Interview with Brian King from Oranjuly
Time for another interview, my friends. This time, I gchatted (yes, that’s a real word) with Brian King from the band Oranjuly:
Brendan Boogie: Oh, you’re going to start the interview?
BK: Ladies first.
BB: Ok, you are by far my most aggressive interview to date. I like it.
BK: That’s how we roll. We’re aggressive in Oranjuly. Aggresive dudes who love Steely Dan and yacht rock.
BB: Surprises for Saturday? Well, we’ve got some guests joining in. Jason Dunn of The Luxury will be playing with us, as will a guest I’m contractually not allowed to mention. Want a clue?
BK: Is it Bobby McFerrin?
BB: It’s Will Dailey. Fuck it – CBS Records can sue me if they want.
BK: I have yet to see Will play out. This bums me out. And Dunn, he’s everywhere. He should wear the Duran Duran outfit he wore for Halloween. Everyone should.
BB. So what about you guys – anything special planned for this Saturday?
BK: Of course. We’re changing our arrangements up completely for this set. We’re usually more guitar-focused, but I’m playing that lovely upright at the Lizard and we have some very random semi-covers. And our keyboardist Greg is playing trumpet and melodica – it’s much different than our normal set. This is our first show at the Lizard – so it’s an honor. You lucky bastards get to play there ALL the time. I’m jealous.
BB: It is a really great room. So for people who haven’t seen you guys, why don’t you give the folks a brief history of the band? Or don’t. You know, no pressure.
BK: We’re actually robots. No, really – we all met in normal circumstances – friends, college, ex-girlfriends. I write all the material so these gents bring my songs to life essentially. I can’t speak for them but I will anyway – it’s a dictatorship we all love.
BB: I certainly love my dictatorship.
Brian: It’s great. I’m very focused. Usually, though, if someone says something might be off-putting or odd well still take chances on that type of stuff. How about you? You write everything, right?
BB: I do all the writing, but for me that means more just the chords, melody and lyrics. I’ll tell the rest of the band about how I want it to feel, but I don’t really tell them what to play. They’re too good.
BK: That’s pretty cool. I’m more of an arrangements kinda guy than anything else so I’m a perfectionist over sounds and mood. We’re not Sigur Ros by any means but sophisticated pop is hard to do well.
BB: So you get pretty specific with your instructions to the band?
BK: Very. To almost a fault but it serves us well. I tend to like bands who are like that. Beach Boys, ELO (yes, im serious), McCartney, Steely Dan – we have nothing in common with them really but it’s that sound perfection-vibe. I’ll usually record an entire demo with all the parts and bring that in to get my idea across. I’m horrible at music terminology because I’m not schooled. The rest of my band knows their theory. Not me. Your recent album, was this your first since Scamper?
BB: No, my second. We came out with the Disposable Pop EP in 2008 and the new one last month.
BK: Ah. I’m always weird about releasing EPs. I don’t know why. It’s practical. We haven’t put out anything yet. We’re HOPING to release our album in April.
BB: Are you in process at all?
BK: Yes, have been for a year. The mixing is taking forever and I’m very picky and indecisive, but I want to release something I’m happy with I guess. Where did you record?
BB: With Jason at Madscience in Allston. It’s funny that you talk about perfectionism. It’s one of the things I vowed to get rid of when I started my own project. I’d rather have a lot of good records than one great record, you know?
BK: That’s a great point. Actually, I want to release an EP after this record of just up-tempo, high-energy (but still quirky and sophisticated) not so meticulous songs. This is also my first band. So it’s all interesting to me.
BB: What have you been doing before this band? What’s your background?
BK: I graduated from college in 2006. Started playing music (guitar/piano) around 2003/04 somewhere. Moved to Boston in 2006 and started this band around 2007. It’s been a very revolving line-up but we’ve finally found the right guys to play these tunes.
BB: I like a man who takes his time.
BK: Yeah, it’s good and bad. I’m a writer too and I love reading histories about bands and so I’m a little more calculated in what we do. We’re more aware of our potential failures.
BB: To me, the best thing to realize about local rock is that no one really cares what you’re doing except you. Some people find that depressing. I find it completely freeing.
BK: I totally agree with that. It’s only depressing if you make it that way. If you’re putting out good quality stuff and people dig it – then there’s not much to bitch about.
BB: I like the fact that I can do whatever I want whenever I want.
BK: Oh totally. I like that too. Like this show, I’m totally glad we’re getting to play it because it gives us a chance to do something different.
BB: Whenever I meet bands with major label deals, they envy me, not the other way around. It’s really a whole new world. They’re always sick and pale. They’re calling their wives and girlfriends and trying to muster up another night of rock and roll for hipsters. It’s not a life I want.
BK: You’re totally right.
BB: I usually am.
BK: I like the whole Mike Viola thing. Playing wacky shows doing whatever but having that respect and dedication that his fans have.
BB: It helps that you don’t pay your opening acts.
BK: Ripping people off is truly the key to success.
BB: Viola seems to think so.
BK: I think a lot of Boston bands are aware of this.
BB: Really? I’ve only really been fucked over by a headliner once and it was Viola. Who else is an asshole? Don’t be afraid to name names.
BK: Some bands are just notorious on not getting back on offers to play great shows. Or maybe they just hate us. I dont know. I love Boston but it’s hard has hell to get people out. What do you think?
BB: Yeah, it’s a challenge at times. It seems to be getting better, though. I think the key is putting a lot of effort into promotion, being creative, etc. You and I are both giant facebook whores.
BK: Oh, there’re far worse than us. But even with the other bands who are obnoxiously promotional – they are the ones getting people out. But I still feel like songs are the most important thing to a band. As dumb and obvious as that sounds.
BB: My favorite bands are always song-based bands vs. sound-based bands, you know what I mean? A cool sound is like a cool look to me. Helpful, but not ultimately lasting,
BK: Ahem, Passion Pit. Even though those guys are great live. So much energy.
BB: Man, I didn’t think Brian King, nicest guy in rock, would be such a trash talker. This is tremendous.
BK: I write for the Weekly Dig. The snarkiest paper in the city!
BB: So I must ask, and this is very important – where do you stand on the Conan vs. Leno debate?
BK: I’m gonna get a lot of shit for this. But I like both. Leno’s monologue’s can be hilarious but Conan shaped my bizarre humor. So I’m bummed for Conan.
BB: I’m glad you feel that way about Leno, because you know how I said you were headlining the Saturday night show at the Lizard? I’ve actually changed my mind and now I’m headlining. Sorry, pal.
BK: 
I believe it was Walter Cronkite who said “It’s always good to end an interview on a saddy face.” Check out Oranjuly with Brendan Boogie & The Best Intentions, The Motion Sick, and Paul Melancon. Advance tickets available here.
Tags: interview, Lizard Lounge, Oranjuly
