by Joe Fielder
The new Rademacher album tells the story of fictional indie rock band that makes its start playing in East Side LA music venues and seems poised to “make it big.” But things don’t go quite as they intend…
“And we were called Babyhawk,” sings frontman Malcolm Sosa in the title track's chorus. “And this... This was one of our songs…"
There's a catchy guitar hook before he continues with, "You might not have heard of us. We weren’t around. For very long.”
I’ve spent the last week since interviewing Sosa over IM listening to the album and think it’s some of the band’s best work. Well worth hunting down when it hits Bandcamp next Tuesday and everywhere else a week later.
Here’s that interview:
RFSL: Hi, Mike. How the hell are you doing today?
Malcolm Sosa: Great. Very busy, but well rested. Getting ready for a photo shoot and a practice later today.
RFSL: So you've got a new album coming out soon. What's the full name?
Malcolm Sosa: Our new record, Babyhawk (part I of III) comes out on Bandcamp on 7/5 and other internet places on 7/12.
RFSL: You just finished up the album recently? How long have you been working on it? With who and where?
Malcolm Sosa: I've been working on the songs for quite a while, pretty much since we completed stunts in 2007. But we recorded this first slate of songs in April with Josiah from Light FM at his studio, The Cave.
RFSL: This is a concept album. What's the full concept behind it?
Malcolm Sosa: We're trying to stick to the concept as much as possible while writing song sthat are still enjoyable on their own. Kinda like a soap opera I guess. It is the story of the band Babyhawk. Who were from LA back in the day. LA before the Satellite. Before Origami Records.
RFSL: The rise and fall of an LA band in the hey day?
Malcolm Sosa: As Greg from 704 blog said, "The almost rise."
RFSL: What made you want to tell that story?
Malcolm Sosa: Mostly just hanging out with friends in LA that were attached to the same circle of bands. the old Ship Collective and Central Second Collective. But more the stories of the bands that didn't get big. The Silverlake Second Stringers.
RFSL: The bands that should've or really seemed like they were supposed to break.
Malcolm Sosa: More like bands that thought they were supposed to break. There's always a lot of hype in the air and it isn't always about the reality of a situation or talent or anything like that.
Malcolm Sosa: Yeah. And then you realize you never got off the ground. When you're begging for more drink tickets from Jennifer Tefft. Or an extra guest list spot to an empty show.
RFSL: So I've heard the demo tracks off the album but don't know what order they're supposed to be in. Is there an intentional arc?
Malcolm Sosa: You're talking about the six tracks from part I?
RFSL: Yep.
Malcolm Sosa: Here goes…
1. "Exes for Eyes"
2. "Baby Hawk"
3. "They Are Always Into That"
4. "Pessimist"
5. "Silverlake"
6. "Phantom Power"
Malcolm Sosa: That's the official track listing.
Malcolm Sosa: I like albums that go from dark to darker.
Malcolm Sosa: Like every Sparklehorse record.
RFSL: "There is no dark side. It's all dark."
Malcolm Sosa: Hopeless even.
RFSL: "They Are Always into That" is an older song from you guys.
Malcolm Sosa: It was the first song I ever wrote for the band.
RFSL: Why decide to incorporate it in?
Malcolm Sosa: Ha! It was one song that every member of the band could play! When we started the session. The other songs were built up as we went.
RFSL: Who is in the latest version of the band?
Malcolm Sosa: ELi Reyes is on Drums, Jonathan Hadden on Guitar, RC Essig on bass and Kim Haden on keys.
RFSL: What are your release show plans for the album? Any touring planned?
Malcolm Sosa: One of the ideas we're trying to incorporate with this whole three tiered release thing is to expand as we go along.
RFSL: When's the next Babyhawk release due out?
Malcolm Sosa: So for this release we're playing a dozen show in California in July/August to sell some hard copies.
RFSL: And when do you plan Part II?
