SN:Sky Nielsen
Gtr/Vox for LA based Rock group Oh No Not Stereo:
You guys recently signed with Takeover Records. How are they treating you guys?
SN: We released our latest EP through Takeover Records for their distribution ability, and we are creating our follow-up full length right now independently as free agents. It seems to totally be the way to do it right now. Honestly though, Takeover isn’t involved with anything we do at this point.
What kind of touring plans does the summer and fall of 2007 hold for you guys?
SN: Oh No is gonna be doing a whole lot of touring the rest of this year. We’re going to see a lot of places for the first time and we’re really stoked. (Like Alaska and Florida) We always keep our website and myspace page up to date with our tour dates, so we advise keeping in an eye out for us. Also we’re gonna be doing a few Warped Tour dates in July. The new Alternative Press issue is gonna feature our band so check that out too!
You guys have a new LP coming out. Can you talk about it?
SN: It’s coming together really well so far. A lot of new direction, really. We have accumulated 20 really great songs already, and plan on having between 30-40 by the time we leave here. We went through a little phase where a lot of the songs we did were very piano generated, so we’re stoked to be working outside the box, going out on a limb because we can. Our friend Airin from the band Sugarcult has been down here helping us out with a few tracks and hanging with us, and we seem to keep getting guest vocalists for the record which is awesome. Danny from National Product and Shawn from The Matches are a couple of my favorite singers, who are helping out with a song each.
Where do you guys draw your inspiration for the songwriting process?
SN: Other music for sure! Girls, working/partying, traveling, living life like it’s your last day every day, friends, and all the crazy motherfuckers we come in contact with that impact the creative aspect of our lives. We live really fast paced lives and draw a whole lot of inspiration from every moment that passes.
How are you guys feeling about the new record so far? Any favorite songs off the record yet.
SN: Yeah we got a song called ‘Miss Hard Time’ that just came out of nowhere a few days ago. I think that one of the coolest things about our new songs is that whenever we have people come over to listen, they all seem to have a different favorite. We’re feeling really good about the progress of the record so far, and have a couple conceptual ideas of what to do with all the songs. Our friends from the band ‘The Photo Atlas’ were here last night and we talked about doing a split with them and ‘Sugarcult’, so we’re anxious to see what’s to come.
Oh No Not Stereo went through an overhaul. Who are the new members, and how has the change affected the band?
SN: We started the band as a duo, just Myk [Lee (drums)] and I… so changing bass players and finding Pat [O’Donnell (guitar)] was quite a smooth process, fortunately. We tour as a 4-piece with Mike Rosenthal on bass. Having four members instead of two or three is quite a sonic difference, and we are stoked to have such a great team to be able to do that.
What was it that brought you to them or vice versa?
SN: We met Pat in LA. Our bands played together once in Hollywood. He was in a band called Knife Fight. Jew Mike randomly fell in our lap via the information superhighway. (Thank you Al Gore)
You guys are currently located in Arizona working on the LP, have you guys started missing LA?
SN: We totally miss LA. We’ve been gone for a while now, it’ll be five months by the time we get back, so we really miss our friends and our house. It calls for an amazing party when we get back so, once again, we’re stoked. Arizona is treating us well though, so no complaints. It’s about 118 degrees right now and the nightlife here in Scottsdale is off the hook.
I read on ONNS Myspace blog that Sky and Pat had a near death experience. Are you guys feeling okay and is it going to inspire a song for the record?
SN: It already has, good call on that one. We are adventurous as hell and had a Rescue 911 moment in the desert. Craziest thing I’ve been through in quite some time. Don’t ever believe 12 bottles of water is enough on a hike, and that you can get water by stabbing a cactus. I almost had to have a kidney transplant from being so dehydrated. Give it up for heat stroke! Pat and I learned some shit that day about helping your homies out. Nothing better than writing a song about something that real.
What or who influences ONNS DIY approach on touring and music?
SN: Our friends are huge inspiration to us, watching them do the same thing that we’re doing, only THEIR way. We consider ourselves a very hard working ‘DIY’ band because it’s the best way to ensure a long career. You’ve gotta climb your way up to the top. We are influenced in many ways just watching how other people do things.
Describe a typical ONNS show?
SN: Well, you can assure yourself that there’ll be an enormous merch table setup on our beer pong table, and ‘running around the venue’ session. Of course crazy amounts of energy, cookies and punch, and one hell of an entertaining and refreshing show where we stick around until the last minute meeting and hanging out with everyone we possibly can. It’s all about having fun with new people on tour.
What kind or music are you guys listening to right now?
SN: Myk is always cranking up the Glassjaw, while Pat is obsessed with the new Brand New record. I was just listening to The Used’s latest record.
How do you believe the Hollywood music scene should be defined? And does ONNS meet those standards?
SN: The Hollywood music scene is pretty dilluted. There are a few clicks going on where people are starting to team up and work together, try and do something different. There’s still a whole lot of stuff going on in LA that’s already been done a million times though. We really like the scene there, as shallow as I make it sound, and every moment that we’re there we strive to make it better any way we can. It needs something else…
What are some of the unforeseen expenditures that come with touring full time?
SN: What, like $6000 in charges for damages to our hotel room in Oklahoma City? We have countless stories where we get button-hooked with some crazy charge. We generally try to be respectful and avoid getting fined- but when you’re driving past the Texas state sign and you see ‘Proud home of President George W, Bush”, what’re you gonna NOT cover his name up with 60 of your stickers???
How would one know if they caught the ONNS disease?
SN: We hope that everyone catches the Oh No disease! Check us out and say hi cause we love hearing from new people, and we’re all personally very responsive. The bug is pretty damn contagious, I’ll warn you. And we know how to party so watch out.
Thanks so much for doing the interview. Anything you guys would like to add?
SN: We have a DVD coming out soon from our SxSW tour this year. We had over 90 hours of hi-definition footage so it’s gonna be sick. Also, we have merch and videos and ringtones, etc. on myspace.com/ohnonotstereo. If you already have a CD, burn it for your friends!!
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