Interview With Brandon Fecteau

Remove Records recently spoke with Brandon Fecteau, drummer in the band Doctor Daisy and local photographer. Checkout Doctor Daisy https://doctordaisy.bandcamp.com/releases  

Read the interview below and visit his website below for a ton of great photos!

Website : imperfecteaunist.com

Instagram : @imperfecteaunist 

Email : imperfecteaunistphoto@gmail.com

Brandon: My name is Brandon Fecteau and I play drums for Doctor Daisy as well as have started my own photography brand, imperfecteaunist. The name comes from a general mispronunciation of my last name, “Fecteau” and found the easiest way to explain it to people was by saying it’s pronounced similar to perfecto. In today’s age of social media being the main way to promote one’s photography, I got sick of seeing massive amounts of over-edited photographs, and decided that I was going to attempt to reach the roots of photography, and go back to the days of when photography was once about just capturing the photograph straight out of the camera, developing the film, and what you see is what you get. With some of my more abstract photography, I have chosen to use specialized filters to achieve a certain effect rather than just uploading it onto Photoshop and messing with the overall integrity of the photograph itself. I started off as a landscape photographer, as I feel like many who pick up the camera for the first time are drawn to do, and over time have strayed away from that more. I feel as though the direction I now want to head in would be a documentarian or art photographer, something that really evokes emotion out of the viewer. One of the main reasons I started getting interested in photography is because of how quickly life is moving and it’s a way of capturing one single moment for eternity, or as long as that negative or photograph is existing in the physical world. 

Remove Records: What are some of your influences?

Brandon: Drum-wise, I would have to say my biggest influences are Alex Sowinski from BADBADNOTGOOD, Mitch Mitchells, and Robert Wyatt. All phenomenal drummers who I feel have perfected the jazz or “jazz-rock” style and who I hope most to emulate and adapt into my own style. 

For influence in the photography scene, I’m definitely more drawn to photographers and cinematographers from back in the 60’s/70’s scene, not to say there aren’t still incredible photographers nowadays, but it draws back to my spiel earlier about going back to the roots of photography. The only two photography courses I have ever taken were both History of Photography and Intro to Filmmaking, and I found throughout that I was much more drawn to what they were doing back then, and utilizing physical materials to “edit” their photographs rather than to digitally manipulate them. That being said, some of the largest influences would have to be Robert Frank, Allen Ginsberg (he wasn’t famous for his photography but still got some incredible Beat scene photographs with his camera), Lee Friedlander, and Henri-Cartier Bresson. I feel like the list could just go on and on, but I really dig street photographers and seeing how life was before my time on this world. 

Remove Records: What are some of your favorite galleries/venues?

Brandon: For music, 20 Front Street in Lake Orion is one of my personal favorites. I helped them set up their live streaming for their shows, and it’s just such a nice intimate space. The people there are all the most genuine venue owners I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Some of the best I’ve personally performed at would have to be The Crofoot, The Loving Touch, and The Magic Stick. 

For my favorite galleries, the ones that I have actually visited would have to be Library Street Collective in Detroit, UICA in Grand Rapids, and The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati Ohio. The internet is so helpful on being able to witness art that you cannot actively go and see firsthand too, there are so many galleries I’ve found through Instagram I hope that I can visit one day. 

Remove Records: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in art/music?

Brandon: My biggest advice to someone just starting out is to keep keep KEEP at it. So many people give up because they feel like they’re “not good enough” or are seeking out approval on social media. Even if you’re not getting likes on your posts, just do it for your own personal enjoyment. Your work will only get better if you want to keep working at it and really hone your craft. Also, make sure to practice as much as you can! Instead of spending hours watching tv or sitting on your phone, do something proactive to better yourself at whatever medium it is you are going after. 

Remove Records: What messages or themes are you trying to convey through your art/music?

Brandon: A big message I’ve found through my attempt to write lyrics is a sense of how everyone is looking for something, whether it be love, purpose, etc. In my photography I am just looking to capture the world in a way it has never been seen before and to offer my own viewpoint of the world, or how it’s seen through my own eyes and how I can capture that through the lens of my camera. I also want to have a more abstract look to some of my photographs to bridge it together between a painting and a photograph, something that people look at and wonder what exactly is going on in that photo or the process behind taking it. 

