Initially we were going to run this Q&A with Thievery’s Rob Garza, local hero and all around nice guy, as part of a big wrap up feature that included the photos and review of their 930 club takeover shows. But, life, fame and 5 shows in a row happen and we did not get this back till later this week. So, we are running it now. Enjoy:
BYT: You played a record 5 sold-out shows at 930 club. How does it feel to see all that love come from your city? How does it feel to play in DC in comparison to some other, bigger (festival) stages you take every year?
Rob Garza: It feels great! This is our hometown, and the 9:30 club is a venue that both Eric and myself grew up seeing a lot of great shows. Having all of this love in our hometown, and being able to play sold out shows is a real honor.
BYT: When Thievery started out, what were your expectations? Did you ever think it would come to this?
RG: When we started Thievery, it was just a hobby. Eric and I would get together about three nights out of the week, hang at the (Eighteenth Street) lounge, have a few drinks, and power up our keyboards/ sequencers/ drum machines to try to make some noise. We never had any idea it would be a career for us. When we put out our first CD, we were debating whether to press 500 or 1000. We decided to be brave and press 1,000. Even back then, we had no idea that it would wind up like this.
BYT: What are some of your favorite things you got to do as a result of you success? People you got to meet/play with, places you saw?
RG: I think traveling for me has been one of the beautiful things about being in this band, and collaborating with the musicians we get to work with. Being a spokes person for the world food programme, I got to travel around the Himalayas in a helicopter. It has been an amazing experience meeting artists who have inspired many, like Perry Farrell, and David Byrne. Being able to create music and share that with people in a live setting is what makes touring great.
BYT: Everyone always says “you don’t love Thievery until you see them live”. How does the live show come together? Do you two orchestrate it or is it more of a fluid, organic process?
RG: I think it’s been orchestrated over the years in terms of putting it all together. It started off with Rootz, Zee, Rob Myers, and Pam Bricker playing live. Then over the years, we’ve collected more musicians here and there. It’s turn into a big production. We now have two percussionist, a horn section, a bass player, six singers, and a sitar/ guitar player. It wasn’t like we originally set out to create this big band, but over the years it turned out that way.
BYT: People (who live outside of DC) have been saying that the city is going through a rebirth of sorts. Do you think this is true or that everything has already been here but people are only now starting to pay attention?
RG: I think things have been going on this way for quite some time. And maybe with the attention of Obama being elected, people have become more focused on Washington, DC as a city. The energy of the city has increased with George Bush being out of here.
BYT: What does a typical day involve for you?
RG: It depends on the day. If we’re in the studio, we’ll usually get together for about 6-7 hours, start by messing around with instruments and see what kind of music we come up with. It’s a very organic process. Sometimes we have no idea of what we’re doing, and it’s about experimentation. When we’re playing live, usually we have long nights, big travel days with sound checks. Those days are repeated during the course of touring.
BYT: What does Thievery do to relax?
RG: I enjoy traveling, spending a lot of time in Mexico, hanging out with friends, enjoying life.
BYT: You’ve partnered up with UN to help with the World Food Programme…tell us about the effort and how it is coming along? Any other causes you are involved with?
RG: WFP is the largest humanitarian organization in the world. They feed over 100 million people. They asked us to get involved with the Tsunami 5 years ago, from then we’ve had a chance to do promotion and outreach at our concerts for them, travel and see their fieldwork. Right now, they’re doing a lot of work in Haiti. They started feeding people within 24 hours of the earthquake.
BYT: What does ESL have on the docket for 2010? Any exciting new acts, someone we should really be on the look out for? a new album by Thievery maybe?
RG: We just released Chris Joss’s latest album, “Monomaniacs Volume 1″ two weeks ago. We’re really excited about our newest signed act, Ancient Astronauts, they’re latest EP will release sometime this Spring. Nickodemus is working on his upcoming album, ” Moon People”, and Ocote Soul Sounds & Adrian Quesada are about to get back into the studio to record their 4th album. We’re always open to new ideas and talent. As for Thievery Corporation, we’re in the studio right now getting ready to record a new album that will be ready for 2011. This year’s focus is really about making music. In may, we’re going to Morroco, and adding a few European tour dates.
Reader Question: And finally, here are a couple of questions from our readers (direct quotes from a call for questions):
01. What piece of gear gives you your favorite delay effect?
RG: There’s a great tape delay plug in we love using in logic. It has such a warm sound. It’s kind of become a standard for us.
Reader questions:
How can I audition to sing with Thievery? I’m a female and have an amazingly beautiful voice….plus I know the songs already :)
However….I am just plain WHITE….is that a problem?…you could use a good white American woman in the band..plus I can sing circles around those girls…it’s true…and I’m local…
Think about it…
RG: (laughs) We’ve never chosen people by ethnicity. A lot of the times it has a lot to do with the way the songs have been written. For instance, Karina sings songs that were sings songs that were sung by Seu Jorge. There’s no rhyme or reason to how we choose. It’s a very spontaneous decision, and it works out very well!
Want more?
check out our live show coverage of Thievery here, follow them on twitter, and visit ESL’s website for ongoing updates on them and the other artists on the label.
i mean: by bragging about your altruistic acts…
February 4, 2010 at 1:35 ami hate when people show off how “good” they are! we all know how you really are anyways.