Under The Rotunda

[Note: This interview was originally published via audio format last February. However, since I can't host the mp3 forever, I'm revisiting the interview in article format, for internet posterity.]Last winter, before they played a stellar show to a sold out crowd at the Paradise Lounge, I had a moment to sit down with Elizabeth and most of the Catapult. I've been super excited about this band since the 2006 release of their self-titled EP, and have been eagerly awaiting the release of their debut full-length. Once that sucker comes out, I guarantee you that these guys are going to blow up. I mean, they've already played at Carnegie Hall, as part of an event for the Young People's Chorus of New York City. Elizabeth explained the story behind that: "I was in this choir years and years ago, and I guess they're really kicking butt now. They're performing all over the world, Rufus Wainwright wrote a song for them for this specific gala, James Taylor and all these really cool people were part of the night -- when we were asked to play, it was just like, 'Of course! Hells yeah, let's do this!' Obviously, that was one of the highlights of our year." Pete, Elizabeth & The Catapult's guitarist, chimed in, "It might have been the last time we'll ever set foot on that stage, so we enjoyed it."

Elizabeth & The Catapult have a way of working hard and employing a strong D.I.Y work ethic. "It's all our equipment, and we're recording and producing and managing and whatever else. That a key component with us. It's really awesome that we do everything ourselves -- and it's really arduous that we do everything ourselves." For live shows and for recordings, the band does all of the arranging. "Elizabeth does the majority of stuff for the album, as far as strings and horns go," Pete said. And for engineering, drummer Danny Molad takes the reigns. Elizabeth & The Catapult EP was entirely self-recorded, but you'd never know it from the quality of the recordings -- everything sounds impeccable. "That's Danny," Elizabeth nodded, making sure to give proper credit. "Danny's the real force behind our sound and what makes us unique." Matt Wigton, bassist, also jumped in here. "He can take a bathroom or a closet and make it sound like a multi-million dollar room in a studio." Which is a great trait to have, especially since they didn't have the advantage of a studio when they were recording the EP. Pete reminisced about the day they finished recording, saying "It was in a basement of our friend's, in the middle of winter, and I was finishing up everything with two coats on. That kinda of summed it up. On the very last song at the very end, there's a little car that drives by and honks. I remember, that day was in my apartment. That album especially was so in the bedroom, the bathroom, the basement..."

As for their much-anticipated debut album, they say it's coming soon. "We have been working on a lot of different recordings, some of which we're happier with than others. We have a lot of material in the works. It's kind of too much material -- and that's not being said in the egotistical way, more like an A.D.D. way. We have fifty songs since the last album, and we're in the middle of twenty recordings, and we want to have ten that we're into to release. Then it's just finding the right avenue to release that music. Either way, we're going to continue to leak all of our stuff on Myspace. It was cool to play "Race You," which we just recorded, and have the audience sing along." Elizabeth was referring to the band's tendency to give away their music online and at shows. Since it's been awhile since they've officially released music, they want to keep their fans interested, and like to give out demos they've recorded of new music. At their January show in Boston, they handed out burnt CDs containing two unreleased songs, "Race You Back Home" and "The Last Opus".

This band has spunk, they have personality. You can see when they perform, wowing the crowd with their talent and musicianship. I saw it as Elizabeth would pause before a potential swear (such as "kicking ass"), and say "kicking butt" with a smile and raise of the eyebrow, knowing the interview had to be clean for broadcast. All in all, it was a fun interview -- and it confirmed my opinion that Elizabeth & The Catapult are heading way up. They are an amazing band and group of people, and I know they're gonna be hugely popular. Mark my words.

Elizabeth & The Catapult - Momma's Boy (from Elizabeth & The Catapult EP)
Elizabeth & The Catapult - Waiting For The Kill (from Elizabeth & The Catapult EP)

Labels: Interviews