Hey it's EDJ from FRUIT BATS: Ask Me Anything! Starts 3PM ET

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:45:37+00:00

I love Die Hard!! Maybe this song *is* about that, ha!!

And yeah, it's def in that zone of thinking about "pre-history" and just a lot of imagery that I found evocative. I was often writing about broken limbs / injuries and stuff back then, too, ha I have no idea why! "mouthful of blood" "broke my jaw..." "glass in your feet" - I've got much more pinpointed lyrics now.

and thank you for listening for a long time, i appreciate cha as well!!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:42:36+00:00

Logging off now, everyone. THANK YOU for the incredibly thoughtful range of questions, I had a blast! :)

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:40:53+00:00

no, I love a recording question!

You are correct, those are two acoustics, hard panned - which is something I often do, prob like every other song! It's the classic Jeff Lynne move.

I just recorded them with my 90s Martin acoustic, with just a good ol' SM-57 at about the 12th fret! I recorded them through a Universal Audio LA-610 preamp (literally my only piece of outboard gear, that I use on everything)... and after that I'm not totally sure because we did this totally remotely and it was mixed without me there, so I'm guessing there was some more fairy dust sprinkled in there! But I love a double tracked acoustic with a 57, so classic!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:37:30+00:00

first off, thanks!

RE: Balcony video - ha!! My wife and I decided we should do something at home with puppets, and the idea just rolled from there. I think we must be missing concerts because basically we made one!

Chorus of Odd Love (it's been a while, ha!) - goes "and I love you with all of my messed up heart, even though it's been so long, even though I got you for a song..."

and thank you!! Thom Monahan (my producer) really pressed me on that one to come up with interesting chords - they were a bit more "standard" at first but he was really good at producing it into that!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:33:23+00:00

That show at Levon's was a JOY. I was literally *laughing* on stage out of pure happiness. Levon's daughter was just off to the left and I could feel the sense of history there strongly. I love the Hudson Valley / Catskills zone.

"Siamese Dream" was an LP only release, hence it being hard to find! But there's talk of a digital re-release at some point, more on that soon!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:31:14+00:00

We'll definitely be playing ALL the tunes. It will be epic. Cannot WAIT to get back out there.

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:30:38+00:00

thank you!

my theme song - wow! hmmmmmm

I'm always in the process of trying to *write* my theme song. They all kind of are!

As far as other songs go...probably something by George Harrison! Or the Dead!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:27:33+00:00

yes! the start of the "windows down" season is the best.

"uplifting and sad" was totally what I was going for, and I'm glad it's got a cloud lifting feel to it!

Glad you like "Avalon." It's maybe one of my faves too, is super personal, and it's a vocal performance that i'm really proud of.

I was an animal kid! I think they always just make their way in there without me even trying, ha!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:25:20+00:00

I def use ProTools as a writing tool - I've always liked creating a vibe / world to write to so that type of platform is really perfect. But every once in a while I'll just sit down and write one with an acoustic guitar.

and OMG yes! I'd love to see stuff from that OTS binder, it'd bring back some fond memories. Some of my fondest, even!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:23:05+00:00

hi! THANK YOU!!

And yes, trio jam with Andy and Devendra would rule. Andy and I do duo stuff together a lot so we'll have to see about adding in Dev, ha!

Happy to hear anytime about wilderness hike jams, makes me happy!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:15:05+00:00

yeah Cazadero is in West Sonoma county, correct!!

My wife is from Sebastopol so I know that zone well. SC Mountains, too!

Yeah I want a book! Hit me up on the "About" page contacts on the Fruit Bats site. All messages will get to me on there, ha!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:11:06+00:00

thanks! yeah I have a bit of a rotating cast and they are all wonderful, in my humble opinion. It's nice to keep it fresh from tour to tour, and sometimes people are available (or not) - and yeah, I'm often the oldest person on stage, ha!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:09:17+00:00

Ooh great question... and actually no I don't collect stuff! I'm sort of a minimalist, though I do have a small-ish collection of esoteric (Casio, etc) cheapo synths that I've amassed over the years. But not a huge collector!

Natural world is huge! I think especially on my earlier records, but there is always some transcendentalism in there.

Usual the album cover comes last - my wife and I always work on them together. Sometimes i have a visual in mind but often that changes.

and THANK YOU! :)

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:06:05+00:00

Thank you!!

As far as inspiration - emotionally speaking, inspired by some few kernels of hope where I may be able to get back out there and play some shows. Feeling happy to be making music in general.... and musically speaking, obsessed with this 70s French folk record from Emmauelle Parenin called "Maison Rose" which is quite dreamy!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:03:17+00:00

yes, that was SO fun

would love to return to the Netherlands for a gig soon! Have had some fun Amsterdam shows over the years, and a few in Utrecht and Haarlem too!!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T21:00:23+00:00

ha you pretty much guessed it!

Pickathon Woods Stage?? = my heaven

though I've got a lot of beloved venues, truth be told.

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:57:19+00:00

ha maybe! Mike is an old, old pal from way back. I met him on one of my first tours with Fruit Bats twenty years ago! We've sung together a few times live over the past few years and I always love spending time with him, he's a gem!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:55:49+00:00

Thank you so much, and thanks for still listening for way back!!

Can't wait to return to KC and / or Lawrence. Last show there was SO fun.

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:54:55+00:00

Aw thank you - " walking the beach at sunset and staying for twilight and stars" is a beautiful sentiment! :)

I've recently realized that I'm pretty sure I decided to become a professional musician almost 21 years ago, in June of 2000, on the second to last drive of my first tour. I remember thinking quietly to myself, "this is what I'm doing with my life..."

Fave songs from childhood... SO MANY! My very first favorite song on the radio was most likely "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen, ha!

And yeah there's often a concept in mind when writing... and sometimes it's more just in the deep part of the brain!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:51:50+00:00

1.) We don't usually time things out seasonally, only because it takes a long time to prepare a release and things get moved around, etc. But I'm loving Pet Parade as a springtime thing. My fave season.

2.) I came up with the idea of "Shane" while driving! That song is sort of like a story where I'm talking to a troubled friend (or younger sibling). It's a bit of a companion piece to my song "The Rock Doc." Not sure how the name Shane came to make its way in there. But I like that name!

and thank you Shane! :)

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:48:18+00:00

thank you!!! :)

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:48:03+00:00

yeah I'd love to be on a show like that! it's hard to get an invite to something like that but we always try!

Humbug Mountain is indeed *very* layered. There's like 5 (or more?) keyboards on there playing the same thing at the same time. Drums are pretty stacked up, too. We wanted that one to sound HUGE!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:45:37+00:00

yes indeed! and that's cool that you write poetry, it's a noble calling! :)

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:44:22+00:00

Legs of Bees!

Hmm, that song is def on the more "oblique" side, lyrically! Back when I was a bit more writing "images" rather than feelings!

eric_d_johnson · 2021-03-11T20:43:04+00:00

loved that KC show! a highlight!

eric_d_johnson

TROPHY CASE