take your pills

I got a nice little package in the mail a few weeks ago, an advance copy of the album dropping from newborn collaboration between Zach Hill (yes, ANOTHER project) and Zac Nelson (Hexlove, Trawler Bycatch): Chll Pll.  Their first album, Agressively Humble, is due out October 20. Familiar with Zach Hill, I had my doubts as to whether it could actually sound much different from other projects, just due to the sheer number of them. Apparently he left some ground uncovered, which Chll Pll seems to fill in nicely- still driving and drum heavy, but with a synthy edge that sort of, well, uplifts you. Interesting.

Chll Pll – Dick Moves

I had the opportunity to talk to Zac Nelson about the birth of Chll Pll:

FMLY: So it seems like Chll Pll is pretty new.

Zac: Yes, very new.

F: When did it start?

Z: I’d say 8 months ago maybe. We went and recorded and then I came back up to Portland and it took a few months for everything to get completed, and then a few more months for everything to get manufactured, so I’d say about half a year.

F: So how did you and Zach Hill meet and start collaborating?

Z: I was in a band called Who’s Your Favorite Sun God, and we went on tour with Hella and the Dirty Projectors. I’d already known most of them anyhow, but we started discussing about doing a project together.

F: What did you find that you and Zach had in common musically? Did you guys just click on some level or what?

Z: Well, we’re just a bunch of wierdos, you know? We both have a pretty high artistic output, due to cleverness and also being just like, nuts and being blown away by being on a planet.

F: So you guys just feed off each others energy?

Z: Yes, totally.

F: How do you guys write? Does one of you come in with a song, or do you just jam around until you come up with something cool?

Z: Zach would have a few drum beats he was working on and then I came in and I would sing or play bass or some keyboards, and sometimes I would come up with loops or a vocal idea and we would just throw back ideas back and forth, and just basically laid a lot of stuff down in a week and a half or less. Then I went back up to Portland, and him and Andy mixed it. I think they did a really good job. They did a lot of extra work that I wasn’t able to be down there for, which I’m really excited they did. It sounds wonderful.

F: What did they add?

Z: Zach stayed with Andy and mixed it really well. It takes so much longer than what people think of a record taking. I just went down there and there wasn’t any time to question yourself, you know, you just kind of have to trust yourself and the people you’re working with, and just let it all go. (laughs) Sounds kinda cliché but I don’t know how else to describe it right now. On “Tales from the Crypt” They took samples from what I did and then Zach had a drum beat and also sang on it, and basically made it from scratch. It was an awesome surprise to hear that one.

F: So you weren’t in on the editing process? You just kind of put in your stuff and let Zach and Andy take care of the rest, or did they consult you on it?

Z: In the beginning I was down there to record my ideas. The vocals were strong points and some of the other stuff they sent over the internet, and I had multiple vocal ideas for the song Pass Out.

F: So it was an internet collaboration of sorts later in the game?

Z: Yeah, well just for minimal things. I don’t want to make it sound like the record was made over the internet, because it wasn’t, but just a few extra little things. I’d say two songs I sang vocals on and emailed them to Zach and Andy.

F: I think it’s really cool how that can even be done now, you know?

Z: Yeah its crazy, it just takes a few minutes and it’s like your right next to the person, even if your 600 miles away.

F: Is Zach Hill mainly focusing on Wavves or Chll Pll right now?

Z: I think he’s touring with Wavves, and were probably gonna do Chll Pll in 2010 in support of the record. Then I think he’s doing Hella, and I’m in different stuff, so its weird trying to coordinate schedules when both of us have so many different projects.

F: What other projects are you in?

Z: Mainly doing one called Trawler Bycatch right now, and I’m really excited about that. It’s on the same label that put out Chll Pll, Porter Records. We’re working with them on a record so were gonna be recording that ourselves really soon.

F: So what kind of music is it?

Z: It just sounds like ethnic music, it sounds like rock n roll, it sounds like free jazz, it sounds like all the music we like, you know? There’s parts that sound like Indian music, parts that are Celtic, I definitely don’t want to call it prog rock, but it’s definitely kind of in your face, its really fun and wild. And I think it’s really clever too. So, I do that and I also do a solo thing called Hexlove. I put out a few records this year, I’m pretty excited about it.

F: So where are you hitting up when Chll Pll tours?

Z: Well, anywhere really. Probably the US, and I’d also love to go to Europe. I’m pretty open to playing anywhere, especially other countries.

F: Do you think Chll Pll is going to put out more albums?

Z: I’d say we’d definitely put out another record. I’d like to spend more time down there with Zach and whoever we decide to record the next one with, and just take a little bit longer.

F: Yeah you said you did it pretty fast, like twelve days or something?

Z: I think so, like so much is going on in my life, I cant even remember how many days we were down there. It’s just like, I went down there, whipped it out, came back up here. Stuff moves so fast.

F: You sound like a busy man.

Z: (laughs) I feel like a busy man.

F: So is there any experience or planning that led to the Chll Pll sound, or did it just happen organically?

Z: I would say it happened organically for sure, I mean we had vague ideas of all kinds of stuff we’d written down but I think it really comes together when you’re next to each other in the same space. I feel like both of us didn’t have any idea what it was going to sound like. I had a feeling it was going to be really nice though, bright. I feel like its really bright sounding, colorful. There’s some chaos in the mix there too, but I think the majority of it is pretty damn fun and it just feels good. And it doesn’t feel like naïve fun. It feels like smart, crazy men fun.

F: That’s a… pretty good way of putting it.

Z: Yeah, I’m gonna get quoted for that and look like some sort of egotistical prick or something (laughs). Smart crazy men fun!

F: Is there any last thing you want to say about Chll Pll?

Z: I guess just get the record from Porter Records and help support a really awesome record label.