Interview: This And That With Daniel Balk of the Postelles

From “White Night” to “1, 2, 3 Stop”, the Postelles have made catchy retro rock/pop with a city edge their signature sound and one that works. Between their eponymous debut album from 2011 and time spent on the road playing club shows, various festivals, honing their songs and live show, the New York City rockers have taken a minute or two to ready album #2 but ready it is and was released into the wild on April 23rd.  For those of you here in Los Angeles, the boys from New York City have a date at the Bootleg Theater on May 21st. For everyone everywhere else, check their tour dates HERE.

The Postelles voice and guitar guy, Daniel Balk, took a moment to discuss  important things like the new album, being shook and what he really thinks of Los Angeles.

Q: For those not in the know (and I’m very much in that camp), what exactly is a ‘Postelle’?
Daniel: In terms of the band it's a made up word, but we have had a fan from Australia tell us female postal workers in Australia are, indeed, Postelles.

Q: That’s…odd, but thanks for clearing that up. Now your new album …And It Shook Me seems like quite a romantic album or rather there is an overarching theme of ‘love’ in the lyrics: what’s the occasion?
Daniel: Love is the occasion. We've had one too many candle lit dinners as a band on tour. The album is dealing with life and relationships while away on the road and the emotions that occur with that.

Q: Speaking of love and relationships, the duet with Alex Winston (“Pretend It’s Love”) is a particularly bright spot on the album; her vocals are damned endearing. How did you wind up working with her on that track?
Daniel: We were friendly and I wrote a song that I was interested in having a female vocal involved on. I gave her a call and asked if she'd be down. She was a perfect fit and she did a great job.

Q: Definitely agree with you there. And now that album #2 is done, when you look at your two releases- other than time- what do you feel is a major difference between the two records?
Daniel: We've matured as musicians and people. We've grown as a band and understood the studio more so in my mind it is a much more mature record in terms of the sound and production. The songwriting is better but we've also learned so much from years of touring.

Q: Well one thing that definitely has not changed is the distinctly retro sound that you guys foster. How did such youth wind up with such an appreciation for such a not-so-young sound? Not complaining, mind you.
Daniel: Our parents were definitely musical people and they introduced us to their favorite bands. Whether it be Bob Dylan or The Beatles, we learned about rock and roll at a very young age and grew to love it.

Q: We appreciate all of your folks for the solid background. And being from NYC (as I am) I imagine the aesthetics of the city would filter into one’s music. I don’t know if that’s true or not for you, but I have visions of an odd morning getting flashed on the A train or an amazing bagel winding up in a song…like “Running Red Lights”, for example (don’t worry: I’m not calling Traffic Enforcement). Does that ever happen in the writing or is the writing a bit more general?
Daniel: You definitely are right with that assumption. The city definitely is a huge inspiration in our music. The most obvious influence might be 'White Night' from our first record where as ...And It Shook Me is influenced by many places because of all the touring. For example 'Tidal Wave' is a song that I wrote in Los Angeles, when I visited for the first time, so this album ventures out of New York. Having said that, New York will always be my biggest influence in terms of the band.

Q: I always like to know what musicians are listening to of late, so do tell: who’s listening to what these days?
Daniel: We really like the new Vampire Weekend record so far. It just came out, but what I've heard I've really enjoyed.

Q: You have tour dates in May and June with Aussies Atlas Genius (whom I adore) and sonically that seems like a good pairing; what's on the schedule through the rest of the year?
Daniel: More touring, we always love to be on the road. We are planning more shows now and we're excited to play the new record for everyone. Definitely check out our website for updates.

Q: Well, we know that you’re coming back to Los Angeles to play the Bootleg Theater on May 21st; tell me something nice that would make me believe that you like or you’ve actually missed our insane little city.
Daniel: I really love LA. I've actually visited as a traveler away from the band as I really wanted to experience the city apart from playing shows. It's very beautiful and we filmed our video 'Caught By Surprise' in Silverlake and the director, Gus Black, filmed not only that video but also 'Running Red Lights' in California as well.

