Steel Train

Steel Train are no ordinary band. They have a sound that they can safely call their own, and now they have captured the DIY spirit, releasing Steel Train on their own label. During the Pac-Sun event on the beautiful shores of Santa Monica, we were fortunate enough to sit down with the band to discuss a myriad of things, including the new album, its companion record, fun. and some interesting hobbies the members participate in.

Jerry@RRR: Let’s do away with the formalities first. Could you introduce yourselves?

Jack Antonoff: We’re both Jewish. [All laugh]

Evan Winiker: I’m Evan. I play bass.

Jack Antonoff: Jack. [mockingly] I play bass.

Jerry@RRR: Thanks again for taking the time do the interview. How are you guys feeling today?

Evan Winiker: Really good. We’re pumped up today.

Jack Antonoff: We’re pretty excited. This is…not that I didn’t think this would be good, but it’s nice when things you don’t know about turn out to be fun.

Jerry@RRR: Next week, you’ll be releasing Steel Train. What are you thoughts leading up to the release?

Jack Antonoff: You know it’s a feeling we’re somewhat familiar with. I imagine if you’re like a parent of three children it’s the same kind of thing. It’s a lot of being really nervous and really excited. You have no idea what to expect. The interesting thing about putting out records is you put it out, and then two years go by and everything you thought was going to happen didn’t happen and things happened that you didn’t imagine would happen. We’re at a place right now that we can’t imagine what’s gonna happen, in a good way.

Jerry@RRR: How was the recording process?

Evan Winiker: Fun. We came out here and I fell in love with L.A. for real when we were here.

Jack Antonoff: He moved here probably because of the recording.

Evan Winiker: It was a great time.

Jack Antonoff: It was really nice. We had a lot of turmoil on the business ends of things; we were taken off our label, recording without permission. So the actual recording—maybe because there was so much other crap—we made it a lot fun.

Jerry@RRR: What was the situation with Drive-Thru?

Jack Antonoff: It was…it hadn’t been working for a while. We need to get off and it wasn’t easy.

Jerry@RRR: So you decided to release your next album on your band’s label. How did that come about?

Jack Antonoff: It is a wonderful time to be in the music business.  History is like in the making right now. It’s putting out their own music, supporting themselves and we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of that. You know it’s nice to be a part of the future. We were on a label and we always felt like weren’t in the future, like we were in some archaic display that was dead.

Evan Winiker: In five years, the label structure is going to be so different. What we’re doing is sort of the next step, you know?

Jack Antonoff: I’m happy we’re doing it when it’s still a risk. In five years, everyone will do it.

Jerry@RRR: Evan, what do you think the music industry is going to be like in five years?

Evan Winiker: Well basically, as it is, as it was ten years ago, and twenty years and thirty years ago, major record labels distributed their records to distribution networks. Now, bands are going to go through those distribution networks like Fontano and Red.

Jack Antonoff: That’s what we did.

Evan Winiker: And what we’re doing, it’s like we don’t need to spend $500,000 on a record. You can spend $30,000 altogether and record this great record.

Jack Antonoff: Anyone who sees us will have no idea that we’re not on a label. All we did was cut out the middle man. [The record] will still be in stores. We made a video this weekend. It’s a time when you can do that.

Jerry@RRR: Speaking about the video, when can we expect it to be released?

Evan Winiker: July 12^th we get the copy. So I guess soon hopefully.

Jerry@RRR: How do you think the new album compares to Trampoline?

Evan Winiker: It’s like an evolution. [To Jack] What do you think?

Jack Antonoff: Trampoline to [Steel Train] makes sense. We just put it up for stream and there were tons of comments, people talking about how we changed on the new record and it’s something I’m really happy that is synonymous with our band. So it’s different.

Jerry@RRR: Along with Steel Train, there’s going to be a companion album featuring a bunch of guests. How did that come to fruition?

Jack Antonoff: It’s something I have been talking about for a very, very long time. Even back when we were doing Trampoline I wanted to do it, but we couldn’t because of the label and stuff. And about four months ago, we all started talking about it again and were like, “Let’s really try and do this.” We put together a wishlist of artists we love and respect. It’s such a basic concept of having the opposite gender remake your music, but I don’t think it’s really ever been done. So, it’s really exciting for us. It’s kind of one of the first times we can listen to our music as fans.

Jerry@RRR: One of the artist’s on the companion album is Scarlet Johansson. How did you feel about that?

Jack Antonoff: It was our choice, so good. She’s on it because she’s an outstanding singer. The whole point of the project was to give it to great artists that have real vision. With everyone we gave the song, we said to them, “Do what you want it’s yours.” The companion record is the songs completely reinterpreted by each artist; it’s not just them singing it. She has an amazing vision and a dark, interesting sound. She reinterpreted Tom Waits, so she can reinterpret us.

Evan Winiker: It was good.

Jerry@RRR: So would you say that time heals everything?

Jack Antonoff: Pretty much.

Jerry@RRR: Jack, you are also a part of fun. How are you balancing both bands?

Evan Winiker: Well I do is…[All laugh]

Jack Antonoff: I think when you are in a band, you have time for two lives. Evan does the band and he’s also a screenwriter. John is in the band and has a girlfriend. I used to be in a relationship. I really believe you can do two things. So with that,  I just filled up every ounce of time.

Jerry@RRR: [To Evan] So, you’re a screenwriter. Is that why you moved out to Los Angeles?

Evan Winiker: Yeah basically. I needed to be here for meetings and stuff. I have friends out here; the weather’s great. These guys are always out here.

Jack Antonoff: It makes no difference at this point of our career. We don’t really exist anywhere.

Jerry@RRR: So how are you enjoying it in LA?

Evan Winiker: I love LA! It’s fun. I like going into different studio lots. After meetings, I’m always walking around like, “Oh my God! That’s where they filmed that!”

Jerry@RRR: What do you primarily write about?

Evan Winiker: All comedies, different subjects. Right now, I’m focusing about two guys, an odd couple type of story.

Jerry@RRR: Jack, can we expect anything new from fun. anytime soon?

Jack Antonoff: In a little bit. We’re working on writing. Our records have been colliding well. Fun. is done. Ours is just starting.

Jerry@RRR: Do you see it as a sideproject or something permanent?

Jack Antonoff: Permanently within…I hope everything gets to be the way it is now. I’m really lucky to do both and be work with people that are ok with me running around.

Jerry@RRR: What are your plans for after this event?

Evan Winiker: Fly back to New York tomorrow morning to start a tour.

Jack Antonoff: We start a tour tomorrow.

Jerry@RRR: Who are you going on tour with?

Jack Antonoff: We’re headlining. We’re taking out Matt Embree from the RX Bandits.

Jerry@RRR: That’s all I have for you. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Evan Winiker: Our album is streaming for free online if you want to hear it for free. Steeltrain.net.  

With a new vision in mind, Steel Train is out to conquer the world. And after releasing a stellar album, who can blame them? Catch them on tour read our review for it here.