Massenger interview with Sasha Green and Seth Pettersen
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© Neal Casal
Sounding as much at home today as they
would have during the heyday of the 80’s psychedelic resurgence, resident
California surf-psych rockers Massenger, perfectly straddle the line between
surf and pop rock with a deliciously hard psychedelic bite. Drenched in reverb and tasteful lo-fi
production, on the heels of the release of their debut self-titled album and
just home from a recent tour there’s growing speculation as to what the band
might be up to next. I was as curious as
anyone else as to what the answer might be to that question, given the endless
possibilities and burgeoning opportunities opening up for the band. Thankfully lead singer Sasha Green and
cofounding member Seth Pettersen agreed to share their past and present with me
as well as their plans for the future.
If you haven’t already heard about Massenger do yourself a favor and
check out their Bandcamp page where you can stream or buy their album in
whatever format your little heart might desire, from digital or CD to tapes and
LPs! So click the link, stream the album
while you read, and if you aren’t convinced by the time you’re done make sure
to check your pulse cause this stuff is killer!
would have during the heyday of the 80’s psychedelic resurgence, resident
California surf-psych rockers Massenger, perfectly straddle the line between
surf and pop rock with a deliciously hard psychedelic bite. Drenched in reverb and tasteful lo-fi
production, on the heels of the release of their debut self-titled album and
just home from a recent tour there’s growing speculation as to what the band
might be up to next. I was as curious as
anyone else as to what the answer might be to that question, given the endless
possibilities and burgeoning opportunities opening up for the band. Thankfully lead singer Sasha Green and
cofounding member Seth Pettersen agreed to share their past and present with me
as well as their plans for the future.
If you haven’t already heard about Massenger do yourself a favor and
check out their Bandcamp page where you can stream or buy their album in
whatever format your little heart might desire, from digital or CD to tapes and
LPs! So click the link, stream the album
while you read, and if you aren’t convinced by the time you’re done make sure
to check your pulse cause this stuff is killer!
What’s the band’s lineup? Is this
your original lineup?
your original lineup?
Sasha:
The line up is Sasha Green-Vocals, Seth Pettersen-bass/vocals, Bryan
Russell-guitar and Michael Gleeson on drums.
The line up is Sasha Green-Vocals, Seth Pettersen-bass/vocals, Bryan
Russell-guitar and Michael Gleeson on drums.
Are any of you in any other bands at this point? Have you released any material with any other
bands?
bands?
Sasha:
Seth Pettersen has a self-titled solo-project which released Natural
Machine in 2012. Bryan Russell joined
Ventura based indie-rock band The Spires two years ago and they have a release
in the works. Michael Gleeson joined La
Sera in October 2012. I believe they are
working on new material.
Seth Pettersen has a self-titled solo-project which released Natural
Machine in 2012. Bryan Russell joined
Ventura based indie-rock band The Spires two years ago and they have a release
in the works. Michael Gleeson joined La
Sera in October 2012. I believe they are
working on new material.
Where is the band located?
Sasha:
Located in Ventura, California.
Located in Ventura, California.
How would you describe the local scene?
Are you very involved with the local music scene?
Are you very involved with the local music scene?
Sasha:
The local scene is diverse, incestuous, harboring some real talent and a
bit of a black hole. I’m involved in the
sense that I go to shows and try to set up a good show when we play.
The local scene is diverse, incestuous, harboring some real talent and a
bit of a black hole. I’m involved in the
sense that I go to shows and try to set up a good show when we play.
How did you all meet? When and
why did you decide to form Massenger?
why did you decide to form Massenger?
Sasha:
I moved to Ventura, California in 2004 and met Michael Gleeson around
2006 through friends working at Salzer’s Records. Then we were roommates. It’s a small town and most friends that I
have made have grown up here. In short,
it’s like a domino effect. You make
friends, meet their friends and now I’ve got a lot of friends. I met Seth and Bryan that way. Everyone plays music in this town. It’s a side note to our friendships.
