Hello friends! The wait is nearly over. Fiction Family's debut record is eponymous and upon us..... relatively, being that we've been threatening to release it for the last couple years. Fiction Family is myself (Sean Watkins) and Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) and we've been working on a record together for the last three years. Unofficially we met maybe 12 years ago, in the parking lot of Off Shore Surf Shop in Carlsbad, CA. We both had just gotten out of the water and were introduced by a mutual friend who wanted us to meet cause we were musicians....we shook hands and gave each other a smile that said..."sure you're in a band, aren't we all?" But officially, we met backstage at a music festival in downtown San Diego called Street Scene. Nickel Creek and Switchfoot were playing one after another. Anyhow, the record started as simple plan to co-write a song, which then then turned into a plan to make a 3 song garage EP, which was so fun we decided to make it a 5 song EP, which led to the idea of making it 7 songs and the ability to sell it for $10. As soon as money entered the equation, it was all over folks. At that point we realized that with just a few more songs we'd have a real record... that would of course, sell millions, alter the course of rock and roll and make us rich and lazy.....of course, i kid.....partly. Not kidding about the being lazy part. Anyway, it's coming out January 20th and we're very excited. It's really icing on the cake that this record is even being released properly. ATO none the less. Ideal, really. Most of the time while making this record, we were thinking that we'd probably end up just giving it away on line and perhaps play a few shows. Just that sounded fun and fulfilling enough for the work we were putting into it. We recorded it all at our homes in north county San Diego. The basic tracking was done as he and i playing in front of a few mics at his or my house on the very rare days that we were both off the road over the last couple years. When one of us had time off and the other was touring, whoever was home would chip away at the songs alone and send emails with overdub/harmony/etc ideas. With a just few exceptions we played all of the instruments on it. Not on purpose, but more because it was just easy and the songs ended coming to life at random times and sporadicly. It was a very relaxed and home oriented project. I've never worked on any recording project in such a non pre-concieved and organic way. It was freeing to have no time frame, no one looking over your shoulder, no idea what it would end up as and no musical manifesto. And at times, it was a little frustrating for those same reasons. Thankfully ATO stepped in and agreed to release it which gave us motivation and a timeline for having it all finalized, turned in and done. The old adage that "you never finish a record, you just stop working on it" holds true. Whereas, we could have had endless fun adding and changing this record, it was nice to put it in the can and move toward getting out to you fine folks. Ultimately it was a wonderful experience that yielded a record we're both proud of and very invested in. Hope y'all like it too! -sean
Thanks for the musical friendship! You memories of an italian bluegrass band that have played in Oklahomas International Bluegrass Festival in 1998? I am the guitar player in this Band. Edoardo Martinez (Rome, Italy)
I have managed to get the excitement level down to manageable. I will not be freaking out (too much) before the 12th. Mostly because I have overfilled my time with exhausting dance classes, expensive photo purchases, lots of work, and hopefully lots of swimming. See what I have to do to stay sane?! ; ) Looking forward to an awesome show at The Melting Point. Be well!
Hey Sean, It was great to see you play for Sara Saturday night (May 16th). The show was breath taking, you all did an amazing job. I saw you standing at the bar before the show but was too shy to say hi... so um... Hi :) I can't wait to see you play again next time you're in Portland. Your music blows me away every time I hear it.
Oh, I neglected to mention this in my last comment, but I agree with Richard, a few comments down, about coming to Nashville. Stop by after Bonnaroo, will ya?
So I don't get to go to England which is totally totally bumming me out. On the other hand... it does now mean that I get to see you at The Melting Point. MY territory, a place I feel comfortable. Maybe it won't be a terrible embarrassment for me this time. ; ) Be well dear Sean.
Hey Sean. Heard some Fiction Family Love at the end of Private Practice last night. Hope you score some hits from it. The album is very cool. Come see us often in Ohio.
Let the world know what you're doing between May 24th and 29thish... so I can know what ultimate heights I can aspire to starting the day after my birthday for that "Oh, Memorial Day isn't a week-long thing?" vacation. I have to do something to combat my "I'm not QUITE old yet" crisis! ; )
Online Now!
