Following on from the release of their much-loved debut LP 'The Ballad Of Johnny Loveless' in 2018, New Orleans-based outfit The Duane Bartels Band are back once again to deliver their highly-anticipated new album 'Electric Baby Carriage'.
Featuring the previously unveiled singles 'Every Song', 'Wildfires', and 'Waiting', their newest full-length makes for a wonderfully fun and dynamic listen. Capturing more of that brass-filled jazz and soul-inspired direction they are known for, 'Electric Baby Carriage' sets them up as one of the more enticing names doing the rounds right now.
So with the new album available to stream now, we sat down with Matthew Duane Bartels himself to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
My first instrument was the trumpet. I started playing when I was 9 but stopped playing it for many years, up until I moved to New Orleans in 2016. I switched to guitar when I was 11 though and haven’t put it down since. You can hear the pull of both of these on our record. Very horn heavy, with the obvious New Orleans influence, but essentially guitar driven.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Life is a journey, not just a simple A to B process. Our music reflects that, you can hear varying styles on Electric Baby Carriage that have influenced me in some way. Most of that are more recent influences, jazz, blues, brass band music and general American music. But the core of what it stems from comes my early love of emo, pop punk, indie rock. I was really into the hardcore scene when I was in high school till about 25. You can feel that energy and drive in there somewhere.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Enema of the State by Blink 182. That's at least the first one I bought myself. When I was about 9 or 10 I saved up all my allowance money. Took quite a while. Ending up losing it later on, buying a new one then rediscovering it hidden away somewhere. Every time I saw it I would think about how long it had been with me. I had it probably until my early 20’s when it got lost in the shuffle of life somewhere. Last I saw it was in a box at my Grandma’s house in New York. Who knows, maybe I still have it and will find it again someday.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Hard to say because it is difficult for me to think of songs that way. Each of those artists expressed themselves in the way they saw fit at that time and I am doing the same. I just hope people remember them the same way they do others.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
It generally takes a lot of time, although every once in a while a song will just fly into my mind. I usually start with a chord progression or melody first. Flesh it out and start singing whatever is on my mind. As I go along I will write down those words. Then it will all change. I’ll leave them alone for months sometime. Some disappear and will reappear, much like my Blink 182 cd. More recently i’ve been writing my lyrics first, but that doesn’t feel as natural to me. Trying to find a good flow with it as a new approach.
Who are your favorite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
First off a little shout out to some local friends. Whisper Party and Juno Dunes. Two great easy listening Indie Rock bands here in New Orleans. Find myself listening to them quite a bit. Shark Attack is another good one. Killer surf rock band! On a bigger scale I really enjoy anything La Femme does, their new record was fantastic. The new Revivalists single “Kid” is pretty great as well. Other than that I find myself listening to a lot of older music. Miles Davis, his 70’s experimental stuff, is in pretty heavy rotation right now. I enjoy a lot of French impressionist stuff like Erik Satie and Claude Debussy when I’m trying to relax. Mac Dre is always a favorite of mine when I'm exercising.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
La Femme! Miles Davis? Tyler Childers or Lukas Nelson would be good options as well.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Spreading joy with people. Whether that is the crowd or other musicians on stage, that connection you make when you are playing live is what I live for every day.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Working within the limitations of being human. Things take longer than you expected while working yourself to near exhaustion over them. Our record took three years to release due to things out of my control. Hurricane damages, Covid, a child was born. It was a long and wild ride that required a lot of patience. Sometimes your mind doesn’t give your body and soul the patience that it needs. At least I’m guilty of that. Things take time.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
See above answers haha. But just play in front of people as many times as you can. Don’t be afraid to screw up, that's the only way to learn!
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The Duane Bartels Band's new album 'Electric Baby Carriage' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.