FREEwilliamsburg: FREEwilliamsburg Q&A with Air Waves

Photo by Edwina Hay

Continuing our series of interviews with the amazing bands playing our showcase at Northside Festival, I recently exchanged emails with Nichole Schneit of Air Waves. Dan Deacon gave the best descrption of Nicole's songwriting I've seen when he said "The music she writes is like a favorite blanket wrapped around you." Nicole shared a bit about how she crafts those song-blankets, what she's like on the subway and Air Waves' upcoming recording plans. So read up and don't forget to check out the show Friday at Death by Audio.

FW: How long have you been performing as Air Waves and how did the current lineup come together?

Nicole Schneit: I've been performing as "Air Waves" for a little over two years. Before that I did solo stuff. The lineup I have is always changing. I met Daoud who is on drums through a friend. He's a really amazing, creative drummer. When he tried out I knew right away that he was a perfect fit. Dan I also met through a friend. He picks up songs really quickly, plays really tastefully and there are old misfits stickers on his bass.

FW: What's your song writing process like?

Nicole: I play the guitar melody and then just make stuff up. If it sounds good I write it down. For the new album I don’t want any of the songs to be about my life. I think it will challenge me to be more creative in the lyrical process.

FW: What outside of music influences your songwriting?

Nicole: People, I like watching people a lot. I tend to stare on the subway which can get me in trouble. My songs are usually about other peoples relationships. Sometimes my own, but I'm trying to veer away from that.

FW: There's a Nabokov short story called "Recruiting" that starts out with a very typical narration of a man's family life and ends with the revelation that the story is about Nabokov seeing strangers in public and imagining their backstories and personal lives. Do you do that sort of thing or are you writing about relationships between people you know personally?

Nicole: Both. I'm not always conscious of it, but yeah both. "Gems" and "Keys" are about strangers. "Shine On" is about me and someone I know. And "Lightning" is about me. Some songs have all three, parts about me, a stranger, and someone I know. The stranger is also most of the times someone I make up in my head. I studied Anthropology in college and I think that affects my song writing, in the sense that I like to study the way people interact.

FW: What's your favorite venue to play in New York?

Nicole: Cakeshop. Market Hotel seems good too we have played there twice now.

FW: Who are you listening to a lot of lately?

Nicole: The Velvet Underground, The Beets, YellowFever, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Fine Young Cannonballs have been in heavy rotation for the past month or so. Tyvek was amazing live, I don't have their record but want it. They were by far the best live band I have seen in a long time. I'm very picky and listen to the same stuff I listened to in high school. When I like a new song I play it over and over again. You know anything else I should hear? Oh and that Beach House song "Used to Be" is really beautiful and that song with Rihnna and T.I. It's popular. And of course Ponytail.

FW: Given the amount of overlap in music we see, it's hard to think of something I'd expect you to not have heard. I enjoyed the new Ducktails LP. There is also this 10 or so part compilation of black rock & roll from the 50's called Savage Kick. I've been listening to a lot of those lately and if you're not familiar it's a great series to check out.

Any songs stuck in your head lately? (for me it's Only Fades Away by caUSE co-MOTION!)

Nicole: Cool, I haven't heard the Ducktails LP but Matt is a friend of mine, and I'm a fan of Real Estate. That comp sounds awesome! I will check it out. Last night I had "In My Secret Life" by Leonard Cohen stuck in my head. I usually just get choruses stuck in my head. You too? Today so far nothing.

FW: Are you planning on recording again sometime soon?

Nicole: YES!!! We are recording our full length with Scott Rosenthal this month and probably all summer. He recorded the Crystal Stilts and The Beets album. He's the best.

FW: Awesome, do you have a different mentality recording versus live shows? Also, are you recording another EP or an album? Should we expect lots of songs about people you've been staring at on the subway?

Nicole: YES!! I hate recording. But I think with Scott I'm going to really enjoy it. Last time I recorded I couldn't remember how to play two of the five songs. And most of my songs are 3-4 chords! I'm really comfortable with this lineup and the way it will be recorded, so I'm excited. It will be a full length. I get more nervous recording than playing live. It's more nerve wracking playing in front of a few people for me then oh say a million.

Ha! Well I went into writing these new songs telling myself none would be about me, to challenge myself. Two of them are about my life, but I think they are really strong songs. No one on the subway has inspired any yet :(

FW: Tell us about the last good book you read.

Nicole: I'm almost done reading "Kafka on the Shore" by Murakami. It's a fun weird book, great for the subway to prevent my staring problem. This is the third book I've read by him. The book isn't necessarily influencing my song writing. BUT Anvil the movie is.

FW: Anvil is a movie I've been meaning to see for a while. How's it influencing your song writing?

Nicole: Well it's not really influencing my song writing per say, but the way I look at music. Sometimes I get down on the music scene here how everyone is lumped into one category. We will play with bands on the same label a lot and because we aren't lo-fi enough or poppy enough we get dismissed. I like playing shows where all the bands have really different sounds. But anyway in reference to Anvil they are a metal band that played with some really huge names, and they never got the recognition they deserved. Not because they weren't as good, it just didn't happen. Also they are in it for the music, not the scene, they are just best buds playing together having fun. And it reminded me how there are different definitions of "making it." I hope to have that positive of an outlook in my musical career!

FW: What's your favorite thing about New York/Brooklyn?

Nicole: All my favorite people in the world are here, my best friends, my family, the food rules, there's neat hiding spots and you.