Two brothers from Kansas have turned their love of electronic quirk-pop and, in some specific cases, presidential history into an ever-growing discography designed to elicit nods, foot-tapping and semi-spastic dance moves. To celebrate their release of It’s Getting Personal, Electric Needle Room aka Matt and Steve Beat took some time to discuss their history, dance preferences and use of creative statistics.
AK: Break down your history for me.
MATT: Electric Needle Room started as a solo project for me in 2005. Steve and I were in a couple bands before. One of the bands we were in was in Lawrence, Kansas, called Photolab. I asked Steve to join me for live performances and some ENR recordings in late 2005, and I think he said “No.” But, eventually, I coerced him into the band. And the rest is history. Well, all of it is history. We have rarely lived in the same city since forming the band nine years ago, Currently, I’m in Kansas City and he’s in Wichita. We’ve released seven full-length albums and two Eps. (Ed: Matt has also released three albums devoted solely to United States presidents.)
STEVE: We grew up in a basement making music and annoying the crap out of our parents. I started playing percussion in the 5th grade and got a drumset for my 12th birthday, which I still own. My brother and I played off and on throughout our lives and in different bands, which we still occasionally do, but the brotherly duo has always been there and will never die.
AK: What was the inspiration behind “It’s Getting Personal”?
MATT: I had a bunch of songs I wanted to release, and most of them tended to be more personal than anything else I’d ever written. In the past, I mostly have written songs about either random things (like flossing, tomatoes, or the Presidents) or other people.
STEVE: My brother.
AK: Your sticker says that you’re the 1,536th best band in the world and your website says you’re the 427th best indie band in the world. How do you determine these figures?
STEVE: I’m not sure. My brother is the stats guy, so I will let him answer this question. All I know is numbers don’t lie.
MATT: I pulled those figures straight out of my butt.
AK: How would you describe your sound?
MATT: Sarcastic and sometimes clever lyrics about a wide spectrum of topics, with a synth pop/ jangle pop/ chamber pop/ noise pop/ pop pop backdrop.
STEVE: Corny with a bit of nacho cheese drizzled over the top.
AK: Have you been mistaken for a different type of band given that you could truthfully be referred to as “The Beat Brothers”?
STEVE: Not that I know of, but I noticed someone commented on one of our music videos confusing us with the Buggles, and I was like, “We’re not that awesome.” (laughs)
MATT: Now that I think about it, “The Beat Brothers” would have been a much better name, especially since it really is, legally, our name. There’s an Electric Needle Room tattoo parlor in California. I think most people assume we have an electro sound, and we do when we play live, especially with Steve’s electronic drum kit.
AK: Matt, with three albums worth of presidential songs under your belt, who is your favorite? Your least favorite? The most fun to write a song about?
MATT: My favorite two presidents are George Washington and Grover Cleveland. I honestly don’t have a least favorite. Over half the presidents were racist, though. I think Abraham Lincoln and and Theodore Roosevelt are overrated. The most fun to write a song about was George W. Bush.
STEVE: Even though this question isn’t for me, I just want to mention that I like and dislike presidents too, but not as fascinated by them as my brother is. Sorry to waste your time with this answer.
AK: Steve, has Matt’s presidential work expanded your knowledge of American presidents?
STEVE: Not really, I just listen for the music and not the lyrics. (laughs) Although, I now know that Calvin Coolidge had a pet raccoon, which makes him even more cool.
AK: One of my favorite tracks off of the new release was “First On the Dance Floor.” Are either of you truly the first on the dance floor?
MATT: I have been before although, when I was younger, I was too self conscious and shy.
STEVE: I don’t really dance. I’m more of a head bopper/foot tapper standing or sitting in the back of the room while sucking my thumb.
AK: Do either of you have a go-to dance move?
MATT: I bounce side to side, front to back, and get a little robotic with the upper body, if you know what I mean.
STEVE: The “Weekend at Bernie’s 2” dance.
AK: What’s next for Electric Needle Room?
STEVE: Not sure. My brother pretty much runs the show so he might know what’s next. In all seriousness, we are thinking of joining the Polar Bear Club next.
MATT: World domination. 2014 could possibly be our best year yet. I mean, we could even move up to 1,535 in the best band rankings, and that could be life-changing. And next year’s 2015, so that means hover boards. I hope we can be the first band in history to play a complete set while standing on hover boards.
To learn more about Electric Needle Room’s love of presidents, their quest to take over college radio, or their brand new record, go to electricneedleroom.com.
