THE REPUBLIC TIGERS
The SiS Interview by Rusty Roberts

Ever since The Golden Republic called it quits via a MySpace bulletin and one last show in their hometown of Kansas City last year, I've felt a huge musical void in my life. To know they would not make another record made me sad, but that was until guitarist and keyboard player Kenn Jankowski started up The Republic Tigers. My life was put back on track with their catchy melodies and infectious blend of folk, psychedelia and symphonic pop that's equal parts Postal Service as it is Beach Boys. The band released a digital EP late last year and will drop their full length debut, Keep Color, on May 6th, becoming the flagship artist of Chop Shop Records.

Stranded in Stereo recently exchanged some e-mail's with the Tiger named Adam McGill on the band's intricate recording process, their influences, and what's in a name.

SIS: Was there any line up of the band around before Kenn was busy in the Golden Republic, and if so, what did you guys do while The Republic Tigers were on the "back burner" so to speak?

Adam: No, not really. When Kenn put TGR to the side we all did the same with our other projects at that time. We pulled together all of our demos and started perfecting them into actual songs. We all liked working with each other more than any of the other bands we were in so we quit those and put all of our attention on "the Tigers".

SIS: What would you say are the band's three or five most important influences (musical and non if need be)?

Adam: Film. Pop culture, in the sense that we are surrounded by it all the time and it has to influence us in some way. Other bands who are doing things we wish we had thought of first. Finally, I think the political climate has influenced us quite a bit. We all have different view points on things of that nature but we all have core beliefs that I think in the past few years have really forced us to get right down to the nuts and bolts of humanity and what is really important. Politics impact everyone in the world including those who would rather pretend that politics, or political ideology don't exist.

SIS: What's the general songwriting process like for band? Does one person bring a melody or an idea or a set of lyrics and the band works together for there, or is it a more collective effort?

Adam: As a rule of thumb...one or two of us start a song in Pro Tools or Reason and then pass those files around to the rest of the band. The other members add what they want to to the song. Then when we are all happy with the results we wait for Kenn to contribute lyrics.

SIS: What about the recording process for the band: you guys have a very distinct sound that's very atmospheric and dreamy, and it seems that songs like "Golden Sand" are just layers upon layers of pure goodness. How do you all come together and blend your individual visions to make the perfect song?

Adam: I think all that is the direct result of our current songwriting process. Passing those session files around to one another, adding layers and subtracting layers until we have this sort of sound collage that seems appropriate for the vibe we were all feeling for that particular song. When it gets to a certain point everyone sort of stops dead in their tracks and says "this is it". At that point we know the song is complete.

SIS: "Fight Song" also sticks out as a song that is just layered with vocals and has a lot going on when you listen to it on headphones. How do you guys present all of this in a live setting?

Adam: The best that we can. We pipe in percussion and keyboard tracks that we can't play while our hands are on our guitars and 4 of us sing live, to try and emulate what is happening on the record as far as the vocals are concerned. Every once in a while there is some type of vocal effect that cannot be achieved with the outboard gear that most venues have on hand like a preverb effect and we will pipe those tracks into the mix as well.

SIS: Were the [self-titled] EP and Keep Color recorded at the same time, or at separate sessions?

Adam: Separate sessions. The EP was recorded and mixed one week before we started tracking Keep Color. Of course we tracked both of them ourselves so some of the tracks we used for "Buildings and Mountains" were used on the version that you hear on the full length.

SIS: What did you find to be the easiest about thing about self-producing your album, and what would be the most difficult? Do you think you'll travel down the self-produced path on future albums, or do you wish to have someone else produce your record? Anyone in particular you'd love to work with?

Adam: The easiest part is knowing the type of sounds you want to use for each song and then being able to achieve them yourself as opposed to someone else trying to get them for you. The toughest part is remaining objective about things. When you write a part you love for a song, just because you love that part does not mean that it is appropriate for the song. So you have to be able to trash ideas that you may be very attached to because they don't always work for the better of the song. Most likely we will continue to produce our own records unless someone we all love and respect equally such as Nigel Godrich comes along and says "I love your music so much I'll wave half of the fees I would usually charge you to do this record.". I don't see that happening in the near future so we'll probably go DIY for a while.

SIS: If my research and memory serves me correctly, The Republic Tigers is named after the mascot at one the band member's alma maters, no? (If I'm wrong, feel free to haze and make an ass out of me. But if I'm right,) does it bother you that you are forever being associated with your school days, or were they not all that bad? Any of you guys play sports? Anyone from school give you a hard time about naming yourselves that?

Adam: You are correct. It was named after Kenn's high school mascot. It doesn't really bother us. In the words of Juliette "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,". Names don't really mean much. People call me all sorts of names and I don't pay any mind. And as far as forever being associated with someone’s school days, no. I mean we are grown men playing in a rock band, if that doesn't scream out that we want to relive our youths forever, then I don't know what does. Except, perhaps, naming "said rock band" after your high school football team; I was home schooled so sports were out of the question but I skateboarded alot and Ryan ran track at his school which was also named the Tigers. Nobody has given us shit for it so far except you. Thanks.

SIS: The Golden Republic were on a rather sizeable label (Astralwerks.) Did being on a somewhat major imprint play any factor in being the flagship artist for Chop Shop Records?

Adam: Honestly, the only thing that really factored into our decision was how great the label seemed when we met them. I mean it is great to have resources at your disposal, but when it comes down to it what really matters is having a team of people who believe in what you are doing and really want to get behind it. You can sign to a major label and disappear. You can sign to an indie and keep all your priceless "cred". Or, you can sign to an imprint like ours and hopefully have some of the resources that the majors have available to you with a smaller team of people who have faith in you and won't squander those resources.

To answer the question you actually asked me: I think the only thing that factored into their decision with us was the songwriting they heard and the potential they saw. TGR could have only had a negative impact on us. Alexandra actually didn't really like that band. She actually turned them down for a potential slot on The O.C. while that show was still on the air. So it's actually kind of a miracle that she still liked us even knowing that there was some sort of tie to that band.