Posted on 06/05/2008
Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, the average American schnook can now create an entire musical oeuvre in their bedroom. The flipside to this democratization of music is that, unfortunately, most of the tunes should never ever EVER be heard outside of the bedroom in which they were made (please to see Myspace.com for 47 Million irrefutable affirmations of this statement).  There is an exception to every rule though, and that exception is The Cataracs.

Hailing from the same Berzerkly, CA scene that birthed The Pack, these dudes started out making hyphy records, but they have tansmogrified into something entirely more interesting. Cataracs are making real pop records that sound like the spawn of T-Pain and Daft Punk with perhaps a little bit of Tears for Fears thrown in the mix. Cyrano makes the incredibly well-orchestrated beats and he and his pot-na Campa collab on the lyrics. Oh and guess what, all you second-rate myspace electro hipster-hop poseurs? Unlike you guys, the Cata Cata get play on FM pop radio rubbing shoulders with Leona Lewis and the Jonas Brothers on WILD 94.9 in the 'Sco, instead of being relegated to the soundtrack of late-night coke binges at Sway. Now they've got labels flying them across the country, but they still found time to rock the Berkley high school prom, where they made all the young breezies with hyphenated last names swoon.
 

DBC: I'm pretty sure that the music you guys make is against everything that Okayplayer stands for, what with your use of vocoders and lack of soul-deadening rap lyrics about rap music. In 10 sentences or less, please explain to a jury of your peers why you guys are the shit.

C: Our music is hella different. Like HELLA different. Like, a lot of these indie cats, with their strange instruments and their beards can say their music is "Different" . . but come on playa, you can’t fool me, I'm from Berkeley man, we birthed all these indie musical purist bitch made Elliot Smith jockin mothafuckas. I mean, Animal Collective is cool . . but yo . . leave that shit up to Animal Collective Basically I'm saying that, when I say our music is "Hella Different" I'm saying we really on verge of some SHIT YOU AINT EVER HEARD BEFORE . .

DBC: Cyrano, you've got a seriously polished sound for a stoned teenager recording in a closet. What's your secret?

C: The hardware is the most obvious aspect: I have a decent mic, little bit of makeshift soundproofing, quality monitors for mixing. But honestly the hardware is kind of secondary. A lot of its human, patience. I pay a lot of attention to detail, not just in my music but everything I listen to. I'll spend a lot of time listening to other producers and dissecting the way they've mixed. Vocals are probably the most important part of the mix and I'm just now starting to really get a grip on how to make them crisp and fit right. Its just been a lot of experimenting with software plug-ins. Engineers are used to spending thousands of dollars on equipment. I just get the software equivalents. And they sound pretty good.

DBC: Berkley is an almost embarrassingly permissive/liberal town. I was once getting high in Tilden Park and I saw a street sign reminding me that I was in a "nuclear free zone". Luckily I had left my dirty bombs at home. Has growing up in such a freaky place had an effect on your music?

C: Bloody sauce, just come here . . . just come to Berkeley, and tell me this God forsaken place can't influence someone in one way or another . . if anything . . I'm just really confused . . kind of like.. our music.

DBC: I don't think it's a secret that you guys are making music for a mass audience. Do you want to be pop stars?

C: YES. Dude, it's like, I really believe I can change the world for the better. And to do that, I gotta make a shit-load of money so I can give it back to the people who need it. I'm really tying to be the next Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in this bitch. For real.

DBC: The Bay has an incredible history of independent music, 75 Girls, Hobo Junction, Sick Wid It, Living Legends, etc. Berkley in particular has the whole Telegraph tradition of selling your music on the street. Are you connected to that history? Is it ever initimadating to be doing what you do in a place where indy records have had such tremendous impact? Did you ever buy an Askari X album at Leopolds? Do you have any idea what I'm fucking talking about? Please make sure you address each particular point. Make your marks heavy and dark and only fill  in one circle for each answer.

C: WHAT THE FUCK IS ASKARI X? AND WHAT THE FUCK IS
LEOPOLDS?


Dr. Brown's Celray is not a tastemaker, but he tastes great with pastrami on rye and a side of health salad. He composed and edited this interview under the heavy influence of "Boxcar Sessions" and a thawed-out Hoagie Haven #18 with saltpepperketchupbinegar.