STEROGUM: You’re the only band member listed on Facebook right now. What’s the status with the lineup? Who made the record with you? Who is touring with you?
KIP BERMAN: From the start Pains has been about me writing songs and playing them with my friends — and it always turns out better than it sounds in my bedroom. So recording this album was especially exciting, because in addition to Alex Naidus and Kurt Feldman, who brought a lot of his synth skill in addition to drumming to the record, I was able to work with Jen Goma from A Sunny Day in Glasgow, and Kelly Pratt (Beirut, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Bright Moments).
The first time Jen stood next to me and sung “Kelly” I got chills. I’d known her from A Sunny Day in Glasgow (who we played our 3rd show ever with in my living room and are a fantastic band with a new record coming out soon — check it out!). The next week I gave her “Life After Life,” and it just felt revelatory — almost entirely other than the demo I made with Kurt, but so much more than what I could have done on my own. Sitting with Kelly and working out the horn parts, I was equally taken aback. He had this intuitive understanding of how to bring these subtle, new textures and counter melodies to the music that wasn’t just, “ok, you guys are 3rd Wave Ska now, right?” He’s also a close friend, so it just felt natural to hang out for a week in Portland, work on music all day and then go have a drink and discuss basketball/how awesome that David Byrne & St. Vincent tour was.
As for live, I’m really excited that Christoph Hochheim, who played on Belong and was with us since our first record in 2009, is back with us on guitar. His brother Anton Hochheim, who has played with him in Kurt’s old band The Depreciation Guid and now Ablebody is playing drums. Jacob Sloan, the songwriter for one of my favorite indiepop bands Dream Diary and bassist for the equally excellent The Hairs is going to be playing with us too. Drew Citron from Frankie Rose/Beverly, as well as Jen Goma and Jessica Weiss from Fear of Men are also going to be touring with us at various points in the year.
Music is my life, but it’s not everyone’s life. So I try to be respectful and grateful of my friends who have taken the time to help me make this happen and if they need time to pursue other things, that’s ok too.