Wise Blood - "Solo [4 Claire]"

Wise Blood - "Solo [4 Claire]"

[via]

Another new song from Wise Blood. "Solo [4 Claire] is a grinding bouncy jam that sounds slightly less sample based than his work on "+." Do I hear some Mickey Avalon influenced vocal delivery there? I hope so. It is also self-referencing lyrically with the "They say Chris how do you do it/ looks like you've been here before" line. If here means this blog, he has certainly been here before.

Wise Blood - Solo [4 Claire]

New Wise Blood Track and Video and Show!

New Wise Blood Track and Video and Show!

Wise Blood // Here Comes the Sun from Kevin Little on Vimeo.

An active week in the world of Wise Blood! First this video for + opener and standout track "Here Comes the Sun". 

2 THE BITTER END (K-Ci & JoJo Remix) by Wise Blood

New song "2 The Bitter End" was recently uploaded to the Wise Blood's soundcloud account and turns around and plays with a core sample, as is the Wise Blood way. It is the second song released since the first EP dropped (both of which begin with the number "2" in the title...). Sensing a theme here. Christopher will also be playing CMJ very soon, so if you are fortunate enough to go, please do!

The Buzz Box #12

The Buzz Box #12

The Buzz Box is your weekly sniff-test for tracks that have been garnering attention on the blogosphere. This week we hear a new track from prolific indie favorite Deerhunter as well as the first single from Ra Ra Riot's new album, The Orchard. Also featured are two rising acts that we've been loving over here at BCB, Beat Connection and Wise Blood (see Brandon's interview with Wise Blood below). Co-starring in this week's box are J. Tillman (from Fleet Foxes), SLEEP ∞ OVER and Delorean. Enjoy.

Deerhunter :: Revival
Ra Ra Riot :: Boy
Beat Connection :: In The Water
Wise Blood :: STRT SRNS
J. Tillman :: Three Sisters
SLEEP ∞ OVER :: La Rose
Delorean :: Real Love

Wise Blood - Interview

Wise Blood - Interview

Wise Blood - STRT SRNS

Christopher Laufman makes soulful, sample based jams out of Pittsburgh under the name Wise Blood. He has a Myspace with a couple thousand hits and a Free EP that is blowing up the blogosphere. Christopher and I recently discussed a few things via emails, including cemeteries, relation to Flannery O'Connor, and a new EP for the song featured here,

BCB: You recently moved to Pittsburgh from Houston. Why was that?

CL: I took a semester off from school, as of right now, I'm working in a cemetery.

BCB: What are you studying in school?

CL: I was looking into archaeology.

BCB: What is it like working in a cemetery?

CL: I enjoy working in a cemetery, it gives you a good perspective.

BCB: Given that your bandcamp name is Haze Motes, a character from Flannery O'Connor's novel Wise Blood which is also your project name, I assume you are a fan. Why did you choose that name and what is your connection with O'Connor?

CL: I like the name, I like its different meanings. And I heard that we might be related. That's why I got into her writing at a young age.

BCB: You are currently unsigned but I could easily see your EP getting picked up and distributed by a label. Cymbals Eat Guitars like you too. What are your aspirations for your music? Is this a career or a project?

CL: I have big plans for the music. Hopefully they work out. I don't want to give anything away.

BCB: I read that you took guitar lessons as a kid. what is the ratio of samples to instruments on the EP?

CL: The whole album is essentially built upon different samples that I pieced 2gether, it's only the last song, "MI + AMORE" that's played on guitar.

BCB: "+" clocks in at just over 10 minutes. Is the shorter EP form something you are partial to? Is this part of future music?

CL: I wouldn't say that the length of the EP is intentional, but maybe it's telling.

BCB: Your music on bandcamp is tagged as "future music." Could you elaborate on this at all?

CL: I like that term, I saw it used to describe the music that Joker makes. I think it's a label 2 aspire to.

BCB: Nostalgia is a word that gets kicked around in a lot of music descriptions these days and I have seen it in terms of your music. Is this something you think about when writing?

CL: I try not include any nostalgic aspects in my music, I think everyone should be looking forward. Although, it's inevitable that at some point it will creep in there.

BCB: Your music seems really soulful to me, especially the Prince-y vocals (not to mention the track four Motown reference). There are also a lot of sample based Panda Bear or Atlas Sound-esque loop repetitions. What music do listen to and what has influenced your own writing?

CL: I've been trying to listen to music that reflects what I'm trying to make. Anything thats melodic with interesting surroundings.

BCB: Do you perform any of you music live? Or has it been mostly a recording project. Would you ever be interested in touring (and playing a show here in Seattle?)

CL: Right now I'm in the process of getting the EP ready to play live. I would definitely be interested in taking it different places, including Seattle. As soon as its ready I'll get on stage. I'm actually taking a week to get the live show 2gether starting on August 17th with a friend of mine, after it's complete I'll be ready to get out there and breath new life into all the material.

BCB: You also were working on video accompaniment for your songs. Are you still working on that?

CL: Yeah, I'm still trying to get some video 2gether, it's taking longer than I thought though. There is going to be a video out with a new song before the release of the next EP, it will involve the efforts of different people across the world all coming together online and creating something great.

Intertextuality #4

Intertextuality #4

[mp3] Wise Blood :: 2 All the Girls Who Have Trusted Me

The train was racing through tree tops that fell away at intervals and showed the sun standing, very red, on the edge of the farthest woods. Nearer, the plowed fields curved and faded and the few hogs nosing in the furrows looked like large spotted stones. Mrs. Wally Bee Hitchcock, who was facing Motes in this section, said that she thought the early evening like this was the prettiest time of day and she asked him if he didn’t think so, too.

Flannery O'Connor, Wise Blood (1952)