Seismic Q&A With: Lars Finberg of The Intelligence by Chelsea Robinson

Make sure you catch The Intelligence July 19th at The Crocodile for their CD release show. Our own Chelsea Robinson has a few questions for Lars Finberg. Lets see how he handles it.

Hi Lars! I’m kind of embarrassed to admit to this, but this is my first time listening to The Intelligence: Hi, and no sweat …. you’re in the majority there man. They say we have a lot  of records, but be scared .Nothing like the Dead.

The album is great! I like how all the songs are super different … were you purposefully going for a variety of genres on this album?: Thank you. Yes we wanted to go both directions at the same time, nastier and friendlier, happier and darker, California and Washington.

So you live in L.A. right? How has moving from a dark, dank pit of despair affected your songwriting or music?: It might be sunnier, but it’s always been sunny, at least to me. Maybe it wants to make me sing prettier.

I hear you have a really interesting recording process … can you tell me a little more about that? A certain friend of mine from Golden Blondes said its like you “create a musical quilt”. That sounds fucking rad!: Our recording process has always been evolving. From me recording alone on cheap garbage, to me recording alone in  a nice pretty studio, to me recording in a nice studio with a band. This record was technically two different bands (one in Seattle and one in L.A.) recording a 1/3 of the album each and 1/3 bag of mystery guests or me alone.

Seriously… what is the deal with the counting song? Why would you do that too people?: I didn’t intend for it to be annoying, I thought it would be exciting like, “what the fuck are these idiots doing?” like a long first clanky climb of a roller coaster that goes to long.

I know this is a difficult question….kinda like picking your favorite child, but whats your favorite track on the album?: I HATE ALL MY CHILDREN EQUALLY. Hmmm, I like how “Return to Foam” turned out, or “Techno Tuesday” … yeah I pick that one:.

I love the doo-wop style of “Little Town Flirt”! Are you a fan of the golden oldies? The rest of the album is much more modern sounding. Why slip a sock-hop jammer in there?: Its a cover of Del Shannon, but we are covering the cover ELO did technically. I love old gold music. When I first heard it, it flipped my wig, and I thought we could do a great version of it. I wanted the record to have a lot of different vibes, and I think it comes after a dark song to kind of lighten things up.

Who’s is that lady voice who is singing on there? I like it when you two sing together. It’s only on two tracks though … why you hogging all the vocals?: Its Shannon from Shannon and The Clams. I’d make her sing all the songs of she was in the band.

You and I have both worked the door at The Hazlewood? Do you have any entertaining stories from those days?: Most people are just surprised that someone with boobies and beauty, so I typically stun them into being on their best behavior. Do your boobies have the same effect on  people?: I have boobies? rats! I’ve been doing push-ups. Other than trying to read, and every drunk person asking me “What are you reading” It hurts your back to sit on a stool all night.

If you could pick one person, dead or alive to jam with, who would it be?: I don’t like jamming. When friends come over and say “oh yeah and we can jam”, I get a panic attack. Thats the truth, but I don’t want to be a weenie, so I will say Eddie Grant. I would write and he could sing.

If you had to pick one fantastical creature to represent the band, what would it be?: Jabberwockies

You like to read, whats your favorite book of all time?: I don’t have an all time have I can think of, but I just read “Freedom”, by Jonathan Franzen, I loved that.

If you had to choose one branch of science or mathematics to represent the band, which would it be?: Chemistry.

Who would win in a fight? A pie or a cake?: Pies suck!

Do you think Tupac or Biggie is still alive?: Oh was that Tupac hologram at Coachella beggin for help like Princess Leia?

Whats the worst movie you have seen lately?: The Limey