We had a chance to throw our get-to-know-you questions at Jonathan Allen, founder/songwriter of Music for Headphones. They recently won our bi-monthly fans/readers poll, and just released their latest Neu!/La Düsseldorf/Faust/Can inspired album Life.in.Mono. Will someone please release their record in Europe already!?! Here’s some info below in case you wanted to learn more about Music for Headphones.
The Deli: How did the band start?
Jonathan Allen: The band first started in 2000 in Athens, GA at the end of a previous band. Our guitar player was leaving in the middle of a recording project, and the drummer and I decided to make a record on our own. It was called Dreaming through this Coma Life, self-released via the internet in 2000. Shortly there after, we moved to Portland, OR, and the project never materialized as a live band. I ended up being a founding member of Portland’s The Upsidedown, but left before their debut record, Trust Electricity, came out on Reverb Records. At that point I switched my focus from performing to production. However, in 2005, I found myself in Philadelphia furiously writing spacey, droney, shoegazey songs reminiscent of Dreaming through this Coma Life so I brought back the Headphones name, and put a band together. Here we are six years later.
TD: Where did the band name Music for Headphones come from?
JA: During early mixing sessions for Dreaming through this Coma Life, someone in the mixing room mentioned the songs sounded like "music for headphones". As the project was yet to be named, we went with that.
TD: What are your biggest musical influences?
JA: Growing up in the early 90’s it was all about Sonic Youth, the Flaming Lips, and Mercury Rev. In 1997, I saw the Dandy Warhols for the first time that led me in the world of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spacemen 3, and Spiritualized. My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain came after that. I am a huge record collector, and it all influences me. That’s a big part of why our sound is constantly evolving. If you have heard our latest record, Life.in.Mono, it’s clear I find Neu!, La Düsseldorf, Faust, and Can huge influences.
TD: What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
JA: I am constantly listening to Neil Young, Luna/Galaxie 500, and the Ronettes. I love Screen Vinyl Image and Asteroid No. 4, so they both get a lot of play at home as do the Warlocks. I’ve been on a buying spree of early Factory Records releases, so I am getting into things like Swamp Children, and rediscovering how much I love A Certain Ratio.
TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
JA: The first concert I remember seeing was Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Who knows if that was the first, my parents were always taking us to concerts. The first tape I ever purchased was Guns ‘n Roses’ Appetite for Destruction in 1988, the first CD was in 1991, INXS’ Live Baby Live.
TD: What do you love about Philly?
JA: I love the walk-ability of the city. It’s nice not having to drive on a daily basis. Clearly I love all the friends I’ve made here. There are some really great people in my life.
TD: What do you hate about Philly?
JA: The PPA. They actually stole my car. I got it back from outside of a chop shop.
TD: What are your plans for 2011?
JA: The third Sunday of every month we host an event called Fuzz Factory at Teri’s DinerBar (1126 S. 9th) that focuses on shoegaze, garage, ambient, experimental, and noise musicians. We just had our fifth event and looking forward to that continuing throughout the year. We should be heading out towards Chicago in late May and down to the DC area as well. We are trying to figure out how to get over to Berlin in the fall to support Life.in.Mono which is doing really well in Europe. Finally, we are going to start recording the next record within the next 6 weeks. Hope to have something new out by November.
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
JA: Probably opening for Spectrum at Johnny Brenda’s in 2007. We debuted a two drummer lineup and began the ultimate descent into kraut rock. Sonic Boom said we sounded like "a Stereolab mindfuck" and stole our sushi.
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
JA: Ha! Italian hoagie. Or the weekend preview.
– The Deli Staff