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Interview: Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros
August 24, 8:39 PM
Baltimore Music Events ExaminerLaila Hanson

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Photo Courtesy of Vagrant Records

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros can be considered the hippie sibling to vocalist Alex Ebert (AKA Edward Sharpe)'s LA-based indie/dance band, Ima Robot. Where Ima Robot lacks in lyrical Nirvana, Edward Sharpe soars with flying covers. I had the chance to sit down with Ebert/Sharpe on the band's recent visit to D.C.

Laila Hanson: I was listening to your album on the way over here, and I noticed that you're not in a box at all when it comes to the genres you experiment with. I was wondering if that was intentional during the recording process, and how that all worked with writing the album.

Edward Sharpe (Alex Ebert): Yeah, not being in a box was intentional [Laughs]. I didn't like being in a box, that's part of why I started writing and being a different person. As far as the sound and everything, there's a certain idealistic, sunny day that I was feeling for, and I think maybe the music brought that in.

LH: Did you do anything different or unique in the recording studio?

ES: Oh yeah. Well, we never worked on or recorded on tape before. It was old school, none of us knew what we were doing. Nico knew a little bit what he was doing from reading stuff, but we just went for it. It was really fun. It was a two-inch machine with 10 four-tracks. We were just going for authenticity. It's a big deal. And not that tape is more authentic, but there was something more real about it I guess, because you can hold it. And there's an inherent confinement to it. There are 24 tracks, and you can balance and stuff, but if you do a take, you have to really sing. It's really fun. And also, you don't have to sit in front of a computer for 10 hours a day.

LH: You're known for going all-out during your live shows.

ES: Yeah, it's like a festival! A jamboree. I think the festive and celebratory [moods] are [good]. I enjoy not [doing] the snarling and dark [stuff] that people have already done. You know, something that we actually want to do.

LH: What influences did you draw from when writing the album?

ES: I guess around that time I was listening to a lot of '60s music. But more singer/songwriter stuff, like Dylan and Donavon. There were some bands that I was really inspired by, but I was always sort of doing the same stuff, and I guess it wasn't like I was listening to that stuff at the time that much, it's just that I wanted to sing from my heart and not have a whiny voice.
LH: What kind of venues do you like playing [in]?

ES: I like playing all [of them]. I love parties, bars, the hot and sweaty stuff. Really intense stuff, and then also the big, playing for a lot of people is super fun too, because there's like a bubble that's on. The interaction with the crowd isn't as much there, but it allows you to interact with your music more, with your band more, it's interesting. They're all really cool, from small stages where I can't move, to big ones where I can move all over the place.
LH: I wanted to ask you about your artwork. Were you involved in that process at all?

ES: Yeah I was involved in almost all of it, actually. I didn't take the photographs, but I put it together. I did [have the idea before hand]. Not all of the photographs, some of them just came into being, but a lot of the thematic stuff was part of the idea.

LH: Did it match up with the lyrics at all?

ES: Yeah and even the title of the album. And I think a resurrection of sorts for me as a person. Just the idea of death and rebirth. I love all of [the songs], I really do. Especially playing them. Some of them will go in and out of favor, but then they will come back around and all of the sudden I will love them again. There is something really special to me though, about the song called "Simplest Love" It's the first time when recording an album that I did the vocals and guitar at the same time. I don't consider myself a real guitar player, so I usually just write stuff and get people to play it while I sing. So I just sang and played the same time. And we did the bass at the same time too. And there's something about the way we captured it. It was nerve wracking, but not difficult. There was a warmth in it.

LH: Do you ever think about doing an Ima Robot and Edward Sharpe tour?

ES: I have thought about that, actually. I wouldn't rule anything out, but there's no plans yet.