Blake Sennett

1:14Yeah, sorry Matt what's man. Oh, it's all good. So what'd you say? Oh? And I just said sorry about putting on all that long. Oh, no worries. No, I'm just waiting in the studio anyway. It's fine Yeah, so so how are you where are you let's just get into it. How are you? Where are you? What's what's going on with life? I mean see I'm in Seattle I'm pretty good like trying to find parking we're going to like Like a fish market on the pier I think for lunch, but nice and really hard to find parking So we're trying to find parking the life of the rock star on the road always trying to find part of rock star living the living the dream which I

2:00Didn't think you would do again. I Didn't either But here I am Thanks for that amazing answer Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, no, it's all good. So you took some classes while you had time off. What were you doing? Yeah, I took some Classes, yeah, so he said classes. Yeah, did you go to school? Yeah? Yeah, like school of life probably more than like I didn't go to like university or something. Oh, okay Trying to learn stuff man trying to learn to like You know I'm trying to learn to do some drywall Trying to learn to do it. They had to fix my house a little bit, you know, like I feel I feel like after like the last like couple years of like being in a bus with like Kylie and like the last maybe 10 years

2:48Sort of like not like the most self-sufficient dude in the world. So right I Sort of wanted to like learn a little bit of self-sufficiency, you know like learn to like I Don't know man. I cook a little more and learn some I don't know Linda scuba time. I've learned like nice I'm basically just trying to take like Contrary action things that sound like a bummer to me. I'm trying to do them That's good. That's very healthy. Yeah Yeah, I'm trying. I'm trying, you know So what made you get back into the music? How can we have a new record from the elected? Well, I don't know man. I think I um I had um I had been away from it for like

3:34help literally like maybe you literally like a year of not touching my guitar and maybe like started tinkering and about that time my my buddy of mine called me up and That's why I wanted to go into like my studio for like two weeks and just like goof around and just uh record stuff Just sort of stream of consciousness and uh we did and it was um It was the experiment to see What would happen and songs? I guess started to happen How long did it take to make the whole record? Oh god, the whole record. It's hard to say because like Well from the time you went into that studio the first time until uh, I guess actually probably the it was definitely the fastest elected record I would say studio time span Uh, maybe like two months like that's pretty quick. Maybe like two months all told like

4:23with mixing like that's what I went out to Omaha for like 10 days nice Why Omaha that's an interesting place to go to go mix. Um my friend mike mo gets runs a studio out there and he's real um He's real um experience mixer. He's I've worked with him before on um lots of lots of projects. So it was a natural Um It was a natural thing to try to get him to mix it. He has a real way of putting um things together and uh making it Making it all right. So um Nice Yeah, how come you play most of the instruments and yourself producing you just did you want to do it all just you this time All on one sec. Hold on one sec. Yeah, man. Oh, hold on

5:35You know you sound busy dude. Are you are you busy? You have time to do this? Yeah, man for sure. Just yeah Okay. Well make sure I'll try and make it quick though. You guys if you're going up for lunch and stuff Now man, we've been trying. I've said we've been trying to make this happen since New York, dude Yes, that's true We brought it together. We're not gonna let a little parallel parking job post apartment. All right. All right Um, so the record has got a real like 50s. Actually all of your stuff has a real 50s beach boys Hawaiian, especially on this record Uh cool guitar tones lots of textures different from riloh in in that fact. How are you trying to? To write songs differently for the elected? Well, I don't know man. Good question like I think there's always a um Tendency to not want to repeat yourself

6:23Also, like the kind of like backdrops that makes sense for jenny luitz's voice don't necessarily make like a ton of sense for For like my voice, you know But you sang on the last so isn't dream world you though. Aren't you singing that? Yeah, yeah, dream. Yeah, dream world me and and I think jenny singing the high part Um, yeah, man. I don't know. I mean baby face for me doesn't feel so different from like a dream world or like uh Where where we were with some of the stuff on under the blacklight. Yeah fair enough. I see that So I guess some of it man. I guess the truth is on this record. I just tried to like write as self conscious As sell as as unself consciously as possible man. I tried to give myself the most Latitude I could you know like it's uh, it's a um

7:12I don't know I don't know like Like uh if I try I really tried not to have a goal. I think every record I have ever made ever I've had a goal in mind and I just really tried to not have a goal man this time. What were the goals and the last ones? Um, well the last electric record or the last silo kylee or both. Yeah sure whatever whatever comes to mind first um Well, I think on the last elected record I was going for like almost like I was really into like Dylan and the band and my grateful dead and things like that and I really pointedly wanted to make a record that sounded like The record that was really that were really turning me on at the moment. Did you do it all in one thing like they did? Sorry, did you do it all off the floor like they did?

