KIRK OHNSTAD (KO) OF HELLO ELECTRIC
In this week’s Q&A, I have the distinct pleasure of connecting with multi-instrumentalist & founder of Hello Electric, Kirk Ohnstad.
Kirk. I’ve read that you started Hello Electric as a solo project during college in 2005. In 2008, Zachary and Henry joined the ensemble. What was the transition like moving from writing everything solely to working as a team?
KO: Working as a band is much different than writing a song in its entirety as an individual. Having a band is the necessary link between the song writing process and performing live. This transition for hello electric has been a gradual and progressive change, allowing the development of the concepts I would have as a songwriter to mature into live pieces with additional character added by Zach and Henry. As always in a band, dynamics are crucial and improvement comes through none other than practice.
MORE BEARDS
Who are your collective influences now that you are a band of brothers?
KO: Influences: Dr. Helicopter, Air, Spoon, Harry Nilsson, Portugal. The Man, RJD2, Liars, the Rapture, Ratatat, the Roots, Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, Band of Skulls… (etc.)
You just finished a tour through Austria with fellow band, Steaming Satellites. How was the tour? (please indulge us) Was the tour a success? What was your favorite place to play?
KO: Playing with the Steaming Satellites was awesome. Since it was the first time that hello electric has played in Europe, the whole trip was a new experience as a band. Being very courteous and accommodating, Max (lead singer for satellites) was our most gracious host and really had our back the whole time we were there. He was the one who initially invited us over there and set up our tour schedule through Austria. The Steaming Satellites are working and almost finished with their new album; so we had the fortune to hear their new material before the album is out… something we are all excited about.
Touring in Europe is much easier than here in the states. The music listening audience is larger and distributed through a larger span of ages (essentially there are no “all ages” shows… everyone can drink) I think people in Europe are more responsive and critical of music, and the venues are generally nicer and more accommodating…
The shows we played were awesome. The nicest people, and our style of music was something other than the taste of the usual music touring around (especially in the small Austrian towns…) Collectively our favorite show was at Freysitz in Hallein, Austria. We had a great turnout and a very enthralled and responsive audience… this venue was absolutely packed… we also give it the hottest show ever…(temperature)
DIG HARDER
Portland is a champion city. You are a champion band. How has Portland culture impacted you as individuals and musicians?
KO: Portland has a very diverse and intense music scene… you can find nearly every style of band here with a decent fan base to follow… luckily for us, indie rock is at the forefront of the music scene in Portland, and we couldn’t ask for a better town to be in… the city itself effects the music; simple things like the skyline, forested surroundings, geography and climate all have their inherent influences, but I feel this small city (as Portland really is) benefits most from its isolated and rather compact urban setting, allowing music to really find roots and build an independent character like no other town… Portland is amongst the top cities for the kind of music we play.
I found out about you guys through a mutual friend, Tish Fagan. I am interested to know how you guys stay connected/maintain relationships with your fans?
KO: Our fan base is completely random… most of our fans are on the east coast and in Europe… word of mouth (to this point our only form of advertisement) travels oddly it seems… staying connected with fans is done through our internet presence (website, facebook…etc.), nothing too exciting or unusual there…
Tell me about your upcoming album, Skycheif. How does it compare to your previous albums, Soundwaves and E.P. Pilot?
KO: The new album skychief is the most intense of hello electric’s albums. With vivid imagery, darker chord progressions, and the first use of real drums, this album stands out to previous work by being very upfront and progressive. As a concept album, the themes that stand out are heavily based in romanticism and German literature, but they are rooted with an American basis. This album was the first to be produced (john gourley). As “soundwaves” had a smooth and passive overall feeling, “skychief” compliments the other side of the spectrum as gritty and abrasive, lyrically and musically. “e.p. pilot” harnessed the combination of the two albums as a transition.
I see that you have a pretty close tie with Portugal. The Man’s, John B. Gourley. How has that relationship blossomed for you as friends and as a band?
KO: I used to tour with Portugal. The man as a touring guitarist. Naturally I got really close to all the guys in the band. Ryan Neighbors, who hopped on with the band full time was is my very good friend since growing up, we had a band called the “shepherds of Ontario” that got us noticed by Portugal in the first place… John had approached me about working on music together. We’ve toyed with starting a side project band together (named “the dirty fingers”) and been on six tours together. I know all these guys, and they are kind of like our big brothers in music… when john had suggested recording up in seattle and him producing the new record, things just kind of worked themselves out… the result is the album skychief.
I can most definitely see you guys going far. What is your (ultimate) goal as a band?
KO: Our band goal at this point is to be able to tour and not lose money… it’s a bit more complicated than it seems, but our goal is rather simple and straight forward… we just want to play shows
-Kirk
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