Zs Interview with Sam Hillmer

Zs Interview with Sam Hillmer

What inspired you to start playing together?

Sam: At the time we were all students at Manhattan school of music. We began playing together because we were of a like mind as players, improvisers and composers and knew that there would not be another outlet. We were frustrated by the conventional channels and wanted to run it like a rock band, tour, make records and actually have fans. So that’s what we did.

Where are your greatest musical influences derived from?

S: Early music, African music, some classical music, free/post jazz stuff, and some punk and metal stuff. Oh, and Wu Tang… and pop.

How has it been touring with music scores? Is it a necessity, have you ever lost pieces along the way?

S: At first everybody fucked with us. Then they'd hear our set and be like “Oh, OK!” and not really know what to make of it. But now everyone expects it, so we stopped doing it. We never lost anything that couldn't be regenerated or that wasn't already memorized.

How has the transition from six, to four, and now three treated you?

S: The first transition was no sweat. It came really naturally. This latest one has been more challenging but has yielded some pretty strong results so no one is demoralized.

What happened to the forth member?

S: Charlie is doing his band Extra Life full time and totally ruling it. That band is awesome and both Zs and Extra Life are stronger now. We're good friends and are maybe going to be doing some dates in Europe come June.

Everyone excited for that? Anything or place in particular you're looking forward to there?

S: We're psyched... we don't know anything about our itinerary yet.

Will this be your first time abroad with Zs?

S: For all intents and purposes, yes.

If you could add any additional instrumentation to your current line up in the future, what would you choose?

S: Guitars, keyboards, and maybe some electronics.

I saw you finally while on tour with The Locust, Sleeping People, and Yip Yip. Can you tell us about this tour experience?

S: Crowds have always dug Zs. Even when we think people are going to hate our shit... somehow people end up digging it.

For the latest 12”, “The Hard EP” Did you get hooked up with 31G because of the Locust tour or was it in process before hand?

S: The Locust asked us after that tour.

And the “Folio and Four Systems” Earl Brown tribute on Tzadik, how did you get involved with that project?

S: Our boy Micah Silver was working for his estate and he asked us.

Any other projects any of you are involved with?

S: The Pygmie Shrews, Hunter Gatherer, Yarn Wire, Regattas, Moth, Dirty Projectors, Sam Hillmer/John Dwyer duo, Trouble and Ian just did some work on Ty Braxton's (of Battles) new record. Oh, and I’m about to go to Switzerland with Skeletons!

Wow! All that an working on new material - impressive! Can you give us any details in regards to your upcoming release on The Social Registry?

S: The record is all called "music of the modern white" and it is a very different kind of thing. I’m fully amped on it as are all the boyz and everyone working on the record. We recorded at Ben’s studio "The Bullet Proof Chinese" and you can expect something totally curvaceous. We also have a record of remixes coming out done by Excepter's Nathan Corbin (aka Zebrablood). That is going to be deep too.