April 1, 2009

Over the past year, Game Chronicles Magazine has been talking to a series of musicians and music groups that have helped shape the soundtracks of our beloved videogames. Until now, all of the featured bands have come to us via EA Trax and Nettwerk One Music’s groundbreaking joint project, Artwerk – a recording label developed to support EA’s efforts in gaming soundtracks.

It seems our series of articles has attracted the attention of the recording industry, and GCM has recently been approached by a handful of other labels supporting gaming-friendly acts. One that caught our eye was an email from NYC label Rykodisc, offering us the chance to interview of gaming’s best kept secrets – Freezepop.

Formed in Boston in the summer of 1999, Freezepop is comprised of Liz Enthusiasm (vocalist/designer), the Duke of Pannekoeken (producer/vocalist/programmer), and Sean Drinkwater (synthesizers/programmer/vocalist). Their decidedly 80’s New Wave influenced Synthpop has been featured in a number of games over the years – including Downhill Domination, Karaoke Revolution, and Dance Dance Revolution. But what Freezepop is most recognized for in the gaming industry its involvement in nearly every Harmonix music title released, including FreQuency, Amplitude, Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Phase (for the iPod), and Rock Band. This should come as no surprise given that one of the three band members holds a day job as Senior Producer at Harmonix.

Given this amazing gaming pedigree, it was only natural for us at GCM to jump at the opportunity to throw a couple of questions at Freezepop and see what makes the trio tick.

GCM: In general, I like to theorize that bands come about by one of two distinct means; on purpose, or on accident. I would consider “on purpose” bands as those in which the members come together via active means (fliers, want ads, etc.), develop finite goals for fame, often times taking themselves a bit too seriously, and placing “fun” low on the priority list. Conversely, the “on accident” bands often develop passively among a group of friends or otherwise like-minded individuals, they generally care little about fame, don’t get too big of egos, and try to keep “fun” and “enjoyment” at the top of the priority list.

In listening to Freezepop’s music and watching the videos (available at the band’s website and MySpace page), it is quite apparent that you guys really enjoy what you are doing, like to keep the music fun, and seem to keep things on the lighthearted side. How did Freezepop come about, and what is the band’s driving force?

The Duke: I think, when I look back over the years and reminisce about the beginnings of the band, that we really kind of fall into both categories.

Clearly, I was interested in forming a synthpop band and knew that I wanted to work with a female singer, but that we really the extent of it. I started asking around with friends if they knew any girls that wanted to singing catchy electropop and got introduced to Liz. Given that almost 10 years of the band existing has passed, it was pretty fortuitous that she and I crossed paths. Liz was also responsible for bringing Sean on board with the project. We knew we didn’t really want to go it alone and I think a trio is a really good size for the band and kept things simple and uncomplicated.

The three of us really don’t have huge egos, which has worked out quite well. We were all excited about playing simple, catchy electropop with a lighthearted, tongue in cheek, and absurd approach. Another driving force in the creation of the band was the Yamaha QY70. I had gotten this tiny, battery-powered, sequencer/sound module for songwriting while on tour with another band and quickly I realized its strengths and got the idea about creating a band where there were only 2 pieces of gear, the QY70 and vocoder.

I liked the challenge of limiting the gear for both songwriting and also that it would make playing shows really easy! One other element that was important to me, and continues to this day, is that we not fall too heavily in one category or another. I think it’s important for a band to keep on its toes and evolve over time. Balancing songs that are humorous and serious has also been critical in keeping the band’s songs balanced and bringing a lot to the table than just “throwaway dance songs about robots” although we do have a penchant for those.

GCM: Freezepop’s sound is very reminiscent of my high school days in the early-to-mid 80’s – when the pop new wave began to edge back into the industrial realm. As someone who hobbied around with electronic and industrial music over the past 20 years I know that a lot has changed since those early days of synths and sequencers, samplers and analog recorders. With today’s digital looping and track-layering software – a thirteen-year-old kid with mouse and an hour to spare can slap together a four-minute song that would have taken an 80’s band months to engineer.

