There's a sense of beauty in A Troop of Echoes music. From the mouthwatering opener entitled 'Hollywood Red' on the bands 2010 debut album 'Days In Automation, to the vivid sounds of Shoegaze on 'Providence Public Defender', the band create an unusual repertoire of genres. Mixing Jazz with Post-Rock. We asked drummer Dan Moriarty some questions regarding the bands history and projected future.
Music Review Database: Let's get this one out of the way.. Who named the band and where did the name emerge from?
A Troop of Echoes: We began under a different name, which we happened to share with a particularly litigious Australian smooth jazz guitarist. One cease and desist letter later, we adopted the name “A Troop of Echoes” from a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe.
A Troop of Echoes: We began under a different name, which we happened to share with a particularly litigious Australian smooth jazz guitarist. One cease and desist letter later, we adopted the name “A Troop of Echoes” from a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe.
MRD: Do you consider yourself a fusion of post-rock and jazz?
AToE: We don’t spend much time thinking about how to label ourselves. Post-rock, jazz, and math-rock seem to come up a lot and seem pretty reasonable. Really, we’re just trying to write awesome songs that are fun to listen to and also have some emotional content. This can be a challenge without lyrics!
MRD: What's it like playing the small venues in Providence looking for a breakthrough?
AToE: That has never really been our strategy. “Breakthroughs” are pretty rare and only really happen to bands that would fit on a major label. Instead, we focus on writing great songs, recording them well, touring, and setting up fun shows with good lineups. This is more of a grassroots approach and we’re finding it is helping us establish a dedicated, interactive community of fans.
MRD: With being signed to independant label Oak Apple Records, are you part time workers and/or students?
AToE: Oak Apple Records has helped a great deal with promoting our band, but we still all keep day jobs to pay the bills. I’m going for my Ph.D. in Planetary Science at Brown University. Pete and Nick teach music lessons, and Harry is studying music at the University of Rhode Island.
MRD: I believe you were on the same bill as Warpaint. Did you get a few words with the girls?
AToE: That bill was part of a large festival. Unfortunately our paths didn’t cross, but we are keeping in touch and hope to play with them again soon!
MRD: 'Days In Automation' was released almost two years ago. Do you have any plans for a follow up album???
AToE: We’re currently finishing up material for a new full length to be recorded this summer! We’re looking at studios and are going to make this a bit more of an ambitions effort than last time.
MRD: What music do you listen to in your spare time?
AToE: We all have pretty varying tastes. I’m into the more experimental side of rock and jazz. Nick (Cooper) likes angular guitar-based rock and classic hip hop. Pete (Gilli) likes underground hip hop. Harry (Hartly) likes 'Billy Corgan'.
MRD: What inspires you to record?
AToE: We strongly believe in our material, and we have the goal of getting it into as many people’s ears as possible.
MRD: Where do you see yourselves in five years time?
AToE: Hopefully releasing an album every two years and touring a month or two out of the year.
MRD: Finally... What are your thoughts on music piracy?
AToE: I’m pretty picky on what I spend my money on. I want to make sure my money goes to the bands and labels that make the music I love possible. I tend to listen to albums before I buy them, whether through Bandcamp, Spotify, or piracy. If I feel its an album worth owning, I try to buy them at shows! Otherwise, I buy a t-shirt to help bands I like.
AToE: We don’t spend much time thinking about how to label ourselves. Post-rock, jazz, and math-rock seem to come up a lot and seem pretty reasonable. Really, we’re just trying to write awesome songs that are fun to listen to and also have some emotional content. This can be a challenge without lyrics!
MRD: What's it like playing the small venues in Providence looking for a breakthrough?
AToE: That has never really been our strategy. “Breakthroughs” are pretty rare and only really happen to bands that would fit on a major label. Instead, we focus on writing great songs, recording them well, touring, and setting up fun shows with good lineups. This is more of a grassroots approach and we’re finding it is helping us establish a dedicated, interactive community of fans.
MRD: With being signed to independant label Oak Apple Records, are you part time workers and/or students?
AToE: Oak Apple Records has helped a great deal with promoting our band, but we still all keep day jobs to pay the bills. I’m going for my Ph.D. in Planetary Science at Brown University. Pete and Nick teach music lessons, and Harry is studying music at the University of Rhode Island.
MRD: I believe you were on the same bill as Warpaint. Did you get a few words with the girls?
AToE: That bill was part of a large festival. Unfortunately our paths didn’t cross, but we are keeping in touch and hope to play with them again soon!
MRD: 'Days In Automation' was released almost two years ago. Do you have any plans for a follow up album???
AToE: We’re currently finishing up material for a new full length to be recorded this summer! We’re looking at studios and are going to make this a bit more of an ambitions effort than last time.
MRD: What music do you listen to in your spare time?
AToE: We all have pretty varying tastes. I’m into the more experimental side of rock and jazz. Nick (Cooper) likes angular guitar-based rock and classic hip hop. Pete (Gilli) likes underground hip hop. Harry (Hartly) likes 'Billy Corgan'.
MRD: What inspires you to record?
AToE: We strongly believe in our material, and we have the goal of getting it into as many people’s ears as possible.
MRD: Where do you see yourselves in five years time?
AToE: Hopefully releasing an album every two years and touring a month or two out of the year.
MRD: Finally... What are your thoughts on music piracy?
AToE: I’m pretty picky on what I spend my money on. I want to make sure my money goes to the bands and labels that make the music I love possible. I tend to listen to albums before I buy them, whether through Bandcamp, Spotify, or piracy. If I feel its an album worth owning, I try to buy them at shows! Otherwise, I buy a t-shirt to help bands I like.
~Eddie
