Acid Smoothie On the Making Of ‘Faxing the Vatican’
Can you talk about any specific themes or motifs that run throughout 'Faxing the Vatican?'
Much of it stems from aging technologies - VCRs, floppy disks, fax machines - and how similar it feels to grow older. There's still validity in playing a DVD today yet most people would tell you that's old news. I wanted to find the connection between the physical media we've all grown to love over the last few decades and the idea of finding oneself as we age.
Were there any moments in the recording process where you knew you had something special?
Almost the opposite - when I first recorded vocals I almost scrapped the whole thing. I wasn't sure of my angle or if it was too existential overall, but when I went to mix the album I realized that it was the powerhouse I wanted all along.
What are you most proud about 'Faxing the Vatican?'
I've recorded a lot of albums over the last five years and I have always spent a lot of effort on the mixing stage. This time around I really honed in on the guitar tones and the pedals I was using, which ultimately shaped the overall sense of liveliness and energy found in the final product. I'm proud to spend so much time alone in my bedroom making such an energetic sound.
Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
Since 2019, I've released music under a variety of solo projects - A Case of Mistaken Identity, Franciscan Honey, Javahead, spliffolympics, some others here and there. I've been learning with each album and really just having a lot of fun translating the sounds and ideas from my head into something tangible. Acid Smoothie is my new home and while I have love for all my other projects I don't plan on touching them anytime soon.
What’s been the most memorable performance of your career, and why?
My first band, Dinoczar, had the privilege and pleasure to play a show with Meatbodies and Diarrhea Planet many years back. We were sludgy garage rockers having fun and making lots of noise - we even snuck in our Black Sabbath “Paranoid” cover. To play with two bands that have greatly influenced me both then and now fills me with gratitude.
