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Q&A With Tiny Pyramids
By TG | October 13, 2011
Tiny Pyramids A.K.A Jared Wright
BY: H-Dawg
HD: What is your Disk Jockey name/alter ego?
JW: When I was DJing a lot I actually didn’t have a name, I just went by Jared but now I go by Tiny Pyramids when I DJ as well.
HD: Who are some of your musical influences?
JW: Some that come to mind: Empire of the Sun, Chromeo, Calvin Harris, Cut Copy, Discovery, Hot Chip, Neon Indian, Toro Y Moi, Small Black, LCD Soundsystem , Twin Shadow, The Presets, Ssion, Private, Junior Boys, Washed out, Boy Crisis, M83, and Old School Hip-Hop (East & West Coast), everything from EPMD to the Heiroglyphics crew. On more of a conceptual or theoretical level: Old folk music like Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, and newer folk like Elliott Smith.
HD: Your music sounds a bit DFA influenced any of that in there?
JW: Yes! Huge influence. I love James Murphy’s stuff and I love Holy Ghost! and Shit Robot as well. Love the DFA label.
HD: I’m told from some some Friends of mine that they admire that you are super focused and definitely work consistently and eagerly on your projects. Do you feel that way? Describe your dedication?
JW: Yes, I’m very focused and have a great deal of drive to create. Once I start a project I finish it. I think I’ve always been that way and I’m always working on something be it film or music. I can’t stop; if I stop I will die. I used to draw when I was a kid and then I pursued music and then film and I still do a bit of all three. I want every new project I work on to be better than the last so I’m constantly trying to up my game and increase the quality of my work.
HD: What does a typical practice look like? How often?
JW: Throughout the week I will compose by myself on a laptop and a microkorg usually starting with the music and then finding the vocal melody and lyrics later but often the lyrics and the melody will come at the same time. Then, every Sunday night I take what I have to my friend’s studio and we lay something down. Then we work on engineering and mixing it over beers until we’re happy with it. From the start of the Tiny Pyramids project, I knew I wanted to include a female vocal so when I was ready to record, I reached out to Delia Bowen; a rad singer/songwriter from the band Three Legged Sister. http://www.threeleggedsister.com/
HD: What are your motivators?
JW: Heartbreak, sex, attractive women, films, music, literature, love.
HD: Describe your music?
JW: My music is fun electronic pop that isn’t too serious or too silly. Tiny Pyramids works perfectly because “Tiny” is light and unassuming and “Pyramids” is serious and majestic.
HD: Throw down a playlist example?
JW: Still Sound - Toro Y Moi Worker Bee - Super Melody Polish Girl - Neon Indian Wait & See (Richard X Remix) - Holy Ghost! Psy-Chic - Ssion Pure Gold - Boss In Drama I Got Soul, I’m Wasted - Wallpaper Sunlight - Bag Raiders Rapture - Data Manic - Azari & III Midnight City (Alcala Remix) - M83 New Beat (Fare Soldi “Canta Tu” Remix) - Toro Y Moi
HD: Next adventure or current movie?
JW: ’m currently writing a new script and I’m taking at a stab at the feature film. I’ve made three films, all of them shorts, and the last one finally went to festivals and did pretty well at one of them so I’m going to bite the bullet and try a feature. We just finished shooting a “test” scene from the script and I’m editing it right now. When the script is ready the search for funding begins and I have a tight-knit crew ready to go. I’m also getting very close to being finished with the Tiny Pyramids EP, which might be called “I Keep You with Me” and will consist of four or five tracks including the two you’ve heard.
HD: What do you use when creating Tiny Pyramids?
JW: I primarily compose with a Micro Korg patched into Reason and then drop all of that into Ableton Live. Then we lay down all the vocals and sometimes add live instruments. My friend David Passarell does all my engineering and mixing and a our friend and excellent musician Kerry Fogerty is always willing and kind enough to play drums and guitar when I want to add a live element, like in the case of “Forever”.
