(Nate, Jeff, Ian, Mike and Ayad)

Passion Pit - Sleepy Head

Started by Michael Angelakos as a bedroom solo production, Passion Pit has grown into a five man band that’s gaining a lot of attention with their new EP Chunk Change (which I can’t stop listening to) from MTV to Spin Magazine. The EP started as a Valentines Day gift to Michael’s girlfriend but soon made it into the hands of most of his Emerson classmates. I caught up with drummer Nate Donmoyer while he finished up the full album (TBR May 13^th) in New York City. Talking about their indefinable sound, to the on the rise Boston Music scene. 

Boy Kings: So where are you guys right now?

Nate: Mike and I are still in the studio in New York. Last day in the studio for the new album.

BK: Are you guys going to celebrate?

N: We don’t really have time to. We have a day off after our New York show in February, that show will be the celebration.

Bk: I read your article in Spin and quickly downloaded the album and then saw you guys were playing at Schubas, this is perfect.

N: Yeah man I’m pretty psyched, that’s Tuesday? So you’re in Chicago?

BK: I know everything with Passion Pit was started with Mike [vocals keyboard], he slowly started putting pieces together, by bringing in the Ian Hultquist (synths, guitar) and Ayad Al adhamy (synths, samplers), when did you come into the equation?

N: I’m actually the newest member of the band. I joined in August. But to explain how the band started first. Mike did the first EP by himself on a laptop in his bedroom. And then a couple of my friends were at his first and only solo show, and just were like, “hey you should really start a band and work it out if you want, and call me up.” He was hesitant, but eventually did start a band with a couple other guys. And eventually the lineup changed to what it is now [Ian Hultquist (synths), Ayad al Adhamy (synths, samplers, guitar), Jeff Apruzzese (bass, synths), Nate Donmoyer (drums)]. In August, we started played a lot more serious shows. That’s how I got into the picture.

BK: So its just your buddies approached him and brought you in?

N: Yeah Ian was the one who said, “hey man you should really start a band, flush this stuff out,” and Mike was like “nah no thanks.” And eventually changed his mind and they started playing and it worked out really well. I actually booked the band for one of our Saturday nights at this club I DJed at in Boston. And everyone was just ready then and the fun started. It was funny, I interviewed them for my blog and then six months later I was in the band.

BK: How’s it been so far since you joined?

N: It’s been awesome and incredibly insane from the first Piano’s show we had in New York. When I joined in August, I practiced without Mike, with the rest of the band, because Mike was in Brooklyn recording this album for the first time. So after we started playing shows together our label situation changed. We had to redo the album, but how it was intended with full production and everything. That’s how we got hooked up with Chris Zane whose producing it now. So since then we’ve all been part of the recording process, its not just been Mike.

BK: Listening to the EP I’m not even going to try to categorize the sound because you have so many layers and elements playing off each other that it doesn’t fit into anything out there.

N: That’s actually a huge complement so thanks. I don’t know, to be really lazy about it; our publicist will pass on stuff and we’ll read it and the lazy comparisons are Hot Chip, and either Kate Bush or Kate Nash. I always get them confused because I’m an idiot (laughs).

BK: But what do you like to say?

N: It depends on if it’s a friend from high school or someone who doesn’t listen to a lot of music I listen to like Hot Chip. Or if I’m talking to my Mom I’ll say, “it’s like synthesizer pop.” But the new album is a lot different (from the EP) a lot more organic. Not so many synths, I mean it’s full of synths, probally even more so than the EP, but it’s balanced with guitars and there’s a lot of drums on the whole album. And there’s acoustic piano not electric piano. I think we’ve found our formula with our sound. It’s more reflective of what the live show is now, with live drums and the instrumentation of the live show is a lot closer to what this album is than what the EP is.

BK: Your often referred to as a Boston band, is that how you would describe it?

N: I would because that’s where we all met, that’s where when we say we’re going home, we’re going to Boston. That’s where we practice, that’s where we formed. Oddly enough we’ve probably played more shows in New York than in Massachusetts. That’s where we all came up. I have a feeling there’s going to be a big shift of how people are going to perceive Boston bands in the coming years.

BK: How do you see the Boston music scene right now and where do you see it going in 2009 and beyond?

N: I’m really really excited about it. For one, it’s a small city so most of the bands you either know or are friends with. It’s good to see everyone doing well. There’s a band that’s roommates with Ayad, two of the guys in the band are roommates with him, and Ayad produces the band, called Gaintess, that’s doing well. And there’s Pretty and Nice on Hardly Art that’s doing really well and the album is amazing. There’s just a lot of awesome young bands coming up and DJs and producers. There’s so many it’s hard to mention them all.

BK: It sounds like you’re a pretty tight knit community, this whole young scene that’s coming up.

N: We all know each other, we’re all friends, we play shows together. With some of them, yeah we hang out, get drunk together when we’re all home. But everyone’s doing well enough that it seems like we’re out of Boston as much as we’re there. I think there’s going to be a positive shift in what a Boston band is. Because its been such shit for the past 10 years. What was it, the Dropkick Murphys or something? But then back in the hardcore movement “this is Boston not LA,” the whole Boston punk thing was really awesome, but then it died off and hasn’t been much since.

BK: What’s been the most fun a rewarding about touring, I see you’re about to go over to Europe?

N: It’s just so exciting. I don’t know what to expect. I think we’re all a bit nervous as to how we’re going to be received. I don’t speak French. When we’re in Paris are we going to be seen as ignorant, dumb Americans or is it going to be ok. Maybe pick up some French CDs along the way. We toured with Yelle, who’s from Paris, and we picked up a little form the band. But the most exciting shit is seeing places we’ve never been and meeting people that are excited about music.

BK: What’s the average age of the group?

N: Mike and I are actually born two weeks apart and we’re both 21. The rest of the guys are 23.

BK: So tell me about the upcoming album. What can people expect?

N: Mike is still the songwriter and wrote all the songs. We just worked on it more collectively than before. And the way that turns out on the album is that it’s more organic. And Chris Zane as a producer is brilliant. He just did the latest Walkman album and the Harlem Shakes latest album, which is amazing by the way. All his work has been solid, so that’s been a huge help in taking Passion Pit from a bedroom project to fulltime ready for the radio. It’s been a huge learning and growing step for us.

BK: What was it like being listed in Spin?

N: It was kinda surreal. Like do they know they’re wasting paper on us, do they know about the rainforest situation? But we were all really surprised and flattered. But they always use the worst press picture. I don’t know if you noticed but in that photo Ayad is cross-eyed.

BK: Once the album is released where do you go from there?

N: The official release date is May 13^th, but it’ll be done January 27^th. So that’s going to feel like forever until that’s out. But until then just touring, touring, touring. Really excited to tour with Cale Parks and Ra Ra Riot. See a bunch of people, see a bunch of cities we’ve never seen before.

BK: is there anything you would like people to know?

N: Haha just don’t judge us ‘till you hear the full length. And hopefully we get to meet everyone.