Remove Records: What are you working on next?

Brandon: I have a few projects in the work right now. The main objective is two photo zines I have in the works, one will be from the nationwide trip I took over this summer of camping and driving across the whole U.S. and the other is a study on the idea of home and what it means to other people. I’d also like to actively start printing my photographs for print work, so that will be something I’ll be advertising soon. In the near future I also want to start doing more cinematography work as well, I’ve started one called “Instant Memories” which is a capture of the moments leading up to taking a specific photograph. 

Remove Records: How do you feel about the future of music/art? 

Brandon: I’m extremely curious to see what the future holds for both scenes. With this digital age, I feel like photography is slightly losing it’s natural feel, but there are still people out there creating some phenomenal digital art. Music has also gotten to be too “perfect” sounding. People can manipulate any sound they want and are using pedal effects on Ableton or Pro Tools rather than to actually have a physical pedal. There’s still some great works coming out of that also, but the big pop artists of today are nowhere near what the “pop” music of the 1960s and 1970s were doing. For example, even though The Monkees didn’t write or perform some of their songs they had so much more feel to it. I think there’s still hope for the art and music scene in the future and there is the possibility of a resurgence of an old scene or art is going to take on a new form altogether. I’m really looking to follow the people who are using old mediums to incorporate new ideas and there’s definitely a scene for that going right now. 

Interview With Android Automatic

Android Automatic is the 80's inspired, modern synthwave recording project of Detroit musician Michael Gene. Android Automatic has released a ton of great music over the years including the new single "Arcade Days", a smooth and shimmery electro-dance track. Michael was kind enough to talk to us about his past playing in indie bands, his influences, making music in the modern wold, and what the future might hold for Android Automatic and art in general. Enjoy!

ANDROID AUTOMATIC

https://androidautomatic.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/androidautomatic/

https://twitter.com/androidautodet

Android Automatic: Thanks for taking the time to chat with me!  My name is Michael, and I am the creative mind behind the 80s-inspired, synth project, Android Automatic.  I started Android back in ’09, as a way to get my emotions out in a creative way.  I played in several indie rock bands for years, including playing guitar in a Detroit band by the name of Call It In The Air.  After CIITA disbanded, I went on hiatus from music for several years, before starting Android Automatic in 2009.  I tried to do the band thing after getting back into music, but things just weren’t the same and not working out, so I decided to go solo and moved from rock and roll to electronic music and started Android Automatic.  The project is about to turn eleven years old in March, and it is still a big part of my everyday life.

Remove Records: What are some of your influences?

Android Automatic: My influences range from classic rock, to electronic, to metal.  As far as influence on the music I write for Android Automatic, some influences include music from ‘80s TV shows and movies, to bands such as Huey Lewis.  The two biggest influences on Android Automatic would have to be Gil Mantera’s Party Dream, a synth duo originally from Youngstown, Ohio, and another synth artist by the name of Anoraak.  When I am not working on Android Automatic, I listen to artists such as Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Daughters, Idles, Archers of Loaf, and some metal acts like Mastodon and Ghost.

Remove Records: What are some of your favorite venues?

Android Automatic: I haven’t played a show in forever, mostly because Android Automatic is a studio-based only project.  When I used to play in indie/emo bands in the ‘90s/’00s, Call It In The Air played the Magic Stick in Detroit a lot, and we had a great time playing with bands like The Promise Ring and Compound Red.  Another great place to play was the Fireside Bowl in Chicago.  Zoot’s in Detroit, back in the day, was another venue that was super fun to play as well.  The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor was always fun too.  I remember playing a show with a band by the name of Commander Venus, before those members became the bands The Faint and Bright Eyes.  Connor was a super cool 16-year-old kid and was so happy to be on tour that summer.  Our bands hit it off really well!  

Remove Records: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in music?

Android Automatic: The music business is full of ups-and-downs, it’s a wild ride.  First and foremost, create your art because you love it, and then let the rest fall into place.  Make music that makes you happy and have a blast doing it.  Sometimes it takes years before people start to notice.  Be patient, work hard and sculpt your sound.  The landscape of music business in the 21st century is a tough one to navigate, so patience is key.

