Records fueled by fun and complexity are not easy to come by. Rubblebucket’s latest release, Survival Sounds, follows in the band’s tradition of creating albums of this sort. By layering jazz, swing, and electronica elements on top of a clean, pop foundation, the eight-member collective create sounds to swoon over.
Before their Sunday show at High Noon Saloon, Jonk Music spoke to singer Kalmia Traver about their sound, their foundation, and the music industry.
How would you describe your style?
“Free, funky, fresh, bouncy, angular, loving, DIY, dance-movey, fun.”
How does the energy of eight musicians on stage affect your performance?
“We have been playing and traveling—i.e. sharing tight spaces—together for many years, and we have developed a fluid playful vibe together on and off the stage. We all love performing and reacting to the different energies that different crowds have. It can definitely be a challenge after long daily van rides to get into the music playing, jumping around singing and dancing zone, but we help each other get there each night. It’s amazing to have seven other bodies onstage to depend on if I’m having a slow night, and vice versa.”
What’s your songwriting process like?
“Alex wrote most of the music on this album, Survival Sounds, save a couple tracks that were collabs. Once the demo is created and sent out we all work as a band to refine it and choose sonic textures, iron out the kinks, and bring it to life. Most of the album was written for the studio, so we have just been getting the live versions together for this tour. It’s the first time we’ve ever had flutes on the road!”
How do you apply a formal music education to the electronic elements of your sound?
“Most of us were jazz students and we have varying degrees of training with programming electronic music, but learning recording software as well as the ins-and-outs of vintage analog synthesizers has been a big part of my growth as a composer, and that’s actually true for all of us. Ian is a legitimate producer/programmer, and we all love, appreciate, and practice the art of recording music. Growing up on a healthy mix of Irish traditional fiddle music and bebop, I have learned almost all I know about rock ‘n’ roll and mainstream pop music from these bad boys. It’s been a real education.”
Who are your biggest influences?
“When I grow up, I want to be like a mixture of Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Jackson, David Byrne and Lynch, John Congleton, The Beatles, and my mom and dad. Definitely without Neverland Ranch.”
What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of the music industry?
(laughs) “Well, we didn’t pick this profession because it was easy. It’s all a challenge. It is incredibly gratifying to be shouting my soul out to the world each night, making a relative living out of it, and to be sharing a community with some of the most inspiring-to-me people I know. It can be draining for sure, but… hmmm, I don’t know. Good challenge or bad challenge? Challenge to me always means a good thing.”
What are your favorite tracks to perform live, and why?
“I love to play ‘Shake Me Around Road’ because it has a special dance, and I love to ‘Save Charlie’ because it’s so fun and bouncy. I also love playing ‘Origami’ because there’s a cool flute part I get to play, and it makes me happy in the chorus when everybody sings along.”