I moved to Ventura, California in 2004 and met Michael Gleeson around
2006 through friends working at Salzer’s Records. Then we were roommates. It’s a small town and most friends that I
have made have grown up here. In short,
it’s like a domino effect. You make
friends, meet their friends and now I’ve got a lot of friends. I met Seth and Bryan that way. Everyone plays music in this town. It’s a side note to our friendships.
Massenger formed after I came up with a
song one day while driving home from work.
Seth was already jammin’ when I walked in the door and I started to sing
into the mic, “Power to the People”. I
had the melodies and lyrics and Seth recorded all the instruments. I’m a late bloomer. I had never really written my own songs
before. The proverbial “flood gates” had
opened. I wrote lyrics and had melodies
to four more songs. Seth and I worked
them out and had recorded a five-song demo by the next month.
song one day while driving home from work.
Seth was already jammin’ when I walked in the door and I started to sing
into the mic, “Power to the People”. I
had the melodies and lyrics and Seth recorded all the instruments. I’m a late bloomer. I had never really written my own songs
before. The proverbial “flood gates” had
opened. I wrote lyrics and had melodies
to four more songs. Seth and I worked
them out and had recorded a five-song demo by the next month.
I emailed it to Mike and said he didn’t
even need to respond to my email. He did
and said he loved it. Bryan was his
roommate at the time, heard what we were up to and so we all started jamming
the songs together in late 2011.
even need to respond to my email. He did
and said he loved it. Bryan was his
roommate at the time, heard what we were up to and so we all started jamming
the songs together in late 2011.
What does the name Massenger refer to or mean?
© Bryan Russell
Sasha:
The name is a Spanglish/mispronunciation of the 80’s anime cartoon and
toy robot, Mazinga-Z. I was super into
the cartoon in Panama as a kid. My mom
got me another anime robot toy and I called it “Massenger”. He’s the robot pictured on the back cover of
our album. His actual name is, General
Daimos. I like how people get all
confused by the name but we also kinda shot ourselves in the foot; it’s really
hard to Google us haha!
The name is a Spanglish/mispronunciation of the 80’s anime cartoon and
toy robot, Mazinga-Z. I was super into
the cartoon in Panama as a kid. My mom
got me another anime robot toy and I called it “Massenger”. He’s the robot pictured on the back cover of
our album. His actual name is, General
Daimos. I like how people get all
confused by the name but we also kinda shot ourselves in the foot; it’s really
hard to Google us haha!
com.jpg)
General Daimos aka Massenger
There are a lot of sounds that come bubbling out of your music. Can you talk about who some of your personal
musical influences are? What about the
band as a whole?
musical influences are? What about the
band as a whole?
Sasha:
So many influences. As a kid I
loved The Cure, Tina Turner, Siouxsie and the Banshees, AC/DC. My family had eclectic taste. In Panama in the 80’s dance-hall reggae was
king. Yet, the Beastie Boys, Duran Duran
and other U.S. acts made an impression too.
I like all kinds of music, from the Pixies and Black Sabbath to Herbie
Hancock, Pink Floyd and Devo, so much great stuff out there. As a whole, I think we all have some similar
influences when it comes to Massenger’s sound.
Bryan loves 60’s Garage and Motown.
It seems like Fugazi, The Evens and Minor Threat always have a
place. I definitely dig Motown as well. There’s some surf and psychedelic elements
that come naturally when you surf and reside in a weird little beach town. People have related Massenger’s sound to X,
The B-52’s and The Avengers. Yet these
bands aren’t in my mind when writing songs and coming up with melodies. For me, it’s just a gut feeling.
So many influences. As a kid I
loved The Cure, Tina Turner, Siouxsie and the Banshees, AC/DC. My family had eclectic taste. In Panama in the 80’s dance-hall reggae was
king. Yet, the Beastie Boys, Duran Duran
and other U.S. acts made an impression too.