Remove Records: What messages or themes are you trying to convey through your music?

Android Automatic: Even though my music is ‘80s-influenced, I don’t like to include the typical tropes found within the genre.  For example, I try to add a modern sound to my music, typically with the drums.  There are plenty of artists in the synth genre who are trying to sound as ‘80s as possible, even more so than the actual ‘80s were.  That’s cool and all, but that is not me.  I am trying to convey an emotional message that is dripped in melancholy with a dash of optimism through a modern sound. 

Remove Records: What are you working on next?

Android Automatic: I just released a single called “Arcade Days.”  I will be working on a new release over the next year, and I have a few songs that will be featured in a couple of documentaries and TV shows in 2020. 

Remove Records: How do you feel about the future of music/art? 

Android Automatic: I feel great about it!  Art is something that will always be in existence and expanded upon, regardless of medium.  Humans are creative creatures, and as long as messages need to be conveyed, new, creative outlets will be born and re-born to express these messages.  

Interview With Ghost Coasts

Ghost Coasts is an indie rock band from Michigan who have been playing shows around Detroit recently. They released a stellar cassette "Cabin Fever" earlier this year that can also be found on Spotify and Bandcamp. We spoke with the dudes from Ghost Coasts about their sound, their influences, and new music they've been working on.

GHOST COASTS

 https://instagram.com/ghostcoastsband?igshid=o5z17fh2scmj

https://m.facebook.com/GhostCoastsBand

https://open.spotify.com/album/0w8V9YIKLWkb5stw1t7WAN?si=pdCquWUmRVSfXCJjb_czvA

Remove Records: Tell us somethings about yourself and your project.

Connor: I'm Connor aka the beat machine fueling Ghost Coasts' raunchy rhythm section. Ghost Coasts started when Arik (guitar/vocals) & I were in another band together, but felt the need to start our own project as we had a similar outlook on what we wanted from music. I hadn't known Arik for very long but we clicked immediately, so I can truly say Ghost Coasts formed due a blooming (onion) friendship.

Arik:  I’m Arik and I play guitar and sing in Ghost Coasts. The band started about a year ago when Connor and I started jamming separately from our other band and convinced James and later Andrew to join in as well. Things took off pretty quick and we released two songs within a month of starting the band. We all have a pretty intense and shared love for a few different bands and terrible humor so it all works pretty well. 

Andrew: I photographed the cover of Juniper // The Safeword is Pineapple before i was in the band. I was asked a few months later after jamming with Arik, Connor and James. 

Remove Records: What are some of your musical influences? And what are some non-musical influences?

Connor: Musical influences (personally) are so subconsciously taken that this question is hard to answer. I've always taken drumming inspiration from bands like The Police & blink-182 (Travis Barker is like, the first drummer anyone knew by name okay?!) Even little things like time changes & theatrical approaches to music that I learned from marching band sit with me to this day. Some of my non-musical influences include Monty Python, Jim Henson, the number four, Aaron Harman, and a lot of weed. 

Arik: My main musical influences would probably be Stevie Wonder, CHON, The Strokes, Surf Curse, or anything else within the soul/motown parameters really gets me going. Influences that affect my playing and writing outside of other music would definitely be my friends and even complete strangers. Sometimes people can say really poetic and interesting things unintentionally…but they also can say and/or do the most irritating things which makes me want to kill them. There’s a lot of inspiration and angst to draw from in that department.

Andrew: My musical influences include King Krule, Tame Impala, Jimi Hendrix, Jim James, Daniel Cesar, Led Zepplin and Frank Ocean. My non musical influences include Alessio Albi, Co — Star, René Magritte, Salvador Dali, David Alexander Flinn and Mother Nature.

Remove Records: What is your favorite music venue?

Connor: My favorite venue we've played as a band are pretty much any house shows. Nothing beats the energy. My favorite venue I've personally played was this place in Madison, Wisconsin called The Rave. It was across from one of the hotels Jeffrey Dahmer used. This building was HUGE & it had an abandoned underground swimming pool room that all the artists would sign the walls of. Also the place was haunted. 

