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Seattle-based indie-pop quintet the Myriad has been busy this year. As if propelling themselves to “The Next Big Thing” status by winning MTV’s Dew Circuit Breakout wasn’t enough, the band recently signed with KOCH Records, premiered the video for “A Clean Shot” on MTV2 and is now on a never-ending tour with Switchfoot and Eisley. On the eve of its second release, With Arrows, With Poise (due out May 13), and an upcoming performance in its hometown, Sound decided to check up with bassist John Schofield on the good, bad and bizarre of the band’s new-found fame.
SEATTLE SOUND: What are some highlights and lowlights of the tour with Switchfoot and Eisley so far?
JOHN SCHOFIELD: No lowlights, believe it or not. The dudes in Switchfoot are lovely fellows: genuine, amiable and true. It was refreshing to meet platinum-selling artists that were entirely down to earth. Eisley: old souls, splendid souls. This is a wonderfully peaceful and fun tour! Boyd rules.
SS: Could you tell me a little bit about making the video for “A Clean Shot”?
JS: Well, we filmed it up in Laurel Canyon … and I’m a Joni Mitchell fan so that in itself was delicious. Besides that we had a great crew, good coffee, medieval weaponry and assorted battle regalia, woodland creature puppets sharing mead with us, and a juicy beast frolicking around like David Bowie. All-in-all it ruled. Although, it was a 23-hour day! Yikes!
SS: What was the weirdest part of the MTV “Dew Circuit Breakout” that you won?
JS: Actually trying all the six million flavors of Mountain Dew. I had no clue there were six million flavors!
SS: Musically (and lyrically) how do you feel like this album is different from your first album?
JS: This album has a lot more soul, a lot more thump and a chillion times more fun packed into it than the last album. It’s like 12 little movies packed into a record … 12 little movies that were created to make your life better: spice, sugar, light, raspberries… etc! The last record was more linear, more mundane; we were sort of finding our sound and rocking out a bit too much in order to fill in the empty spaces. On this new record, we filled said spaces with really good European chocolate. And chocolate is delicious.
SS: What are y’all listening to these days?
JS: Goldfrapp, the London Suede, Over the Rhine, Portishead and In Rainbows like a million times over… replete with golden tears and the echoes of the ancients!
The Myriad open for Eisley Sunday, May 11, at Chop Suey.
“A Clear Shot” by the Myriad
PHOTO: The Myriad, courtesy of MyriadSpace
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