San Tropez - IndieRec Interview, August 2004
By David DiSanzo
http://www.indierec.com

Rising from the ashes of one of my favorite bands The Chamber Strings we have San Tropez, a new band that is taking what the Chamber Strings did so effortlessly (that being craft sweet melodic and soulful songs that incorporated the best of Spector, Motown, and the Velvets) and expand upon it by taking in a wider array of influences and perhaps a gentler sound. Please visit their site and check out their wares will you? http://www.santropezmusic.com

The band is comprised of Carolyn Engelmann: keyboards, vocals; Antony Illarde: drums; Tim Fowler: guitars; Jason Walker: Fender bass, vocals

I caught up with Jason Walker recently and here is what he had to say:

IR: What's the new band sound like? Influences...etc.

JW: Actually we sound a lot like the Chamber Strings. Instrumentally, the only thing that's changed is that our lead guitarist Tim plays rhythm as well now. So the basic tracks sound almost exactly as before, since we're the same people, only a couple of years better. Vocally, we now use boy-girl vocals up front (Carolyn and myself), which I think adds greatly to the sound. Also, we're not as strictly and conservatively "traditional" as the Chamber Strings were, in terms of songwriting, and this has freed us up tremendously. The influences remain mostly the same though: Kinks, Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Beatles, etc, but now with a strong infusion of 70's soft rock, or what we like to call the "coke sound".

IR: Why did Chamber Strings Split?

JW: Interesting question. I suppose you could say "personal differences". Perhaps I should google that and find out.

IR: What's Kevin up to now?

JW: Actually, we fell out of contact with him a couple of years ago. We do have many mutual friends, and I hear stories, but it's not my place to repeat them. Sorry to be a stick in the mud, but if you asked someone who knew me two years ago what I was up to now, they'd get it wrong. I'll respect his right to tell his own story.

IR: What's up with that 'group sex' flyer for your show?! (A flyer advertising a recent gig shows the shadows of a very groovy orgy.)

JW: If you had been at the show, you'd know...

IR: I miss all of the important show. What has your new band released thus far?

JW: So far, only an air of anticipation. We're currently recording here in Chicago, and have some people interested in releasing the results, but we're making sure we get it right.

IR: What are your immediate plans for the band?

JW: Write the best album ever. Have it released to little or no attention. Put out several mediocre albums which jump aimlessly from genre to genre. Have people decide they like us, but only "the early stuff".

IR: Do you feel the current environment that includes file sharing, downsizing, and major label consolidation is one that will have a negative or positive impact on indie bands such as yours and why.

JW: As for file sharing, it can only help "indie" bands, as they make absolutely no money anyway. As for the industry in general, it's more clueless than ever. More consolidation means more car salesmen in the business of selling "art". They apply the techniques they know, and are mystified when it doesn't work. They'll blame file-sharing, demographics, the weather, or whatever. But the so-called "major" labels will always have a future as long as there are naive musicians ready to buy into the nightmare, and naive consumers looking for some kind of guidance. Businessmen will always prosper, and the culture will suffer. Unless we ignore them, stop watching television and go find life on our own.

IR: Thanks for your thoughtful and honest answers. Please supply web site or other info you care to share.

JW: Thank YOU Dave. Our web site is http://www.santropezmusic.com and a link would be highly appreciated... See you soon-- Jason