7:59Some of them and some of them uh not all of them, but some of them I did. Yeah like uh bank and trust and uh There's a ukwan. Yeah for the most part um I probably didn't do it exactly as they did, but that was like the sound I guess I was in some way being and letting myself be inspired by Right, um in terms of this new record. I guess I didn't want to like make any Judgments or set any goals for myself man I mean and I don't know if that's how that you know as an artist it's something I had never done but I wanted to do it and see what came out see what happened and by and large man, I'm pretty like Happy with it. What out of it, you know like like baby face and latch around the world aren't necessarily fun

8:45I would think would end up on the same record like I've been trying to write specifically in one direction and I think I'm pleased with that. I wanted to see like what would happen if I just let it go let go and see what happens I think control has been like a real um Achilles I think it's been to my deficit and to my benefit control in my life and I just wanted to not control Anymore just wanted a little bit go that makes them Yeah, you mentioned trip around the world talking about letting go. It's got a very Hawaiian there's a crazy vocal on there too, but uh This Hawaiian strumming and feel that that you're right doesn't sound like baby face doesn't sound like most of the other record

9:33And uh, it's it's a nice piece to the record because it comes out of nowhere Yeah, yeah, I don't know man. I guess um I guess I just uh I guess I I really loved those rhythms and that sound and I think moreover I think that like sound has been like genuinely can considered or at least like Classified in the like uncool category I think that there's a part of me that's either foolish or courageous enough to try to like do it anyway, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, I do and it but it fits in with with the overall sound of the band somehow still at the end of the day Like it all just it works. I guess because

10:19You say it works and therefore it works. That's how like that's what the Beatles said about peppers on a concept record But it works because we say it is Right, right. You know that kind of thing how old are the songs were you? Yeah, well not not to compare it to pepper by any Most of them are pretty new man. I guess there was like a couple like actually trip around the world was written in like not only written but recorded in like a hotel room in Germany or France or somewhere in the in Europe. It was like like highly like five years ago Oh, wow, some are some were brand new like babyface. Um, I think some of them were um I don't know man like

11:06You know like I guess uh what else was was was uh a Old um look at me now as an old one but uh Foreign to love you was written on the spot stream of consciousness in the Studio on the very first day that we went in. Oh, some are totally fresh and some are like Pretty old but like things that had been sort of like recorded and filed away and uh sort of been dusted off so to speak in and then uh re uh reimagined for this record How do you feel about repetition in a song because the song like look at me now You say that line a lot and I think back to the last record and did me good. You use that phrase a lot How do you feel about repetition in a song? I catch repetition. It's like uh I don't know necessary to the pop form, you know

11:56Like at its most sublime, you know tangled up in blue is pretty incredible And it probably wouldn't be if he didn't sit tangled in blue each time at the same time there are artists um You know who just don't repeat at all. I I think it I think it all depends on the the context like um But I feel that repetition is pretty much a um earmark of well Songwriting as I understand it, you know, even like the pretty abstract writers like um uh, you know, dave don darrow or uh, I don't know still repeat courses. I feel you know what I mean Not always so I guess I I guess I grew up on pop music man where where our repetitions kind of

12:46Kind of a um part of the art form as I understand it so yeah, that's interesting Uh, what was I gonna ask you do you record because you're producing What's that? How do you feel about repetition? I like it for the most part. I think I think it works in certain cases. I think it doesn't in others I think some people Might use it as a cop out at times. I don't I'm not saying that about your songs at all. I'm saying that about Uh, I can't even think of something on the top of it But I just wonder as a singer and as a writer Going into the vocal booth with that pad of paper in front of you singing the lyrics or maybe you don't do it I don't know how you do your vocals But if you have the words look at me now, you know 12 times in a row do you ever sit there and go Maybe I should cut that back a little bit I guess not in this case because you said you just kind of did it before I cut them back man