How does Freezepop achieve the authentically 80’s sound? Is there an emphasis placed on the using old-school instruments (similar to the folks of Ladytron), or is it emulated through more modern techniques?

The Duke: The whole 80’s sound element to Freezepop I’ve always been a bit frustrated by. But it’s not undeserved to be categorized with the bands and production qualities from that time. But for me, the “80’s sound” is only one part of the whole equation.

Clearly, we’re influenced by bands like Depeche Mode and Duran Duran, but there are also many elements to our sound that are more futuristic and experimental. Speaking for my production style, I’m a bit all over the map. I love vintage analog polysynths and have an analog reel-to-reel tape machine sitting next to my MOTU/Mac digital recording setup. I don’t have any vintage drum machines, but have all the samples from the older Linn, 707, 808, 909, etc drum machines which show up on a lot of our songs.

These are the elements to me that lend that more vintage 80’s sound. I’m also really into drum programming and manipulation of sounds which something you just didn’t hear too much of back then. Mangling sounds using hyperprism and various plug-ins is really important to inject sound elements and production into our mixes. One thing I really don’t like using are emulated soft synths. I’d just as soon own the real deal. I have a MemoryMoog+ and Prophet5 and Moog Voyager and will always prefer using those then a software version. I do occasionally use the synths in Reason, which is where I do all my drum programming these days, and of course our early music only used the drums and synths from the QY70 which emulated the standard synth patches from the 80’s.

GCM: Do you feel that the accessibility of music composition via free or low-cost software (Fruity Loops, Acid, Audacity, etc.) has been good for the industry by allowing more DIY action to those who might not have been able to afford the high-priced electronics back in the day, or has it ended up watering-down the industry by handing too much processing power to those who might be better off not making music?

The Duke: I’m torn on this subject. I’m all in favor of removing barriers that prevent people from doing things. Low cost software and access to the Internet as a tool to promote and deliver music are incredibly empowering to both seasoned instrumentalists/songwriters and to complete newbies.

I’m always interested to hear songs written by people who don’t have a more formal training that can sometimes get in the way of innovation and creativity. But that does come with the flip side that on the Internet are millions of pretty bad songs written by people who could really use some training and probably talent.

Wading your way through all that cruft can really get in the way of finding good music out there. But I think, like biological evolution, the people who have talent, desire, and persistence to their art will stand the test of time while the rest will go by the way side. I’m fighting to be at the top of the food chain :)

GCM: Your background info shows that Freezepop is only one of a number of bands that you guys are involved in. Where do you find the time to be involved in so much creation, what with day jobs, families, friends, etc.?

The Duke: Making music in various forms and with various bands has been at the forefront of my life for the last 20 years. The kind of music I make and the attention to detail that it requires due to the complexities of the songs, the sounds, the arrangements, and the mixes means that it takes up a great deal of time. I’ve lost girlfriends because of my musical endeavors over the years. As I get older, I’ve had to put my energies into both my relationships and my career in an increasing manner, which gives less time to making music. But that’s ok, that’s what life is all about. You should know that every moment I could be making music I try to do so. It can be quite the challenge though!

Liz: Heh, this is why it takes us so long in between albums! It’s tough to balance everything. It’s a big part of why Sean and I are both freelancers in our “day jobs” so that we have the freedom to do band stuff more-or-less on our own schedule, and go on tour for a few weeks here and there.

GCM: So for the elephant in the room…my readers would surely flame me if I didn’t ask a few game-based questions to The Duke of Pannekoeken, aka Kasson Crooker, Senior Producer at Harmonix:

First, are you really the Duke of Pannekoeken? I spent some time in Nederland, and I ate a lot of their delicious pancakes, but they never made mention that there was an actual Duke of the things – and living in the USA of all places!

