Desert Mountain Tribe - Either That Or The Moon (2017). Entrevista a Jonty Balls

Desert Mountain Tribe en concierto en la sala Sidecar Factory Club (Barcelona) el próximo 14 de Septiembre

Desert Mountain Tribe son un trío formado por Jonty Balls (guitarra y voz), Felix Jahn (batería y voz) y Philipp Jahn (bajo). Se dieron a conocer con el tema “Coming Down” incluido en Reverb Conspiracy Volume 2. Fuzz Club Records y que les lanza rápidamente de gira por Europa tocando en los principales festivales de la comunidad pysch.

DESERT MOUNTAIN TRIBE
Either That Or The Moon (2017)

En 2015, fueron invitados a participar en el Converse Rubber Tracks Recording Project en Londres. Ahí producen un puñado de buenos y frescos temas consiguiendo un sello (Membran Entertainment Group en Europa/UK y Metropolis Records en América).

Su debut “Either That Or The Moon” salió en primavera 2016 con una calurosa acogida en  plataformas tan importantes como Drowned In Sound, Louder Than War y Classic Rock. Además, adquieren notable rotación en las radios universitarias americanas y la legendaria KEXP, donde son invitados a dar unas sesiones en directo. Con el lanzamiento del tema “Enos in Space” (On top of the World) mezclada por Youth, la banda sigue sumando apoyos; esta vez de BBC6 y Virgin Radio.

Durante la pasada primavera lanzan digitalmente dos EPs: ‘Live at Saint Pancras Old Church’ y ‘If You don’t know Can you don’t know Koln’.

Nuestro compañero Josechu Egido ha hablado con ellos sobre este primer larga duración.

THE INTERVIEW

Your songs sound like intensive Psychedelic music mixed with an elegant Rock and darkness Pop. A great mix of styles that results on the fantastic sound of your music. So, what really are your musical influences?

We try to not sound one dimensional and so are our influences.

In the beginning we were influenced a lot by the likes of BJM, Dead skeletons, black angels, Stone Roses etc.

Over the years our musical taste progressed naturally and we now take inspiration from a variety of artists and genres from Krautrock to Prince. 

Next year marks 5 years since Desert Mountain Tribe created your song “Coming Down”. What is the difference between the music of Desert Mountain Tribe today and your music 5 years ago?

We still love playing "Coming down". It was one of the first songs we ever wrote and it has a special place in our hearts. I think in general we try out more different things, other instruments, work with different musicians. It's just a natural development most musicians and bands go through. You always try to progress as an artist. In a way it would be boring to just play the same style for your whole life.

You edited your first LP titled " Either That Or The Moon" in Spring 2016..Has it fulfilled this work with your expectations? Still, do you expect more from this album? 

We are very happy with the album and are still enjoying to play it live. However, we have just finished recording the new record and are now focusing on post production for that record. 

What do we will see and enjoy in your live concerts for next tour around Spain?

You will hear many songs we will try out in spain that have never been played love before! 

What are your plans for this year 2017 and next 2018? We assume that you will touring around clubs and festivals. Can you advance anything to us? Any important event?

We will be definitely be touring a lot again but the big thing will be the new album, which will hopefully come out in the beginning / spring of the new year. We are really excited to share this with everyone. 

Do you think the digital world will end with music as we know it today? What do you think is the future of music?

It certainly has changed the musically landscape quite a lot. Not only the Internet itself which is now so important for marketing and distribution but the production side is now almost completely digital and a lot cheaper compared to the analog days.

You don't need a record label backing you to make a record. Technically you can do that with a very small budget from your bedroom and then just publish it yourself online. So in a way artists are more independent now but at the same time this means there are more records and new bands coming out then ever before. So to make the cut and actually make a living of it has probably become more challenging. 

I think the new future will be that the underground will continue to grow and that eventually people get tired of the same autotuned dance/rnb shit. I hope at least. But it's such a deep and complex topic. I can't answer this in a normal interview question....

What is your best memory about music? 

Playing music myself is when everything clicks on stage, the crowd is there and you just see everyone enjoying it.

How is a normal day in the life of Desert Mountain Tribe?

Just a normal day really. I could probably make up a great rock star story but it's probably not too different from most musicians. Wake up and have a good coffee. Meet at the studio, work on songs. 

What do you think about the current economic and social situation in Spain, Iceland, Europe and World in general?

It's something I think about a lot. And again it's way to complex to answer in one interview. 

I think at the end of the day most people who voice their opinion don't know enough about it to be qualified to talk about it publicly or are only able to see things from one perspective. 

It doesn't help anyone to divide people into left, right, rich and poor. Social influences play too big a role especially with the influences of the likes of Breitbart etc. 

I guess the only long term solution is thorough and unbiased education.

DESERT MOUNTAIN TRIBE

Interstellar (2017)

MISCELLANY

Could you tell us about...

... A book?: 

Hermann Hesse – Siddharta. I read at least once a year. My favourite author and this book in particular just leaves me in a good mood

... A movie?: 

Anchorman. Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diago, which of course in German means a whale's vagina. 

... A song?: 

The Vagabond Stories - Mental Dysfunction / Mental Arrangement. We usually play this at 5 in the morning at after parties. Best song.

... An album?: 

Holy Wave - Freaks of Nurture . Our go to album when we're on the road.

... A group or soloist?: 

Falco. Austrian legend or David Bowie, world wide legend.

... A hobby?: 

Football and skateboard.