"It Should Be Cool to Care": An Interview with Trans Am

by Nancy Hunter

Nancy Hunter: Are you happy with the new album?
Nathan Means: What kind of a question is that? You think we put out shitty albums just because this is our seventh record? We're not phoning in like Al Pacino in The Recruit. If you gave me 10 million dollars I could put out a shitty album, but not for a few thousand dollars.

NH: How is this album different from your last one?
NM: Liberation is more of a classic Trans Am sounding album than the last. We've been at the forefront of post-rock and electroclash, but through it all, one of the sounds is that of an ominous sci-fi soundtrack to a dystopic future. Futureworld was the most focused example of that; then one day we woke up and were living in that future. We really had no choice but to make this record -- options were shut by living in the midst of it in D.C.

NH: Liberation takes a political stand against the Bush Administration at a very important time -- the beginning of an election year. Are you hoping to stimulate a political revival in music, in order to inform and have your message heard?
NM: I don't think it's the kind of record that people are going to be chanting in the streets (and not just because of the lack of lyrics) but we'd like to at least show that music can deal with overt contemporary politics without being preachy or boring. It should be cool to care about the world.

NH: As a band from Washington D.C., are you doing anything else locally to raise political awareness?
NM: Well we can't go to our senators since we don't really have any, but we are issuing a strong un-endorsement of Bush for president. It wouldn't be worth satisfying one's curiosity to see how unhinged and fantastical his schemes would get with a second term.

NH: Speaking of D.C., a sample of D.C.'s Channel 4 weatherman, Bob Ryan, is incorporated into Liberation's "White Rhino." Do you feel that he delivers up-to-date, accurate weather forecasts? Have you ever met him?
NM: No, but I went to a Caps game with a friend of mine -- playoffs vs. Devils -- and his sister came with Bob Ryan's daughter. I'm sure he's doing the best job he can. We actually chanced into his sample by mistake, but then it just synched up perfectly.

NH: Out of all your albums, which is your favorite and why?
NM: Red Line. I listened to it once and went into a daze for about twenty minutes -- that's awesome!

NH: Which electronic bands have inspired you?
NM: Um...Kraftwerk?

NH: If you could tour with any band, living or dead, who would it be?
NM: Flipper. We'd look like The Buzzcocks next to them.

NH: Here's a great question for all the label-mongers out there. If you had to stick yourselves in a genre or any combination of genres, how would you classify Trans Am?
NM: That's easy. We're Heavy American Electro Rock.

NH: Here's a really important question: Do you use Friendster?
NM: It's the only thing slower than Hotmail and I don't need photos -- I've already got a girlfriend.

NH: Addressing another current media craze, what do you think about the Atkin's diet?
NM: Carbs are the new terrorists. Bread is the new Bin Laden. I can't wait to order a low-carb veggie Whopper. People are pathetic

 

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NH: How did you come up with the name Trans Am? Do you like to drive fast in the slow lane?
NM: Phil and Seb did that. I wasn't there. But I think it was inspired. It involves Burt Reynolds.

NH: Have you ever tried to send one of your albums to Bill Murray? Do you think he'd be a fan?
NM: No. He probably likes America and Randy Newman.

NH: What should we expect from Trans Am in 2004? Tours? What's next?
NM: Expect much touring in the U.S. and Europe in spring, with more to come.

26 March 04

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Nancy Hunter dabbles in many trades, including writing, editing, plant maintenance and polka productions. She is currently a city editor at Citysearch.com.

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