Dirty Beaches is the project of Alex Hungtai, a dude who has not only amassed an impressive amount of zip codes, but also dabbled in a number of musical incarnations, slinking from his earlier noise experimentation to the scratchy AM radio strains of his most recent effort Badlands (due out March 29th on Zoo Music).
Yeah, sure, lots of musicians play rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia, but Dirty Beaches does it it with an earnest discomfort jammed beneath a chain-rattling sort of swagger–his recordings sound more like the chilly ghost of some ill-fated prom queen than sweet surf rock jams. Alex was nice enough to answer a few questions about his project, revealing an interesting spin on his lo-fi aesthetic and a few poetic words on Montreal and old photographs of his parents.
The transition from the experimental weirdness of HORROR to your melancholy Elvis-pop construct of Badlands is quite a jump. Was there an outside influence, musician, or inspiration that triggered the changes?
The change didn’t happen right away, I had released a film noir inspired EP called Bird after HORROR, two tapes for Night People, and a handful of split 7″s and tapes following that — so it was a gradual change and progression.
Do you consider the lo-fi aesthetic of Dirty Beaches a necessity or a product of home recording? How would you change the feeling of your recordings in a fully-loaded studio?
Its definitely a product of home recording and circumstance. If I could record with a full band in a proper studio with proper instruments and equipment, I would not write the kind of music I write now–it would be very different. A lot of the conceptual ideas of my sound comes from what equipment I have. For example, when I first bought my ace tone solid state amp in Montreal ($180!!!!) I was so addicted to the amp spring reverb that I started experimenting with dub elements. From there it went on to other experimentations.
Your covers of Mr. Cash, The Stooges, and Patti Smith are all a) awesome song choices and b) really exciting re-workings–what are some other pieces you’ve considered or would like to cover?
I tried to cover Spiritualized “Broken Heart” once, but it didn’t work out too well so its stashed in the B-sides vault for now. Perhaps I’ll give it another try someday.
Who are the badass young things in the photographs from your singles? Those pompadours are impressive.
On the True Blue 7″ cover are my parents, and I always love those photos because they give you a glimpse into your parents life before they had you. You see their eyes brimming with a different kind of light, full of optimism and youth.
like father like son
It seems pretty appropriate you live in Montreal–there’s something really nostalgic and melancholy about that city. So many great musicians who understand the whole art of longing pour out of that area. What’s going on up there?
They say in Montreal that the friends you keep in touch with through out the winter time are your real friends. The winter there is so cold and depressive its not even funny. A lot of relationships and all those other ships go through some weird existential check in the dead of winter, for better or worst, its maddening in a way.
Dirty Beaches is playing Glasslands Thursday, March 3rd with YellowFever // Widowspeak // Ela Orleans // Dum Dum Girls (DJ Set)
Get yr tickets HERE