I like all kinds of music, from the Pixies and Black Sabbath to Herbie
Hancock, Pink Floyd and Devo, so much great stuff out there. As a whole, I think we all have some similar
influences when it comes to Massenger’s sound.
Bryan loves 60’s Garage and Motown.
It seems like Fugazi, The Evens and Minor Threat always have a
place. I definitely dig Motown as well. There’s some surf and psychedelic elements
that come naturally when you surf and reside in a weird little beach town. People have related Massenger’s sound to X,
The B-52’s and The Avengers. Yet these
bands aren’t in my mind when writing songs and coming up with melodies. For me, it’s just a gut feeling.
Seth:
Everybody loves Nirvana.
Everybody loves Nirvana.
Can you tell us about Massenger’s songwriting process? Is there a lot of exploratory jamming or does
someone come in with a more finished idea and present it to the group?
someone come in with a more finished idea and present it to the group?
Sasha:
We all write songs and riffs but I write 90% of our lyrics and
melodies. Our debut album was primarily
Seth and I. We had songs mostly ready to
go. Michael and Bryan definitely added
their signatures to the songs with their instruments and styles though. Bryan wrote Red-Handed and Tall Boy. It’s looking like our next record will be
more of a community effort. We’ve got half
an album’s worth of songs complete and more songs in the works.
We all write songs and riffs but I write 90% of our lyrics and
melodies. Our debut album was primarily
Seth and I. We had songs mostly ready to
go. Michael and Bryan definitely added
their signatures to the songs with their instruments and styles though. Bryan wrote Red-Handed and Tall Boy. It’s looking like our next record will be
more of a community effort. We’ve got half
an album’s worth of songs complete and more songs in the works.
Do you all enjoy getting into the studio? Some bands love to record and it drives
others up the nuts!
others up the nuts!
Sasha:
The band says that the recording of the Massenger album was the easiest
they had ever experienced. We tracked
the entire album live, in one day. Our
engineer, Joel Jerome is by far one of the best people to record with that
they’ve encountered. For me, it was
tiring and fun.
The band says that the recording of the Massenger album was the easiest
they had ever experienced. We tracked
the entire album live, in one day. Our
engineer, Joel Jerome is by far one of the best people to record with that
they’ve encountered. For me, it was
tiring and fun.
Seth:
I love getting the end result, but often times recording can be a
tedious, exhausting effort. We tried to
avoid that with this recording, we just wanted to have fun while we were
recording it.
I love getting the end result, but often times recording can be a
tedious, exhausting effort. We tried to
avoid that with this recording, we just wanted to have fun while we were
recording it.
You released your debut self-titled album, Massenger, on cassette tape
in December of 2012 on Burger Records and recently you teamed with Rocketship
Records to release it on CD in April and then 12” vinyl in May. Can you talk a little about the recording of
Massenger? Who recorded it? Where was it recorded? What kind of equipment was used?
in December of 2012 on Burger Records and recently you teamed with Rocketship
Records to release it on CD in April and then 12” vinyl in May. Can you talk a little about the recording of
Massenger? Who recorded it? Where was it recorded? What kind of equipment was used?
Sasha:
Actually, we released the CD version ourselves before we knew for sure
that the album was going have an LP release.
We recorded the album in south Los Angeles with Joel Jerome (of Dios and
Babies On Acid fame). We used minimal
equipment and it was recorded digitally.
I sang through the same model microphone that Michael Jackson was known
to use, according to Joel. The
occasional sound of helicopters, Lakers games on the radio and fragrant smoke
filled the air. We knocked out the
tracks pretty quickly and tried not to pick everything apart too much. The guys in the band are all talented
musicians who have been playing music since they were young teenagers. You can’t go wrong with the pros.
Actually, we released the CD version ourselves before we knew for sure
that the album was going have an LP release.
We recorded the album in south Los Angeles with Joel Jerome (of Dios and
Babies On Acid fame). We used minimal
equipment and it was recorded digitally.
