our first shows in the city were at Brownies and then Maxwells in New Jersey.

Now that The Faint has more than 15 years of music to choose from, any idea what your setlist will look like at Webster Hall this fall? A career-spanning selection of songs, or more from the latest album?

TF: The album we are out touring in support of is a collection of a bunch of the songs we usually like to play live plus three new songs. Almost everything we’ll be playing is from Capsule:1999-2016. We’ve had fun relearning some of the old jams and we’re super psyched to play a couple of new ones.

Will this tour be the first time you’ve played alongside Gang Of Four?

TF: Yeah, we haven’t met them yet. I’m pretty excited to meet Andy Gill hear some of those Gang Of Four classics! We all went to see ’em at the Fillmore a while back. They were great.

The Faint has been a variety of record labels over the years, including some time with American. Is the plan to keep releasing music through your own label or imprint?

TF: We did have a lot of meetings with American back in the day, but after talking with them — and a bunch of other major labels — we decided to stay on our hometown label after all. Then in 2008, for Fasciinatiion we wanted to see what it was like to put out our own record. After that experience, we decided that it was more work than it was worth, so for 2012’s Doom Abuse, we went with a label that our old assistant manager was running. But unfortunately, they folded around the time we finished the tour. Capsule:1999-2016 is coming out on Omaha’s Saddle Creek Records. Now all of our records will be available from one place which is nice and tidy.

“Young & Realistic” is more dance-oriented, closer to the original direction of The Faint. Do you like to dance outside of performing live?

TF: Oh yeah, I love to dance. Underground techno is my main dance music, but when I DJ as The Faint, it’s more of a synthpop/minimal wave style. Come to think of it, “Young & Realistic” is a pretty good representation of what a Faint DJ set is like.

Dancing aside, what do you like to do in your free time when not busy with touring or recording?

TF: I make hats, shoot billiards, sometimes I sew clothes. I like to do graphic design and make videos when I get the chance. I’ve recently started a duo with my wife Orenda that we are calling CLOSENESS. Graham Ulicny — Faint keyboardist and of Reptar — and I play live hardware based dance music as Channel Pressure.

The Faint is undoubtedly one of the most famous bands to come from Nebraska. Have you guys encountered 311 over the years?

TF: Most of us went to the same high school they did, but they’re all a chunk older so we didn’t know them. Actually, I was in Jamaica last year and I met them while I was swimming in the ocean. I guess they host one of those huge boat cruises.

Johnny Carson had Nebraska ties. Any idea if anyone from your band, or any of your parents, ever encountered Johnny Carson in some capacity?

TF: Nope, I’ve never known anyone who knew him. I’ve met some people who grew up around Nick Nolte, though. I think my uncle and mom went to high school with him. I guess Malcomn X is from here, too.

Is there anything you wish more people knew about The Faint?

TF: Well, our new keyboard player is Graham Ulicny. He sings in Reptar, who we toured with in 2012.