an interview with godcaster

On Canal Street at Montez Press Radio, Godcaster sat with me post-performance for an interview. Godcaster is a six piece experimental rock band featuring members Von Lee, Bruce Ebersole, Sam Pickard, David McFaul, Judson Kolk, and Lindsay Dobbs. Notorious for their compelling and awe-inspiring live performances, their music strikes the balance between modern and old school rock n' roll. Godcaster is based in Philadelphia and New York.

So let’s talk a little bit about your evolution. I hear you started off with a different name?

Many different names [laughs]. It was Mesling—which is not a word—then The Amazing Musical Mezling, then Helicopter Scuba Divers, and then Godcaster.

Did your music change as your name changed?

Yeah. It wasn’t name change because we were changing our sound, but since we’ve changed our name to Godcaster, we’ve changed a lot [as a band]. Used to be a lot less heavy...a lot funkier.

How did you guys all find each other?

Some of us [grew] up together. David joined the band in high school, and Von [Lee, flute] joined at about the same time. We were all living in Jersey, [except for] Von who lived in New York. Then we moved to Philly, and the rest is history. Lindsay’s the newest member Lindsay’s. They’ve been playing shows with us for awhile, but as of a few weeks ago, they’re really in the band. Lindsay plays trombone and sings.

You’ve been compared to Frank Zappa a lot. Are there any major influences on your music?

Led Zeppelin. The Flaming Lips; we were all really into their approach to music [and] the way they talk about music. Of Montreal.

How would you guys describe your music to someone who’s never listened to you?

Rock music [laughs].

You guys have new music coming out! Is there anything you can tell me about that?

There are fourteen songs. Most of what we played live [at Montez Press Radio] is on it. We recorded it in our house in Philly. This producer and musician Ryan Power came and worked with us for a week. He turned our basement into a studio and we recorded reel to reel.

How long did it take you guys to make the album?

A week in the studio, and then we did some overdubbing in New York. It’s been a process to get all the songs done. It should be released sometime this summer.

What's your music making process like? Talk me through it, from songwriting to recording.

Jud writes the songs, and brings them to the basement. Then, down in the basement, we all end up interpreting it. But when it gets played live, it changes so much...stretches out and stuff. We insert the secret Godcaster formula [laughs]. A lot of the craziness comes from playing the songs live and wanting them to be interesting and exciting.

Do you think your live performances influence the music you try to make?

The songs are the live performance. If we’re still in the songwriting process and performing it, it would change due to live performance and practice.

What’s something that you're really excited for in 2020?

We’re going to Chicago, and going to tour a lot in the summer. We're excited to put out the new record and move on...new horizons. Our friend Phil’s getting married [laughs].

Listen to Godcaster here.

Words by Cassandra.