Here is an email interview I have conducted with Carolyn Haynes, bassist and back-up vocalist for Philly's own Catnaps.
How would you describe your music?
Fun, fuzz-pop. We're actually in a transition period with our sound so our new EP is going to have a more Breeders/that dog influence.
What's unique about Catnaps?
One of the biggest compliments we get from people is about the lyrical content of our songs. They're witty and extremely relatable. Adrianne writes almost all of them and is able to make these personal stories into events that everyone goes through. Her voice is also amazing and definitely makes Catnaps what it is. She actually put out a solo album a couple weeks ago, you should check it out! The project's called Faux Pas.
What accomplishments have you made as a band?
We've done 2 or 3 east coast tours and last summer we toured across the country. We've released two EPs, one full length, and we're working on our first split (on cassette), as well as two other EPs. We've played Popfest in both Athens, Georgia and New York. We've played with Hellogoodbye, A Great Big Pile of Leaves, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Wild Moccasins, Hop Along, Algernon Cadwallader, and many more amazing acts. We've met great musicians and made a ton friends, and grown so much as a band since we started 4 years ago.
Who are the members and what do they play?
Adrianne sings lead and plays rhythm guitar… and sometimes lead. She's also the one who started the band.
Dan plays bass and lead guitar and is the longest running member, besides Adrianne of course.
Christian, who also plays in Congenital Death and Bad Side (two other awesome Philly bands), plays drums
I sing back-up, play bass, guitar, glockenspiel, melodica, omnichord, saxophone - whatever we need really.
How many months has the band taken off from playing shows, and what was the reason for the hiatus?
We stopped playing I think a little after June started. I've been in Nashville all summer working for Infinity Cat Recordings so playing shows kind of became… unrealistic. It's been absolutely awesome though, I worked with the BEST people, and they actually mentioned me and Catnaps on their website! (
http://infinitycat.com/wordpress/archives/1563). I think we all really miss playing shows though so we are DEFINITELY ready to play this month.
Could you describe your live performances (what sets Catnaps apart from other live pop-acts)?
We like to write songs that make people move. Dancing alone in your room or dancing in the middle of a show, we really enjoy making people feel something when they listen to us. I will admit we're just a smidge awkward when it comes to stage banter but Adrianne's been practicing some jokes so that should solve that problem. Dan and I also switch instruments during our shows, something I've always found interesting and entertaining when watching a band (like Harlem for example ((RIP they broke up))). We also tend to play everything faster than the recordings and make them a little more… rock, I guess would be the best word, sounding than they do on our albums. Usually what we play live isn't a note for note rendition of what we recorded. It still sounds great, but it offers people another way of hearing the song. And when you're a pop act, having some surprise parts in your songs at a live show is something that makes people interested.
Could you explain the transition in sound in a little more detail?
We're trying to add in more of an early 90s alt rock/girl-grunge-group sound. So there's going to be some synth parts like The Rentals, some harmonies like That Dog and The Breeders, plus some longer (4-5 min) songs with solos and trance like instrument melodies like Built To Spill. The Lemonheads, Archers of Loaf, The Martinis, The Amps, The Pixies, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr., Guided By Voices, they all have some effect on us and I'm really excited to see where we end up with these influences.
Why should people care about Catnaps?
Everyone, whether they want to admit it or not, needs a pop fix. We make songs that stick in your head for days after only 5 minutes of listening. We're branching out with our sound and so far we've been getting great feedback. We're a band that's still growing and I think watching a band during that time period is really neat to see. Wavves did it when he switched from that super lo-fi punk sound on his first self titled releases to King of the Beach. We've got quite a few surprises left in us and I think a lot of people out there will like what we have to offer. Plus, we're very nice people. And who wants to ignore nice people?
Anything else you want people to know?
We have an EP that's almost done and should be out late fall/early winter! Plus a split tape with this awesome band from New Jersey called Tiny Teeth. AND a special 3 song winter EP that sums up how pretty much everyone feels in those cold and dreary months. And of course our two shows this month!!
Interview date: Sept. 14 and Sept. 15, 2012.