The Duke: well, it’s kind of a long story, and only portions of it I’m at liberty to divulge as conspiracy theorists out there would love to here about my exile from the Duchy of Pannekoeken lo those many years ago. Once, a great while ago, my family was quite powerful there and many battles clashed over the supremacy of Pannekoeken versus Crepes versus Pancakes. Eventually, my family was coerced into relocating and we’ve been stateside since then, but believe me, dreams of once again ruling the Duchy of Pannekoeken and freeing our people from the enslavement of crappy breakfast fare are ripe in my mind.

GCM: Harmonix has a great thing going right now. With the work on the early Guitar Hero and the subsequent Rock Band titles – Harmonix has become one of the hottest properties in gaming. Their groundbreaking music titles have definitely helped to legitimize the gaming industry for all of us, by attracting many new gamers who might have never contemplated a console purchase were it not be for a cool looking peripherals that appeal to people’s universal dream to be a rock star.

Would you ever have guessed that your work would be this popular back in the days of FreQuency and Amplitude – where both titles achieved tons of critical acclaim, but less than impressive sales?

The Duke: Back then, I think all of us at Harmonix would not have believed the kind of success we eventually got with the Guitar Hero and Rock Band series of games. It’s been a long and interesting process to get where we are today, and you never know, people may get bored of these music games. As long as we make them good and fun, that will make me happy.

GCM: Industry pundits have been ecstatic over the recent push of non-violent games, like the aforementioned Harmonix music titles, and innovative conceptual titles like Portal, Viva Piñata, PixelJunk Eden. Do you think that with the ongoing war, the recent elections, and the depressing economic news, that gamers have grown tired of gloomy subject matter and relentless killing?

The Duke: With both Freezepop’s music and the games that Harmonix makes, it’s been essential that they are fun and upbeat and stay away from the doom and gloom of the rest of the world. I think the gloomier the world gets the more popular our music will be. People want to be distracted and I hope to provide!

GCM: So let’s get back to the music. I see that you guys have a new EP out called Form Activity Motion, that features four remixes of your latest single Frontload, two mixes of Thought Balloons, and a couple of other songs thrown in to boot. It is noted that a handful of these remixes were produced by third parties, outside of the band.

What kind of feeling is it to hand your tracks over to someone else to get their interpretation of your song? Have you ever been shocked or stunned by the results?

Liz: Well, we generally only give our songs to people we trust in the first place. It’s a pretty cool thing to see what they come up with, and to be able to hear your song in new ways.

GCM: 2008 saw a steady clip of regional mini tours for Freezepop, hopping you back and forth between the East and West coasts. Most recently Freezepop played a gig as part of the CMJ music festival in New York City. How do you guys take to the grind of touring, and how did the CMJ crowds treat you?

Liz: Yeah, we’ve been really busy! We had to adapt because of the Duke’s increased responsibilities at his day job, now he can’t really leave town for very long. So we brought on some extra folks, and our lineup has become more fluid — we have the option of playing as a three-, four-, or five-piece band. We do enjoy touring and getting out to meet our fans, there’s really no substitute for that interaction. It is tough to leave behind our pets, friends, jobs, etc, but I think we’ve found a good balance of going out for a couple of weeks at a time and then coming back home for a while. That way we’re always excited when we set out, and we’re always ready to come back home at the end of it.

GCM: The readers can check out Freezepop at the band’s official website, at the Rykodisc website, or at the band’s MySpace page. The new EP, Form Activity Motion, is currently only available through iTunes – but it will see hardcopy CD release early next year.

Other than the upcoming EP CD release, how 2009 looking for Freezepop – are there any plans for further touring, or a full-length CD in the works?

Liz: Yes, tons of stuff! We are starting to plan some more tours, and are currently working on a bunch of new songs as well. So stay tuned…

GCM: We at GCM really appreciate this opportunity to speak with Freezepop. We have been digging the music for years, so it was especially exciting to be approached by the folks at Rykodisc. We will definitely be keeping our eyes and ears open for the next appearance of Freezepop in our favorite games, and we wish you all the best of luck with the upcoming CD release. Feel free to drop in anytime!

You can also get more info about Freezepop, find tour dates, and purchase music and T-Shirts at their official website or get more info about the band on Freezepop's MySpace page.