Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Music news Catching up with Cyrus Shahmir of the N.E.C.
Posted by Chad Radford @ChadRad on Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Related cover story: On the haunt: Double Phantom Records breathes new life into Atlanta's DIY scene
Chad Radford: Tell me about how you are involved with with Double Phantom Records.
Cyrus Shahmir: I recorded my band, the N.E.C.'s side as well as the Jovantes side on our split 10-inch on Double Phantom. I recorded our 7-inch as well as the Carnivores and Abby Go Go split 7-inch... I’ve been making music for a long time, and I’ll make things that could potentially only appeal to me, but that’s just in an exploration of sounds and shit. But I have always wanted to write songs, and I actively think about how to do it. When I started getting interested in Rob’s House Records a few years back it was a very fertile time here in Atlanta. It was right when the Selmanaires had just come out with their first 7-inch on the label and the Gringos -- or I guess they were still A Fir Ju-Well -- did a single with Rob's House. But also the Black Lips and Deerhunter were there and the variety of that time was what appealed to me about everything that was going on.
I was trying to figure out how to put something out on vinyl and Double Phantom friended me on Myspace – and that’s a good example of the value of Myspace. That alone facilitated me getting my first 7-inch pressed. What’s funny is the e-mail that I sent to them said ‘yo dudes, we’re trying to put out a 7-inch. Who’s got the vision?’ I wanted to see if they recognized potential and my whole point is that maybe what you see right now is not all that it will become. I have always strived to be better and better and better.
Tell me more about what the Atlanta music scene was like for you when you first really started getting involved.
I remember seeing Deerhunter playing the end of “Spring Hall Convert” and it was like the first time I had heard it live and standing at the front of the stage at the old Lenny’s, and when that place was packed from the stage all the way to the back where the pool tables were you could feel an energy. At that time the band was at a stage where they were into just pushing it and going as far as they could go with it and it was extremely visceral. It felt like I was in the CBGBS of the '70s but it was happening right now, and it didn’t feel like a Disney ride. This shit was real and everyone was tapping into it. It was powerful and it was one of the coolest shows that I had ever been to. That place was special as a venue and it sounded really cool in there too, so it was one of those awesome Atlanta music experiences.
And then the next week the Black Lips played there for their last time and there is just something that's very Atlanta about them and again, everyone was tapping into it. That happens here, energy comes out at different times; sometimes it's at a house show. People understand it and it’s one of those things that keeps me in Atlanta. The energy is here and it is palpable and it’s a lot different from other places. Some people might take it for granted, but there is a great energy here and it’s an Atlanta thing.
Tell me about the forthcoming EP by the N.E.C.
It’s called Is and we’re having our release party at 529 on Januray 29.
Is it going to be a cassette tape release?
No, it’s a legitimate release that will be a cassette, CD and vinyl.
Why did you go the cassette route with it?
A while back I picked up the King Tuff cassette tape when one of those Burger Records bands played in town, and I’ve always been into cassettes as a music lover /audiophile kind of person. It gets a different response from anything else. I grew up with tapes and I have always found that when it comes to people who buy tapes, 9 times out of 10 they’re actually going to listen to the tape and will probably be into it, and that’s exactly who I’m trying to reach. Even if it’s just 50 people, they’re still putting in the tape and listening to it while they’re driving down the highway and that to me is the reason for making a tape -- Aside from aesthetic differences. It’s a tape and it has a different sound and a different format. My car still has a cassette player in it so I listen to tapes all the time.
And what about the vinyl and CD formats?
We have already made the CDs and they’ll be available for $5 or $6, and Mansfield is doing the vinyl on Double Phantom. All of the formats will have different art work. The tape has our side from the 10-inch squeezed on there and the stereo spectrum is different on the tape from everything else. That’s not really here nor there, but it is a visceral difference that you will hear from cassette tape vs. the CD and the vinyl. They will all sound different. The vinyl will obviously sound supreme. It’s going to be about 10 or 11 minutes per side with really deep groves, so it’s going to be loud.
The N.E.C. plays Double Phantom Records' Phantomfest at The Star Bar on Sat., Dec. 12. $5. Festival begins at 7 p.m. 437 Moreland Ave. 404-681-9018.
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