I sang through the same model microphone that Michael Jackson was known
to use, according to Joel. The
occasional sound of helicopters, Lakers games on the radio and fragrant smoke
filled the air. We knocked out the
tracks pretty quickly and tried not to pick everything apart too much. The guys in the band are all talented
musicians who have been playing music since they were young teenagers. You can’t go wrong with the pros.
The album was originally available as a CD-R as a self-release, can you
talk about how that CD-R was distributed?
talk about how that CD-R was distributed?
Sasha:
The CD-R was sold at shows or given away to certain friends and
promoters in our town.
The CD-R was sold at shows or given away to certain friends and
promoters in our town.
While all of the Massenger releases have been limited, the tape to 250,
the CD to 200 and the 12” to 400, you’ve managed to release the album on every
viable format at this point (the album is also available digitally at
http://massenger.bandcamp.com). Most
bands have a preferred medium or will do a CD combination release with another
format but I can’t recall the last band who combine the all, why all
three? Why limited releases? Do you have a preferred medium for listening
to music?
the CD to 200 and the 12” to 400, you’ve managed to release the album on every
viable format at this point (the album is also available digitally at
http://massenger.bandcamp.com). Most
bands have a preferred medium or will do a CD combination release with another
format but I can’t recall the last band who combine the all, why all
three? Why limited releases? Do you have a preferred medium for listening
to music?
Sasha:
Personally, I’m not that picky. I
love to listen to records and Seth has a lot of records. Mostly thrift store finds. Bryan has some sweet records, too. Our friends in the community are definitely
into collecting vinyl. It’s more
enjoyable to throw a record on I feel. I
prefer the sound quality and I feel like I’m inside the music or paying more
attention when listening to vinyl. It’s
like meditation. I was listening to
cassettes and making mix tapes up until the mid-2000s and I still have them
all. Burger Records has really lit a
fire under our butts about getting back into cassette tapes. Seth and I love finding tapes at the thrift
stores and buying tapes when Burger has sales.
Cassettes have a raw, unique sound all their own like vinyl does. CDs are just universally easy to get your
music out there. Truth be told, money is
tight. The reason for all three releases
is based purely on what we were able to do with the album at that time. The digital release came first because our
friends really wanted to be able to listen to the demo. When we recorded the full-length version as
Massenger, we uploaded that and made CD-Rs for shows. But when talk of our first tour came up we
decided to place an order for actual CDs because we really didn’t have time to
make all the CD-Rs and covers.
Meanwhile, Rocketship Records wanted to release it on LP but we wouldn’t
get the records in time for the tour. So
it’s all just been based on necessity and demand, we needed to have something
for the people who want to take us home with them.
Personally, I’m not that picky. I
love to listen to records and Seth has a lot of records. Mostly thrift store finds. Bryan has some sweet records, too. Our friends in the community are definitely
into collecting vinyl. It’s more
enjoyable to throw a record on I feel. I
prefer the sound quality and I feel like I’m inside the music or paying more
attention when listening to vinyl. It’s
like meditation. I was listening to
cassettes and making mix tapes up until the mid-2000s and I still have them
all. Burger Records has really lit a
fire under our butts about getting back into cassette tapes. Seth and I love finding tapes at the thrift
stores and buying tapes when Burger has sales.
Cassettes have a raw, unique sound all their own like vinyl does. CDs are just universally easy to get your
music out there. Truth be told, money is
tight. The reason for all three releases
is based purely on what we were able to do with the album at that time. The digital release came first because our
friends really wanted to be able to listen to the demo. When we recorded the full-length version as
Massenger, we uploaded that and made CD-Rs for shows. But when talk of our first tour came up we
decided to place an order for actual CDs because we really didn’t have time to
make all the CD-Rs and covers.
Meanwhile, Rocketship Records wanted to release it on LP but we wouldn’t
get the records in time for the tour. So
it’s all just been based on necessity and demand, we needed to have something
for the people who want to take us home with them.