13:33There was 150 in a row Well, there you go. Yeah, it's just that is the cutback version That's good and it's not a bad thing. I'm just I'm just wondering if you ever look at it and are like well Yeah, this this will work But I guess in this case you were saying you made the record with with no even thoughts really You just you let it go and you see what happens and I think that's kind of cool Exactly man. I tried to get out of my own way um and It's uh the nature of the business to um to um Well, you know like when you record records and stuff you're subjecting yourself to other people um opinion of those records so um That's what you want. That's what you do it for So, you know like to subject yourself to the public

14:20Forum otherwise why not why I record it at all. That's how are the songs anyone on that topic How are the songs coming out live or are people enjoying them? Um, I think tell me I think so Seems like it. I don't I don't know how to quantify that like people are clapping after you know I mean he like after I play him and stuff and uh, they haven't been any like real scathing like um Show reviews or um stuff Like of that nature if they're you read reviews. I don't see you as the kind of person that'll be reading reviews You're right man. You that's interesting that you say that I I really don't but um, but um Um, how'd you know that? I wouldn't I just assume I you know I've listened to your records and I know

15:06the band kind of Just I don't know. Yeah, I just and I I would think most people wouldn't want to read reviews Anyway, I don't see that being helpful to you as a performer to To want to know what everyone's thinking all the time that would that would be so detrimental to your ego. I think consistently Okay, I can wait one Oh, oh, hold on one sec mad of course What why we never do if you do why? Um Well, then I can wait with them. You want to keep going. Sorry man. Go ahead. It's okay

15:52Um, let's switch topics then for a second. I want to know about uh about acting. How come you're not doing it anymore? Oh, hi to no man. I guess I I a got fatigued To some degree and I think I really care to have music at the time I quit acting and it's really hard to do both Yeah, I would think so Equal uh with giving an attempt so anytime you Anytime I have tried something I've had to give the other thing up it hasn't been my story to be able to do two things with Full investment and do two things at the same time, you know, that's just maybe I'm just not a good multitasker But that's no, well, you know, I gave it up as I think I loved something more and and I think I also didn't love the way my um My person was being expressed through my

16:42Acting I didn't I didn't love the things probably I was The things that were available to me. I mean, maybe if I were in like, you know, five roberts in era movies or I would who knows but I wasn't you know, I was mostly like in things that were were cool or great or fun But I'm not sure I loved if I could see my life as a straight line. I didn't love where that particular line was leading me Um, I think I my my best outcome would be to like look off a pilot where I was like the goofy friend The next door and like and like this is my which would have been the best possible outcome and spent 10 years on like a show It's like the funny guy, right? It's cool. It would have been great for a lot of people

17:28But why do it if it's not what I want when there's so many other people who that's exactly what they want So even if I were to succeed at that, I'm taking um A dream away from someone who actually gives a shit about it. You know what I mean? That's really nice. Really wants that in the same way I want wanted to pursue music. You know what I mean? I I wasn't it wouldn't have been I would have been wouldn't have been um Conchian just to do for something. I don't know and I would have I don't know anyway Did you think did you think during that time off that you were gonna come back to it then No, I I guess I didn't in that time. I guess I didn't think I was gonna come back to it But you never know man. Maybe I will I was talking about music in the time off like two years ago. Oh, oh, so we're talking about acting Um, well, uh, music. I don't know man. I think you have to play a game with yourself where you truly believe you're done

18:19Truly believe you're done man. You didn't pick it up once no guitar at all Once he's crazy truly swore it off um It'll bring you no appreciation though. I mean not once I don't know I I couldn't say if I never picked up a guitar in like Well, yeah, yeah, but I mean nothing to sit down and actually go for it. No, I mean I literally kept music going through my house um It was kind of like you know um Yeah, it must be nice to almost relearn the instrument then when you do decide to pick it up again Um totally. I mean I noticed that I had slipped. I was I'm definitely not as good A guitar player as I was um a couple years ago, but You know practice makes perfect. Well, I say and you're on the road now. I'm sure I'm sure the chops are are coming back day by day

