Last month, heavy pop collective Dude York dropped their album Sincerely, an impressive thirteen track testament to their talents, with a gritty edge that makes each song more decadent than its predecessor. The incredible performance methods of the trio almost shine through in their music, which makes the album double as the perfect soundtrack to a house party.
We caught up with Peter Richards just before the release of Sincerely, and here is what he had to say.
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What was the first record you can remember listening to that left an impression on you?
Will the Circle be Unbroken by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I remember listening to it with my family driving in the car on road trips, and how it used to drive me nuts. I couldn’t stand it! Slowly it became so familiar that it transformed into one of my all time favorites.
Do you have an official origin story?
While Dude York members, Claire, Andrew, and Peter were on a field trip to a science museum, they were all bit by radioactive guitars! They’ve been rocking ever since.
Why music?
Because music feels good to listen to. It’s a part of everything, woven into every experience, and to perform it is transportive. like any kind of art it is a form of emotional magic. Music is such a beautiful language. Also, mostly by happenstance and luck!
Being a 21st century musician can be full of uncertainty and financial risk. What’s been most challenging for you?
We live at a very stark transition in how music is heard and made. It’s hard to know what is going to wind up being a dead end or the fast track. In my experience there is a lot of anxiety about the shrinking power of physical media in the retail setting. I don’t think this really affects the process of making music, though. It’s wild how much the marketplace for music has shifted, even since Dude York became a band, despite that it had been in dramatic flux long before that. There is also so much available content everywhere, its hard to know how to stand out. Sure it’s daunting, but nothing has ever been easy.
Sincerely is out on Feb. 24th. What’s going through your head, leading up to the release?
We are busy preparing ourselves for our release show at Chop Suey on the 23rd, and getting ready for a tour in March and April with PAWS, getting in shape for SXSW, what movies will win big at the oscars, tons of songs are stuck in my head, to-do lists and distractions of all kinds. so, the usual!
Where do you feel most comfortable as an artist? On stage, in the studio, on the road, or somewhere else?
I feel most comfortable on stage. When a performance is clicking, sometimes I feel like I am waking up. I call it surfing when that happens. It feels really nice to be in the moment.
Any memorable stories from Sincerely’s recording process?
We recorded it in a house rented by the lead singer of the band Train. Although I’m not actually sure you can print that.
How do you stay inspired to continually create music?
Distractions. I try to be doing a ton of things while I make music, and I try to make music all the time. I want to improve so I try to work everyday.
What song or album did you most recently listen to?
“Life Worth Living pt II” because I can never remember the lyrics in the chorus and I need to remind myself often. That song has one of my best guitar solos, I think.
Anything else you’d like to let the readers of Impose Magazine know?
I’d like to recommend some podcasts! check out The Grey Estates, they are excellent music aficionados. And we were just guests! My favorite part of the week is when I listen to Jay and Miles X-plain the X-men. I think they should be recognized as saints, or something.
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Sincerely is available now.
