Some things are quintessentially DC, if for different reasons, and the duo behind Thievery Corporation is definitely one of them. When you think downtempo electronica, you instantaneously think of ESL and of Eric Hilton and Rob Garza.

Now, for those into the easily pin-pointables finding out that Garza has been writing non-electronic, almost old fashioned songs in his spare time may come as a suprise. But, under the name Dust Galaxy, Rob assembled a merry team of extraordinary musicians (from The Make-up, French Toast and more) and under the production of Brendan Lynch of Primal Scream recorded what may be the biggest suprise record of 2007 in DC.

Suprising because it has his stepping away from the decks and the mixers to sing and play the old-school way, and suprising also, because it is actually really, really, good. Stream it here if you don’t believe me.

Anyway, with the new record out and a show at 930 Club tonight (Friday), we figured we should sit down, keyboard to keyboard with Rob before they run off on tour and see what’s up.

And apparently, a lot is…

BYT: Rob, Hi and thank you for taking some time out to talk to us.

Rob Garza:Thank you, my pleasure.

BYT: First things first: The new record. So, the Dust Galaxy album came out today and to stellar reviews (Remix, Popmatters, the works). How does today feel?

RG:It feels real good to finally have the record out. It’s nice to know that some people dig it.

BYT:Most people dig it. I myself was suprise how much I DUG IT. Now, BYT is about to write their own review (hint: it looks good) but for those who are yet to hear the record or the band live, how would you pitch it to them? Dust Galaxy music in a sentence or less?

RG:For me this record is about angst and wonder.

BYT:What is your favorite song on this album, for sentimental reasons, if no other?

RG:I really love crying to the night. It reminds me of night time, and musically has this sort of Roy Orbison vibe. I had a chance to go to Sudan with the World Food Program and I we went to this school feeding program where children are just living in the worst conditions imaginable, and I’m in this classroom and all these beautiful kids were singing songs for us…and i felt like amidst all the travesty there was “Song” and for me I felt like I was given a lovely gift, it was really overpowering. So there’s a line in that song that says “I have heard the children sing songs of love for everyone” and its about that… and then when we recorded the album at the end we had Martin Duffy (from Primal Scream) come in and he laid down this beautiful solo in one take. It was the end of the evening an there was just that magic when you capture something beautiful.

BYT: How did you decide to embark solo on this project after years and years of paired up success with Eric?

RG:It was difficult in a way. I think the more successful you are the more people expect you to stay in your scene. When one begins making music there are so many options to move in so many directions. One of the wonderful things about Thievery is that we have a chance to explores so many avenues…but this avenue was a little bit more personal for me. Sometimes the tricky thing about success is what people expect of you. Expectations get old.

BYT: Expectations ruin everything. I always say its better not to have any and be suprised than let down by what you anticipate. Speaking of suprises, what is it that you got to do here that you think you couldn’t have done with Thievery Corporation?

RG:I really wanted to do something more edgy gritty and loose. I don’t think it would have been fair to anyone to put these songs on a Thievery record. If I had I may have been assassinated by my label, the fans or Eric.

BYT: Not to answer the previous question myself, but the most refreshing part of this record compared to your
previous work is LIVE INSTRUMENTS ALMOST ALL THE TIME.

RG:Yeah, I mean it was nice to work without sequencers, and approach it in a different manner. It was a real learning experience. It was fun to get real noisy.

BYT: And you have quite the all star touring/recording band. How did you all get together?

RG:Yeah , these are people I’ve known, and met over the years, and some were friends of Brendan as well.

BYT: After 9:30 club this weekend, you’re all off on an 8 city tour. Who’s coming and where’s you’re going?

RG:Going with Ashish Vyas Jerry Busher Yoko K and Jay Epps. Where just doing two small jaunts on the west and east coast.

BYT: Lets talk a little about the influences, there are definite psychedelia touches, as well as definite influences by Brendan Lynch and the whole Madchester scene, but lets dig a little deeper…. what is the music you grew up on?

RG:I grew up on everything from old soul like Sam Cook and rock and roll Roy Orbison to Henry Mancini, Mariachi music My parents had an eclectic record collection. I remember my father would be like this was like what the Beatles doing during their drug phase, and I was inspired the sound, it also made me curious about Psychedelic drugs.
Then as a teenager I was into punk, and electronic music - people experimenting with samplers like Meat Beat Manifesto and Renegade Soundwave and many others.

BYT:I am pretty sure we saw you at the Caetano Veloso show (the risk of celebrity includes being recognized). We thought he was amazing, what did you think?

RG: I really enjoyed it. I saw them rehearse for this tour in a tiny practice space when I was down in Rio. Some guys from Devendra Barnharts band invited us and it was so incredible to be in a room with an amazing artist like Caetano and watch him and his band practicing these songs.

BYT: OMG, we saw Devendra when he was here at the Synagogue and seriously, it was one of the most satisfying musical experiences this year…Speaking of satisfying, what are some of the bands/musicians you feel EVERYONE should hear but a lot of people don’t (both local and not)?

RG: Wow, I listen to a lot of older records really, maybe a band like Os Novos Baianos - the record Acabou Chorare

BYT: if you could collaborate with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

RG:Jorge Ben, I think he’s one of the best living songwriters.

BYT:”Mas que nada” IS TIMELESS. On that note…What is the song you wish you have written yourself?

RG:It changes daily - right now at this moment probably- Manos Hadijdakis (a Greek classical composer) - When The Clouds Come

]BYT: I read somewhere that both you and Eric have in common with DC politicians the fact that you
a. like to wear nice suits
and
b. speak only English fluently…and yet you make some of the most international music around. How did that come about? Where do you harness all those influences?

RG:With regards to the suits we are a lot more casual now. I do speak Spanish (although probably not as well as I should). I spend a lot of time in Mexico these days… and with the influences, I think me and Eric really just appreciate and love music, it doesn’t matter where it comes from, in fact probably the stranger the place the more interested we are to hear it.

BYT: That has always been our approach as well…OK, lets talk a little about DC….you live here, and you could in theory live ANYWHERE. For all those that keep saying “i’m just here for a few years before I move to…”…why stay?

RG:I’m not really one of those people who is an advocate for DC… but this a great city, there’s so much great music, and people…and I really think it’s one of the most musically diverse cities in the world. Any night you can find Latin, Brazilian, African music all in a small distance. I think its easier to find great Latin music here than it is in Miami. To people from out of town who think it may be a dull city you really have to look under the surface a little bit.

BYT:What is the best thing about DC? And worst?

RG:Friends for me are the best thing about DC. The worst is sometimes it’s a little too serious with all the politicians and police.BYT:We do all these “recommendations columns” on BrightestYoungThings where we get local heroes and musicians and artists to write about their favorite spots in DC, what are some of yours?

RG:Well, of course Eighteenth Street Lounge, Bossa, Rumba cafe. I prefer bars to clubs these days.

BYT: What can DC expect from Dust Galaxy this Friday?

RG:Something different, edgy, and trippy.

BYT: Trippy is good. What and where next?

RG:After this tour back in the studio with Eric finishing up our new (Thievery) record.

BYT: Well, we’ll look forward to both tonight AND that step after.

Catch Dust Galaxy live tonight at 930 club
with
The Apes
Revival
and
SEE-I.

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