19:08Yeah, to some degree. I mean I'm the singer. So I'm mostly hammering out chords, but uh, right Yeah, well doesn't matter um we do something on the show called five questions five quick questions one more answers She wrote her studio Oh studio lennener mccartney McCartney most important thing in a song lyrics melody or rhythm melody or rhythm. Oh god lyrics melody or bridges God No chords. I'm just lyrics melody or rhythm. What was your what would your answer? No, no, no you can you can throw a twist in there What would you say chords? Well, I just thought I'd think if it is like chords lyrics melody rhythm probably if I were gonna classify down

19:58See I used to have cadence in there and I took that out I like your questions. Um I'm a little hereish Okay, but you but your real answer is chords. I think and that's interesting. Maybe I should put that into the question No, no, I know that song No, I hit her. I was just surprised it wasn't one of the optional of the category. Okay I've stumped you. Um, so song you've written you're most proud of Oh, wow in my life Cool. Um, god. That's tough. Oh, wow I'm most proud of in my life. Yeah Oh Wow I'm most proud of which okay. How about this then what what are you most excited to play every night? Probably babyface actually like we have a way that we're doing it. That's pretty like different than

20:48um Pretty different than the like way it appears in the record. So it's really a fresh feeling and um, I'm gonna say that Yeah, you mentioned that song several times in the interview too. So so I that would be my guess Well, it's pretty like different. It's it's the kind of song I would have written with Jenny so I'm proud of that like You know like attempting some stuff that I would have done with her on my own. You know what I mean? like there are songs I could have written with Jenny that um Like baby tailbird. That's a song I kind of would have written with Jenny Um our without which or without kind of thing I've done that kind of fun winter and I've done that kind of fun without her babyface That feels like something. I've only kind of done right low kylee for her and so it kind of

21:34Get excited because it's different, but I certainly wouldn't say this look Proud of like fun. I'm most proud of in my life too hard to even Go there. Yeah, no, it's funny because I've done like 400 of these some people get it like off the bat They already know which one and some people can't it's uh, it's always interesting to see what the answer is though Um, yeah, man. I might have told you time is coming a couple months ago That was my favorite on this new record, right in touring this album. I've like Rediscovered some songs that I had totally written off is like not that sweet like there was fun going Think I even liked and in singing them live. I'm like, oh wow. I like that song. That's pretty that's better than I remembered it That's great. I didn't want to bring up Jenny. I didn't want to bring up rilob. But because you did

22:22I'm gonna ask and I'm sure everyone asks you this it's finished. It's done. It no more I don't know man. You never say never. I mean we're gonna get together and like We're in the process of like selecting songs for this like to to disc unreleased tracks record it working out and you never say never man. I mean but It doesn't seem like something like necessarily um I don't think I'm or any of us are ready to do just yet. Right. Well, if you do call it quits that record Like you topped you topped it with that like that's that's a good one to go out on if that's what you're gonna do which uh blacklight Oh, thanks man. That's not quite my proudest Kylie one, but I like it. I'm proud of like

23:08Attracts on that thing. What's your favorite one out of those out of the rilob records then? Oh, probably more adventurous. Okay Yeah, that's a good one too. Uh, I think uh blacklight has like Maybe four of our strongest songs ever, but it has like a good couple of our weakest songs ever Well and in terms of success for the band too. I mean like that you were able to do I would assume a lot more with the band because of that record And maybe that's why maybe that's why everyone started hating it Yeah, maybe maybe Uh anyway back to the five questions one word in one word the elected first. Yeah first thing that comes from mine dead dead

23:55Yeah, no fair enough, but Where it comes to my mind I was the first way to change my mind man. Well, let's hope the band's not dead you guys you guys have a quite a few more summer dates to keep going through Yeah, for sure That's just the word that came to mind. That's good. I like it That's funny It uh kind of encapsulates uh songwriting too a little bit interestingly enough Um amazing man. Well, thank you very much. I'm glad we finally got to do this Yeah, me too and uh and good luck with everything and play some shows up here in cana one of these days All right. Take some last minute. All right. Take it easy