The album has obviously been well received are there any further
releases planned for this year?
releases planned for this year?
Sasha:
Thanks. There is talk of a 7”
release but we are touring Europe for three weeks in August so no recording
until we get back. We’ve got some
material we are going to demo next month.
Thanks. There is talk of a 7”
release but we are touring Europe for three weeks in August so no recording
until we get back. We’ve got some
material we are going to demo next month.
You have been touring rather extensively since the release of Massenger
last year. What do you have planned as
far as touring goes so far for 2013?
last year. What do you have planned as
far as touring goes so far for 2013?
Sasha:
Europe in August! Germany,
Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Austria and more!
Hopefully, the East Coast in early 2014!
Europe in August! Germany,
Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Austria and more!
Hopefully, the East Coast in early 2014!
Five Star Bar LA
© Betsy Winchell
Who are some of your favorite acts that you’ve shared a bill with?
Sasha:
The Bugs, Tweak Bird, Guantanamo Baywatch, Babies On Acid, Char-Man, The
Flytraps, The Fucking Wrath, No Sé and Catholic Spit.
The Bugs, Tweak Bird, Guantanamo Baywatch, Babies On Acid, Char-Man, The
Flytraps, The Fucking Wrath, No Sé and Catholic Spit.
Is there a funny or interesting story from on the road that you’d like
to share with our readers?
to share with our readers?
Mike
Sasha:
Well, we had a record shop show at The Works Records in Eureka,
California. The bassist of the band we
played with had two wolf dogs that got into a little fight with each other
during our set, right in front of us. It
was radical. Tour was awesome. So much fun was had that it’s all a blur!
Well, we had a record shop show at The Works Records in Eureka,
California. The bassist of the band we
played with had two wolf dogs that got into a little fight with each other
during our set, right in front of us. It
was radical. Tour was awesome. So much fun was had that it’s all a blur!
Seth
I
love having a digital copy of the album to listen to wherever I want but you
cannot replace the physical release of an album with disposable music like that
for me, the artwork and album are physical extensions of the music for me. Do you have any such connection with physical
format releases?
love having a digital copy of the album to listen to wherever I want but you
cannot replace the physical release of an album with disposable music like that
for me, the artwork and album are physical extensions of the music for me. Do you have any such connection with physical
format releases?
Sasha:
Hell yeah. I can remember staring
at album art extensively as a child. I
still do. It’s the story behind the
music and accent to the album’s identity; eye-candy for your ears. Tune in and trip out.
Hell yeah. I can remember staring
at album art extensively as a child. I
still do. It’s the story behind the
music and accent to the album’s identity; eye-candy for your ears. Tune in and trip out.
Digital music distribution has brought a lot of strife to the music industry
but it’s also exposed many of us who wouldn’t otherwise be able to hear it, to
a whole new world of music. How do you
feel about digital music?
but it’s also exposed many of us who wouldn’t otherwise be able to hear it, to
a whole new world of music. How do you
feel about digital music?
Sasha:
Hmm… Well, the fact is that I
personally wouldn’t have been able to hear a lot of music if it wasn’t for
their digital accessibility. There’s so
much more music out there now as opposed to ten years ago; albeit, not all
great. A happy median will be perfected
in time, I hope. Living in Panama, in
the 90’s I depended on friends bringing music back from the states so I could
record their CDs onto tape. Nowadays I
can just check out bands on a site. So I
can’t bag on the digital side.
Hmm… Well, the fact is that I
personally wouldn’t have been able to hear a lot of music if it wasn’t for
their digital accessibility. There’s so
much more music out there now as opposed to ten years ago; albeit, not all
great. A happy median will be perfected
in time, I hope. Living in Panama, in
the 90’s I depended on friends bringing music back from the states so I could
record their CDs onto tape. Nowadays I
can just check out bands on a site. So I
can’t bag on the digital side.
