About this episodeThe instrumental band Tortoise discusses their collaborative, collective approach to songwriting and their upc…AI summary
The instrumental band Tortoise discusses their collaborative, collective approach to songwriting and their upcoming album 'Beacons of Ancestorship,' highlighting how their Chicago-based community influences their work. The band emphasizes that their process is a slow, labor-intensive dialogue rather than a top-down composition, allowing for organic musical conversations. They also promote an upcoming live performance at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.
Key takeaways 5
Tortoise operates as a collective rather than having a single composer; songs emerge from a dialogue where all members contribute parts collectively.
The band's creative process is described as 'slow' and 'laborious,' often involving smaller groups working on pieces due to family commitments and other gigs, with only about 50% of sessions involving all five members.
The band utilizes modern technology to solve acoustic challenges, specifically sampling their vibraphone (mallet instrument) and using a MIDI controller to trigger it, allowing it to compete with the volume of the rest of the band.
The members' identity is deeply tied to the Chicago music scene, describing themselves as part of a community where most acquaintances are also in bands.
Despite being together for 20 years, the band members do not necessarily like each other personally but love the music and the collaborative process.
Notable quotes 4AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“We all love each other... You love the music. I mean, it's kind of surprising to me that that there are bands out there that exist, um, that don't really like each other. I don't really understand why why they're doing it.”
▶ 17:31Explaining the band's dynamic and why they continue to collaborate after two decades.
“It became problematic to get uh the the the volume of of a regular Mima um over the sound of the band. So, we sampled our Mima and now we're just using this thing to trigger it.”
▶ 16:50Describing the technical adaptation made to their instrumentation to ensure balance in their live sound.
“I think one of the reasons I was reading in the um the dispatch from Thrill Jockey. Uh it says the calling card of a tortoise song is the experience of a sound being worked out as a conversation among the individual and interrelated parts.”
▶ 17:57Defining their artistic identity as a collective musical conversation rather than individual solos or compositions.
“None of us actually grew up in Chicago, but uh we've all lived there for quite a long time... that's like a big part of what we are is just like our musical community of friends in Chicago.”
▶ 22:18Highlighting how their current environment and social circle shape their music, despite not being native to the city.
Chapters & Sections (10)▼
0:00Tortoise Live Performance Heatchapter2
5:25Heat Performance Segment
9:26Instrumental Heat Performance
15:55Tortoise Musical Process and Band Dynamicschapter1
18:58Creative Process and Studio Dynamics
20:55Tortoise Band Life and Chicago Music Scenechapter2
23:51Musical Interlude and Heat
27:48Instrumental Post-Rock Performance
31:07Tortoise Live Performance and Giveawaychapter1
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