Arik: There’s a co-op at MSU called the Vesta Cooperative that is my favorite place to play. They’ve invited us out to play a lot of shows and are always a blast to be around. I’ve made more than a few friends playing there. 

Andrew: I enjoy playing at Vesta and Phoenex House. We have made some groovy friends in East Lansing and always have a great time playing.

Remove Records: What advice would you give to someone just starting out in music/ art? 

Connor: My advice for someone starting out in music/art is to consume everything at your own pace. Whether it's music, performing, or networking, the music/art world can be extremely overwhelming & sometimes you feel like you're behind everyone else, but good art isn't going to come from you being stressed/rushed (not saying it can't, but it probably won't). ALSO very important & it's stressed over & over, but networking is literally the key to thriving in what you want to do. I wouldn't be doing 90% of the shit I am now if it wasn't for going out,  talking to people & putting yourself out there. 

Arik: My advice? Don’t create things for other people. Create things for yourself and don’t feel like you need everyone’s approval. Networking is important but don’t pretend to like things you don’t actually like just to try and make friends or make connections. It doesn’t matter how fast or well you can play. Attitude is the most important part. The only technical thing I’d say anyone needs to be able to do is play to a metronome. That shit is important. Cop an attitude in time. 

Andrew: Learn things that you enjoy, enjoy the things you learn and push yourself to be the best that you can be. Believe in yourself.

Remove Records: What messages or themes are you trying to convey through your music/art?

Connor: A lot of the messages we try to convey focus around being sad but also happy, & things being bad but also good. But mostly, rock & roll baby. 

Arik: I don’t typically try to include themes or messages intentionally. They seem to insert themselves if I’m writing from a genuine place. I’d say Connor covered most of it our themes so far. Most of my songs come from a place of irritation or discontent without trying to feel too down and out or sorry for myself. 

Andrew: Arik’s love life is outta control.

Remove Records: What are you working on next?

Connor: We're about to put out a new single, & after that we're going to focus on writing new music and have a BANGER FUN time doing it. Having self-imposed deadlines can be stressful & it's vital to have fun along the way while working on new material so it comes out naturally.

Arik: We have a new single called Rosebud we’ll be putting out soon. Probably gonna lock ourselves in a cabin this winter and hopefully all come out alive and preferably with some new songs. I’d also like to play some more shows out in the Detroit area.

Andrew: We are scheming up a single release and writing some more tunes. 

Remove Records: What do you think about the future of music/art? 

Connor: I'm really interested in what I'll be listening to/getting radio play when I'm 64 years old. Music subtly & naturally will recycle itself over time, hopefully without getting sued by Tom Petty. The idea of modern music is still like, under a century old. If people out here still listening to Beethoven (who probably didn't even know how to use Ableton) then I can only hope that Ghost Coasts has its own special place in 2087.  

Arik: The future is terrifying and unpredictable. I don’t think Tom Petty will be suing anyone since he’s dead BUT.... I do think as long as we have a capitalist economic system that is inherently flawed there will be people who are exploited and discontent with their situation who will need to create art to try and cope with whatever struggle they might be having.  

Andrew: I think it will be exciting and i can’t wait to get a glimpse into the new minds and ideas.

5 Records From: Alex Drysdale

In our '5 Records From:' series we ask local artists to share with us 5 albums that have shaped their music and influenced their life. 

Up next, we have Alex Drysdale (AKA Chafee2Dope) sharing their list. They play in ska-punk band Pineapple Hill and snotty punk group Low Lives In High Places. In addition, they run the Voodoo House and formerly booked shows at the Shangri-La House.

Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens 

This is one of the first albums I remember absolutely loving. As a little dude, I remember my dad and grandparents playing this all the time, and I remember knowing every word to Moonshadow, Wild World, and Morning has Broken. In fact, my first time performing music in front of an audience was singing Moonshadow to my preschool class for show and tell on my Fisher-Price tape player with the built in mic. With this being quite possibly my earliest musical influence that I can remember, I think it’s no coincidence that I’ve always been drawn to simple, well-written songs with poignant lyrics. 