Q: That was so sweet that I almost believed you. Now tell me what you REALLY think of LA.
Daniel: I really like it! At first I didn't. I love New York more because it's home and it's New York, but if you want some gossip here it is. Our bassist John doesn't like LA. I agree with him about some things, for example everything is so far apart. Though, I will say I personally enjoy it.

Q: I hear you...and no foul on John. And nothing compares to NYC’s public transit system. One more question: …And It Shook Me: what, exactly, shook you?
Daniel: Life, everything. It's basically all of the experiences we've had in the last few years wrapped up into an album. Mostly touring and traveling and shows and all of that. This is a very personal album and a very genuine one and I hope people notice that.

Q: Is that your final answer?
Daniel: Can I phone a friend? If not, yes.

With no lack of humor, check out this irreverent video for the track, "Caught by Surprise" from ...And It Shook Me.

VIDEO: The Last Internationale Call For "Workers of the World Unite!"

Even though 'folk rock' has been around for years, as genres go, it's a conflicted one as 'rock' and 'folk' have such dissimilar energies and origins. But the merger of the two has gone on to be the impetus of great and highly conscious musical things: see Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan for further.

Today is International Workers' Day and that certain soul of protest, rebellion, social change- as well as good, old-fashioned blues-rooted rock and roll- can be found in the Last Internationale: a three-piece outfit from New York who embrace rawness in sound as well as a spirited esthetic of punk keeping it as real as it is reactive where you wouldn't be far off-base if you drew likenesses to Band of Skulls or the Dead Weather  (with a lot less annoying attitude). Politically minded (they're not above thinking President Obama should be tried for war crimes), wanting to spark a revolution and a primal sound and live show, all things considered, the Last Internationale are already rockers to reckon with.

In their latest video, "Workers of the World Unite!," Delila (vox, bass), Edgey (guitar) and Fernando Silva (drums) tame their usual high energy to shine a light on the plight of farmers and the American dream that doesn't always come to fruition as the images of farming life flicker by while Delila's clarion voice shifts from delicate inflections to powerful surges of demand. Check it out and I dare you to remain unmoved. There's much to like about the Last Internationale and this is merely the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Track-By-Track w/ Arc & Stones And Their Debut EP

“Hey Trina,

So I'm gonna do my best to try and paint a nice picture about each of these songs. Each one is a pretty cool journey and I'd like to take you on them.”

Dan Pellarin, Arc & Stones

This is one aspect of music that excites me because every song is a telling of a story, of a  moment, of an emotion. And one of my most favored interactions with musicians is pulling back the curtain on a song to flesh out the lines and what lies between them. 

From Brooklyn, NY comes Arc & Stones, a rock outfit with a full-bodied sound made by Dan Pellarin, Ben Cramer, Joe Doino and Eddy Bayes. What they deliver is aggressive yet accessible, even radio-ready songs waiting to be jammed out for your approval in a club or arena near you. The music is progressive in that it’s a complete package: the instrumentation boasts nimble melodies constructing anthemic and soulful rock offerings served up handsomely by the emotional vehicle of Pellarin’s powerful and flexible voice. Girls will dig it, guys will reap the benefits: a win-win for all.

On February 12th Arc & Stones will release their debut, self-titled five-song EP which is a fairly diverse yet solid representation of what they’re capable of: a sneak peak at the potential. So in advance of the event, here’s learning the heart of those songs from the voice that sings them, track by track.

1. Silence
This song is about the period of blind faith in a certain someone after they have left without letting you know if they cared for you or not, while you have quickly and undoubtedly fallen for them. "Silence" expresses that feeling that you would go to any length to see that someone, talk to that someone, love that someone again...if only for a while.

The period of time when you have given all you can and in return have only received silence, is quite possibly the most painful part of any confusion and eventual realization that this certain someone just doesn't feel the same way...

"Silence" also expresses...that even though you begin to realize the only stronger force than fear is hope...and with that hope you simply don't care and want to keep trying, fighting for as long as your heart can take. It's a fire that burns for however long we let it, for whomever we ignite it for.

