Secret Colours made their debut in August of 2010 and have continued to gain recognition from the media and a growing number of fans in recent years as they continue to record and release. After doing a little research (cough, cough… a standard google search) I discovered this modern-psych rock group has over 100 articles published online, and have played just as many shows. The band just released a preview track in honor of their upcoming EP due out at the dawn of the New Year.
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Faust – Secret Colours
Photo by Lenny Gilmore
The Chicago based quintet consists of lead singer and guitarist Tommy Evans, Dave Stach on guitar and backing vocals, Dylan Olson on the bass, Justin Frederick on drums, and Margaret Albright on keys and tambourine, also providing backing vocals. Want to know more? Hear it from frontman Tommy Evans himself. He was able to answer a few questions on behalf of SC.
MWL: How was Secret Colours conceived?
TE: We started in 2009 when I had a handful of songs that I had written in my apartment and needed a band to play them. I asked my friends if they wanted to help me play out. It pretty much snowballed from there.
MWL: There are 6 musicians in the band… did any of you have any lessons, classical training or anything?
TE: No I don’t think any of us are trained in music, not in the classical term at least. I guess we consider our favorite bands our teachers.
MWL: And those teachers are??
TE: Black Angels, Stone Roses, Blur, Dandy Warhols, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Pink Floyd, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Small Faces, Pretty Things, Ride, Grateful Dead…essentially everything you think we would listen to.
MWL: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
TE: For me it varies but lately it seems to be anything Damon Albarn with some cannabis thrown into the mix.
MWL: Who is the primary songwriter?
TE: Me
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Follow the Drone- Secret Colours
MWL: What do you do when you’re not doing music stuff? Hobbies?
TE: Most of us are still in school or have a job but when we can we like to hang with friends, go out to bars and shows, get rowdy. As far as hobbies go I like to skateboard when I can. Dave, I guess, can drink more than Marion Ravenwood. Justin likes to skate and design stuff. And every time I see Dylan he is playin’ some type of video game.
MWL: What is the most bizarre thing that has ever happened at a show?
TE: We tend to keep the crazy shit for after the show. Once we left Dave in Champaign, IL with no way of getting home, so he could party.
One time we played a show in Chicago after playing shows out of town for a few days. Dave ended up bringing home a girl after the show, but he didn’t realize that before we had left town he accidentally locked one of their cats in his bedroom. So the cat was just stuck in his bedroom for days, vomiting, pissing, and puking all over the place. That girl had a weird surprise coming home with him.
MWL: Wow, that sounds like a mess. Man… What’s the worst place you have ever played a show at, and why?
TE: Ronnie’s in Chicago, shit smell, shit sound, and shit location.
Photo by Lenny Gilmore (SXSW)
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Tomorrow Never Knows- Secret Colours
MWL: So, what about a venue you really enjoy playing at?
TE: We always seem to have a good time at the Empty Bottle and Subterranean.
MWL: Any favorite bands or musicians you like to play with?
TE: Our buddies in the band Deserters are super rad. Same with Light Pollution.
MWL: What are you rockin’ these days??
TE: Fuck… everything from Britpop and Classic Rock to Psych Rock from the 60’s through now.
MWL: How would you describe your shows, visually and musically?
TE: Lately we have been trying to get into oil projection. I think there is something to be said about making the visuals yourself rather than relying on a computer projector. It just feels more organic. Musically, I don’t really know how to describe us anymore other than rock n’ roll.
(You can check some of their artistic vibe in the featured video)
MWL: Anything in the making? Recording anything new, videos, planning any tours?
TE: We are coming out with an EP soon, and a full length record early next year. We should have a music video and some little tours following that as well.
You can RSVP for their EP release show here, to be held at The Empty Bottle in Chi-town! Can’t wait to hear what else these guys have coming out in January!
By: Katie McVeay| Beat-Play Ambassador New York| @crookedsunshine|Music Without Labels & Beat-Play, LLC