 The Great Milkenko by Insane Clown Posse  

As a kid I remember hearing a little ICP and enjoying it, but not really diving too deeply into it. Once I was in my late teens, I revisited the wicked shit and absolutely fell in love. Of the original Joker’s Cards, The fourth resonated with me the most. Milenko is the Joker’s Card that deals with the temptation of evil and justice for those who’ve wronged you in your life. I got into this album at a very dark point in my life, and hearing Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope rapping about bad people getting what’s coming to them and warning about the temptation of sin was something I think really helped me stay positive. J and Shags yelled about shit so I didn’t have to and it really helped me cope with a lot of what I was dealing with at the time. Also, I‘ll always have a special place for this record because my homie Josh brought me a copy when I was in the hospital at my rock bottom. Throughout my time in the hospital I kept repeating the lyric, “We all gonna die, but I’m not gonna fry. Even though most never try, I’m not gonna let these pass me by, no” and it helped me stay positive. 

 Hunky Dory by David Bowie 

 Anyone who knows me knows I could go on about Bowie for hours, so I’m gonna keep this as brief as I can. Growing up, my mom and dad both listened to Bowie. He’s one of the few artists I never had to discover, because I remember listening him as early as I can remember. Bowie has influenced me from everything from music to fashion, and was a big part of me becoming comfortable with my queerness. I chose Hunky Dory because is simultaneously poppy and experimental, simple and complex. It really challenged pop music conventions at time, but somehow defined them. Bowie’s constant strive to break the mold, while still being easily digestible and familiar, is clear in this album and is exactly what I strive for when I make music. This is what makes him more punk than anyone is, was, or ever will be. 

 Duct Tape Soup by Crimpshrine 

Of everything on this list, I got into Crimpshrine most recently. I gave them a listen after I saw Operation Ivy, Green Day, Jawbreaker, and even Mr. T Experience cited as an influence, and I immediately fell in love. It embodies everything I love about punk; it’s raw, it’s emotional, and it’s full of energy. If I had to pick one band I look to the most when I’m writing and performing with Low Lives in High Places, it has to be Crimpshrine. Jeff Ott’s vocals sound like an asthmatic chain-smoker, the instrumentals the perfect balance of tight and sloppy, the songs are simple but somehow sound completely different than the other punk of the time, and the lyrics are honest, angsty, and thoughtful. The combination of all of this makes for punk rock as it was intended. The feeling I get when listening to this record, no matter how many times I listen to it, makes me feel similarly to way I felt when I first started discovering punk when I was younger. 

 The Fury of the Aquabats! by The Aquabats 

 There’s so many ska records I could have put on this list, but I had to pick the one that made me fall in love with the genre back in middle school. As the weird, dorky, band kid, finding music that was just as dorky as I was, that still had a bit of a punk edge to it, and had saxophone made me feel like I finally found my music. The record is campy, fun, and musically tight, especially Travis Barker’s drumming. Every time I listen to it, I get huge wave of nostalgia and remember that music doesn’t always have to be so serious all the time. Also, without this record, I would have never gotten into Operation Ivy, The Specials, or any other ska band. 

 Honorable Mentions: Energy-Operation Ivy, Milo Goes to College-Descendents, Boogadaboogadaboogada-Screeching Weasel(Fuck Ben Weasel though), The Bible 2-AJJ, Self-titled-Bruce Lee Band, Station to Station-David Bowie, Start Today-Gorilla Biscuits, 13 Songs-Fugazi, Self-titled-The Specials, Too Much Pressure-The Selecter, No Gods No Managers-Choking Victim, The Green Album-Skankin Pickle, The College Dropout-Kanye West, 36 Chambers-Wu Tang Clan, Big Lizard in my Backyard-Dead Milkmen, Fear of a Punk Planet-The Vandals, Self-titled-Violent Femmes, Rocket To Russia-The Ramones, She’s So Unusual-Cyndi Lauper, We Cool?-Jeff Rosenstock, Disintegration-The Cure, Ribbed-NOFX, Fist City-Tribe 8, That’s So Gay-Pansy Division, Actually-Pet Shop Boys


Uploaded by Joey

Interview with 208 (Kyle Edmonds & Shelby Say)

Remove talked to premier garage-rock duo 208 about their origins, philosophy on music, and their explosive debut tape Enough! Enough! 