The Livery – Ventura
© Albert Munoz aka Donut
Traditionally rock has kind of been a man’s game, with women often not
being taken seriously or thought of somehow as inferior musicians, but it seems
like this is really changing. There are
more and more women at the forefront of the music scene. Have you ever had any problems in any of
these regards? Do you feel like being a
female, or having a female member in the band, is even an issue?
being taken seriously or thought of somehow as inferior musicians, but it seems
like this is really changing. There are
more and more women at the forefront of the music scene. Have you ever had any problems in any of
these regards? Do you feel like being a
female, or having a female member in the band, is even an issue?
Sasha:
Who are the dicks that feel this way?
Those guys are douche bags. I
haven’t had any problems within the scene regarding sexism personally. It’s not an issue for me but I acknowledge
that women seem to have to be better than average with their instruments or
craft to be taken seriously. A girl can
be a mediocre drummer if she’s cute. A
girl can do anything if she’s “hot”.
Whatever, I like a cute drummer girl as much as the next person. Talent speaks for itself no matter what sex
you are. I don’t sing to be taken
seriously. I love to perform because it
makes me feel good inside and I love to play music with my friends.
Who are the dicks that feel this way?
Those guys are douche bags. I
haven’t had any problems within the scene regarding sexism personally. It’s not an issue for me but I acknowledge
that women seem to have to be better than average with their instruments or
craft to be taken seriously. A girl can
be a mediocre drummer if she’s cute. A
girl can do anything if she’s “hot”.
Whatever, I like a cute drummer girl as much as the next person. Talent speaks for itself no matter what sex
you are. I don’t sing to be taken
seriously. I love to perform because it
makes me feel good inside and I love to play music with my friends.
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© Bob Muschitz (Bobby Zoom)
I
ask everyone I talk to this question to try and keep up with all the amazing
music out there. Who should our readers
be listening to from your local scene or area that they might not have heard
of?
ask everyone I talk to this question to try and keep up with all the amazing
music out there. Who should our readers
be listening to from your local scene or area that they might not have heard
of?
Sasha:
I love this question. Seth
Pettersen’s latest album, Natural Machine (http://www.sethpettersen.com), The
Spires (http://thespires.bandcamp.com), Catholic Spit and No Sé (http://www.noxse.bandcamp.com).
I love this question. Seth
Pettersen’s latest album, Natural Machine (http://www.sethpettersen.com), The
Spires (http://thespires.bandcamp.com), Catholic Spit and No Sé (http://www.noxse.bandcamp.com).
What about nationally and internationally?
Sasha:
Internationally: Goat and
Dungen. Nationally: Guantanamo Baywatch, Cherry Glazerr, La Luz and
Night Demon.
Internationally: Goat and
Dungen. Nationally: Guantanamo Baywatch, Cherry Glazerr, La Luz and
Night Demon.
.jpg)
© Neal Casal
Is there anything that I missed or you’d like to talk about?
Sasha:
Nope. Thanks for the interview!
Nope. Thanks for the interview!
DISCOGRAPHY
(2011)
Massenger – Massenger – CD-R – Self-Released (Packaged in paper bags
with paper logo attached)
Massenger – Massenger – CD-R – Self-Released (Packaged in paper bags
with paper logo attached)
(2012)
Massenger – Massenger – Cassette Tape, digital – Burger Records (Limited
to 250 hand numbered copies)
Massenger – Massenger – Cassette Tape, digital – Burger Records (Limited
to 250 hand numbered copies)
2013)
Massenger – Massenger – CD – Self-Released (limited to 200 copies)
Massenger – Massenger – CD – Self-Released (limited to 200 copies)
(2013)
Massenger – Massenger – 12” – Rocketship Records (12” limited to 400
copies)
Massenger – Massenger – 12” – Rocketship Records (12” limited to 400
copies)
Interview made by Roman Rathert/2013
© Copyright
http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2013
http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2013