Malcolm Sosa: Next on comes out at the end of September. There’s a local festival in my hometown of Fresno called the FUSE fest. We're tying our release date to our date there. And then heading off across the rest of the country in October. If you know anywhere we should play in October, we'll try and go there.
RFSL: And when do you plan Part III?
Malcolm Sosa: Part III will be in the winter. Smas/NYE time. Then we tour out to SXSW in March (with any luck).
RFSL: That's a mother-fucking ambitious plan.
Malcolm Sosa: It seems to be working so far. Hopefully we can stick to our guns and keep this train on the tracks.
RFSL: So, what part of the Babyhawk story does this first release cover? And what's coming in parts two and three?
Malcolm Sosa: This is the just the prologue. An intro to the band. Where they are from. Which is Echo Park.
Malcolm Sosa: Part II expands the geography a little bit with people moving away. That's more the theme of the songs of part II. People drifting away. Memories of friends.
RFSL: I'm listening to the demo for "Magic Words" right now. That's planned for Part II?
Malcolm Sosa: Yeah. That one is on the part II.
RFSL: I like how that song makes you immediately nostalgic for events you've never lived.
RFSL: And Part III?
Malcolm Sosa: Part III? We're still piecing that one together. I'd really like to see which of the songs/ideas/stories seem to resonate with folks.
Malcolm Sosa: And kind of tailor the last one towards responses from friends and fans and critics.
RFSL: I guess attending a tribute show for a band you were in is kind of like attending your own wake, eh? Maybe an Irish wake...
Malcolm Sosa: DId Tim James go to the show last night?
RFSL: I dunno. Wish I was in town for that. But I just kept up on it via Twitter.
Malcolm Sosa: Same here. Wish I could have made it.
RFSL: I say it often, but I'd like to write a book about The Movies. I think they could've been a modern day, I dunno, Talking Heads?
RFSL: It's hard to find a corollary removed from the years that the band continued to grow after they got the attention they deserved.
Malcolm Sosa: They were great it is hard to imagine a better band.
Malcolm Sosa: Like them and Pine Marten were the best of that era of LA band.
RFSL: Could be possible grist for the mill for Part III.
Malcolm Sosa: For sure I had both bands in mind when conjuring the songs on Babyhawk.
RFSL: So, you have a similarly-themed song for your other band College Kids , right?
Malcolm Sosa: The 704 song?
RFSL: Yeah.
Malcolm Sosa: Yeah. That one is more based on my personal experiences. About a show at the Silver Lake Lounge. A show where I actually played the title track from this album.
Malcolm Sosa: With French Semester.
RFSL: And I'm guessing will maybe never play at again.
Malcolm Sosa: Scott is having us at the Bootleg for our CD Release on July 14th. We'll see how that goes.
Malcolm Sosa: I would give The Silver Lake Lounge another shot if that's where they are having the next Joe Fielder tribute night.
RFSL: That fucking guy. He’s got a big baby head.
RFSL: So, how are College Kids different for you than Rademacher?
Malcolm Sosa: In terms of songwriting? A lot. I don't make up all the words or chords by myself. Kim Haden is my partner in that one and we go back on forth a lot.
RFSL: Kim Haden formerly from Light FM and now also from...
Malcolm Sosa: Yellow Alex/Rademacher/MidCities. And probably others I don't know about.
Malcolm Sosa: Killscreen/White Widow
RFSL: What's up with College Kids while with all the Rademacher plans for the next six months?
Malcolm Sosa: We're gonna try and get our first recording done this fall and release early 2012. Also maybe score some shows in Austin. Find a manager. Get big. Tour Europe.
RFSL: Excellent.
Malcolm Sosa: Take long flights.
RFSL: One last question for you...
Malcolm Sosa: What do you think the members of Babyhawk are doing these days?
Malcolm Sosa: They are probably like Alex Keaton's parents in the series Family Ties. Working at a PBS station and trying to pay the bills.
Malcolm Sosa: While raising children.
RFSL: I like how you twisted the knife right there at the end...
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