As we experience the passion, the confusion, the insanity, we also feel the anger in it all, and "if you can see love, then why can't you see mine?" is a line that expresses that anger we all know too well. This song was chosen because for us, it is a perfect representation of the paradox that is love, and the painful bliss we keep chasing after.

I showed Ben a very altered version of this minus the chorus which we didn't change one bit, and decided we loved where it was going and re-worked the verses and bridge. It turned into something magnificent, a real journey, and we couldn't be more proud of this song.

2. Say Goodbye
"Say Goodbye" expands on the feeling of "Silence." No matter what happens, the love that you shared with that someone will never fade, and in an essence there is no way you could ever say goodbye to it, and them. As we search "far from the light," and save "a cut from the stone shaped like a heart," we can look far beyond the familiar and take what has become seemingly nothing and turn it into something, someday, somewhere. The line "Someday when I can stop chasing someday, can I call you home..." builds upon a thought that maybe when everything is through, and we have done all we can, we can maybe one day call that special someone our own.

Taking the fire symbolized in "Silence," and building upon the rock that is "Say Goodbye," a clear picture of emotion is formed. Through it all, we'll still chase and hope, even if it takes forever.

3. Let Me Down
This one is mainly stating that, "Hey, you can save me all of this trouble, pain, confusion and anger if you just let me know how it is right here, right now. Either you feel something for me or you don't." I can't take being led on and I can't take questioning everything I do before I do it. "Don't let me down so easy," because I'll still find reason to hope and hurt, and "don't let me down so slow," because I can't bear with all of this just to eventually be kicked to the curb. Why? Because if you lead me on, it'll turn me into a different person and, possibly, one that neither myself nor anyone else enjoys.

"By breaking me down, you're building a broken home."

I hated this one, but still showed it to Ben, and he gave me this look like...are you kidding me? So we re-worked the first verse a bit, recorded it live, and placed it right smack in the middle of the EP. I now love this song because of Ben and [producer] Jeremy Griffith's help turning this into a beauty. Thank you, dudes.

4. She's Mine
A boisterous, loud and flat out fun rock song that combines the ideas of a woman, a self-realization that this person doesn't like what they have become of late, a kick ass party gone wrong, and well some different...things that maybe cause the party to go wrong. The lyrics talk of the extreme highs, "running through my blood, come and take me for a ride," extreme lows, "but why does every story come crashing down like this," and the eventual rally cry, "no you won't take me alive..." of this hard-hitting tornado of a rock and roll party song. Screaming, shouting, and dancing your ass off are encouraged on this one.

Ben and I wanted to a write a seriously hard and fun rock and roll song. I think we broke the most furniture in our small box of an apartment during the time we were writing this one, but it was fitting and necessary.

5. Rise
"Rise" for us is an anthem that really hits home. It's simply about the idea that nothing is impossible, no one can tell you anything is impossible and there is not a single person, idea or obstacle that can restrict you from that thought. It hits home because a lot of people said we couldn't do what we are doing now and it feels damn good to sing about it. 

The chorus states that "We are faces in the water here to wash the pain. Sons and daughters of tomorrow, begging for a name." This is us and everyone else with this belief saying that the battle is not fought alone. The battle to strive for what you love and believe in is one being fought today in strong company, and there is nothing and no one that can bring this determined belief down. We will claw and fight to be heard, and to be known. Cue the national anthem.

The band couldn't be more proud of everything that's been accomplished, and we are so pumped for the future. It's gonna be a fun road and we hope to make it count where it matters most- with you guys, the listeners.
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I imagine many ears appreciating what Arc & Stones have to give, not the least of which is that delicious guitar in "Say Goodbye." So now you that you know, seek out these gentlemen of heartfelt yet dynamic-in-the-making rock and roll (and disarming good looks) in the usual socially interactive places. And also in 2013 look for them to make themselves heard well outside of their NYC comfort zone.
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