motel void

MOTEL VOID: You’re from New Mexico. How would you describe the current music scene there? Do you feel that you’re part of it?

TAN COLOGNE: We’ve both lived in Northern New Mexico about 10 years and like to keep a low-key scene. We prefer mostly writing and recording here. There are a few pockets of music happening around, but we’re never really sure where exactly we fit in.

MOTEL VOID: Your favorite local venues?

TAN COLOGNE: Ennui Gallery and Mineshaft Tavern are some favorite local music hangouts.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your new single ‘Baja‘. Will it be part of your new record?

TAN COLOGNE: Possibly! There might even be an alternative recording and name change in the future…

MOTEL VOID: Could you tell us more about the recording and writing process of your songs?

TAN COLOGNE: We generally begin with sitting down together and playing around with guitar/key parts. Then we explore vocal melodies and lyrics. We usually record the foundation and expand with what we like to call layers of sound. During this process, we’re usually deep within researching a specific topic or location and find channels of inspiration there.

MOTEL VOID: In 2022 you completed a sound residency in Italy, in 2023 you had a residency in Mexico. Could you tell us more about this experience?

TAN COLOGNE:
We’re interested in observing and interacting with ancient and handmade environments. We traveled to Puglia, Italy in September 2022 to intuitively record and perform on site in residency at Pescetrullo, a unique space located among ancient olive trees and traditional rural structures.

During historic lightning storms, power outages, and oscillating visitors, we created soundscapes composed of field recordings and live instrumentation, organic sounds and texture. Recording took place both inside and outside the distinct architectural structures as well as a parallel water to Pescetrullo, the seaside of Torre Pozzelle. Sounds were captured in coves and within cavernous cut-outs interacting with lapping water and smoothed ripples. Together with percussive recordings made inside the cement pool at Pescetrullo, and of rock stacking, thunder, glass bottle tapping, and insect behaviors, the sounds were pieced together to form a sonic imprint of the multidimensional layers.

Mexico residency – Baja has been a region of interest and journeys for us. It’s a unique land of intrigue, beauty, deep presence, surprise, contrasts and mystique – among so much more. Several of our songs talk about the land and rare existing plant life there. We had written the music for “Baja” mostly in Taos and Los Angeles before arriving at the residency. We pulled from past experiences, as the residency went rapidly and also focused on performing songs from our last two albums with a full live band in just a few days. We began recording the song there, writing our lyrics while swimming, and continued the rest of recording at home in Taos, New Mexico. We collected a few new sounds in Baja at the residency, notably a Rhodes piano at El Ganzo.

MOTEL VOID: Your plans for 2024?

TAN COLOGNE: We’re recording our 3rd full length album and have a few other surprises in the works!