What's the origin of 208? How did it get started and what were the early days of the band/project like?

Kyle:  the name 208 comes from the address of a warehouse I used to practice at with my friends; it was far away from anything so we could make as much racket as physically possible and play until we couldn't hear anymore. That place acted as an incubator for everything I make now.

208 as a band was born sometime in mid-2018; I had recently cut ties with a bandmate and wrote/recorded the songs on Enough Enough in my bedroom a few months later; Shelby and I lived together and all the noise I was making seemed to spark her desire to play the drums.

Shelby: When Kyle asked me if I wanted to play with him I was totally on board because I'd wanted to be involved in a band for so long. I never expected to be a drummer, but that's just how it worked out and I'm super stoked to be a part of it. I learned to play through Kyle showing me how he wanted the drums for the songs, we would jam them and I started to throw in my own little parts. After about a year, right before we moved to Michigan we had our first show at a friend's house and now we're here.

What's the story behind Enough Enough? 

Kyle: the record is a direct response to what was happening in my life at the moment; I had intense feelings, recorded them on the spot and added nothing. the record is an image of the mental anguish I was watching my mother go through, struggling with my father being stricken by drug addiction and ego. For instance, "FEAR" is a scene where a man, controlled by the fear and confusion of who he is and what he wants. the man ultimately ends up so overcome with anger he strangles his partner, consciously watching the person he loves die by his hands. 

The decade is about to come to a close. What was your album of the decade?

Kyle: When I was young my dad was searching for car parts at the junkyard, and when he got home he called me into the garage to show me what he had found in the trunk of a car; it was almost every single Beatles album. My parents gifted me a record player alongside those records a few months later and the first I put on was “Beatles ’65” (the u.s. version of Beatles for Sale) and I listened to it every chance I got for years.

Shelby: There’s so many I could choose from…but I’d say it’s one of the first records I ever bought on vinyl, The Velvet Underground & Nico, that I found while in Atlanta. I listened to it a lot and was really inspired. That album helped me discover new bands that started to change my entire taste in music, which in turn helped me become a better version of myself as a human and an artist.

What was your favorite moment of the year?

Kyle: Playing devils night with Pharma and Toeheads. 

Shelby: Without a doubt it was moving to Michigan. I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to leave Florida. It didn’t feel like home. It wasn’t a place that inspired me. Even though I barely had enough money to move here it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I feel like I’ve had better times in the 7 months living here than my whole life in Florida. 

What can we expect next from 208? Any new music on the way?

Kyle: Yeah! we've got something in the works right now; we've been playing two songs that are still like the demo versions at our past few shows…it should end up being a "full length" record when we're done.

What's the band philosophy?

Kyle: don’t think twice.

Any band goals for 2020?

Kyle: we haven’t really thought of the future too much, but recording music and playing shows are the overall goals…hopefully some video stuff to come with the new music as well.

Shelby: play the drums harder and better.

Why does DIY mean to you?

Kyle: freedom. people doing exactly what they want and supporting those around them.

Shelby: empowerment through self-sufficiency, and the capability to fully express yourself in simple yet impactful ways. 

Questions by Joey Molloy

Interview with Joe Hill

We talked to scene veteran and local music enthusiast Joe Hill about some things and tried to see if we could uncover the secrets surrounding the mysterious legend.

Tell us a secret. 

I don’t keep secrets. 

Best band in the scene?

Fake surfers. 

Best gig you've ever been to and why? 

Waterheads at the new dodge. Dee putman ended the new dodge forever. Most punk thing I’ve ever seen.

Best release this year from the local area? 

Teejayx6 - dark web 

Who is Devil Dom? 

No comment 

Will you ever join a band? 

Probably not 

What are you looking forward to in 2020? 

Well I’m turning 23 and that’s one step closer to 24 which is when they say most people get their life figured out their life. That would be pretty cool if I could do that.