HD: When did the keyboard love begin? JW: Like most kids, when I was young, like 8 or 9, I always liked to play on any keyboard that happened to be in front of me but I wouldn’t just pound on it, I would always meticulously try to recreate a bass-line I heard or a chord from my favorite song at the time. I never had my own until I was in high school and a friend in my Hip-Hop group saved up and bought a really nice big Roland and we went to town on that thing; it was so fun. But, really I cannot play well at all. But, that’s the good thing about electronic music, I can play well enough to loop it and/or cut and paste it and it that works great (as real pianists and keyboardists cringe).
HD: If you could make changes to the local scene what would they be?
JW: I wish the local scene had more of an electronic music presence and generally a wider/larger audience. And, it needs a truly RAD place to dance! Most musicians here are extremely talented but for the most part, all the shows feature the same bands and in turn, the same audiences; a core group of people who all know each other and seemingly don’t need to or are not interested in meeting anyone new. I didn’t grow up here and for me when I arrived, this was kind of a big city so I loved it and saw tons of possibilities but, at times I feel like if you don’t have roots here, you can be treated a bit like the kid who climmed up to the tree-house but won’t be let in because he doesn’t know the password.
FILM
HD: What do you do when your not doin’ your music/film stuff?
JW: When I’m not working I’m studying. I watch anywhere from 5 to 10 films a week and I’m listening to music constantly. I don’t read as much as I want to but I read a lot of articles, reviews and essays on film. Also, I exercise.
HD: Work or job? What do you get paid to do?
JW: My day-job is for a small video production company called Videobrite. We do pretty much anything with film and video and we also shoot and edit productions for companies and corporations. It’s a half tech-nerd job, half filmmaker job. http://www.videobrite.com/
HD: You worked on a movie and trailer, could you name those?
JW: My first two short films are not really worth talking about but the first one was called THE WALLET. I made it in Chico, CA in 2004 and I learned a great deal. My latest short film is called THE END (OR, KAREN FOX IS NOT INVISIBLE) and I learned even more working on that one.
HD: What is the new project called?
JW: The new script is loosely titled PAPER BIRDS.
HD: What inspired you to create PAPER BIRDS?
JW: So many things are inspiring the new film. My writing usually centers around relationships I have or had and in this script I’m mixing them together but the real catalyst for the story is a winter coat I bought my ex-girlfriend. The film is also influenced by origami, tailoring, infidelity, pregnancy, love, relationships, break-ups, kissing, long takes, Jean Luc-Godard, and Korean Film.
HD: Tell us about the new film?
JW: The script is still in the early stages but I’m excited about the test scene we shot. It was a way for me to see if my writing is working as well as audition two great actors for the lead roles and we will have something to show possible investors. Also, I get anxious if I haven’t flimmed anything in awhile so I needed to get out and turn on the camera. The scene is our main couple going on their second date, walking through the redwood forests of Northern California. There is a remarkable feeling of anticipation and excitement between them but also shyness and insecurity.
HD: First favorite movie that ever touched or just became a movie that you wanted everyone to watch?
JW: I have two stages of film watching, one before film school and one during. Before I went to college (I hate to be so obvious), my friends and I left the theater after seeing PULP FICTION at the ripe age of 18, and we were literally jumping up and down in the parking lot with excitement. I had never seen anything like it. Later I got a degree in Film Theory from Sonoma State University and that’s when I really learned how to watch a film and I would say THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC moved me to my core; such a beautiful film.
MISCELLANEOUS
HD: Shout outs?
JW: Music: David, Delia, and Kerry. Film crew: Steve, Tyson, Aron, Jeremy, and Videobrite: Shiloh and Chris. Olivia for inspiring me me and supporting me.
HD: You seem to be quite creative with your wardrobe, one would say always in your “Sundays best,” How does one get that snappy? Do you lay your outfits out or do you throw them together last minute?
JW: Thank you. Clothing is very important to me and I both lay outfits out in advance and sometimes through it together last minute. I’m always looking around for looks that strike me be it in films, magazines, or out in the world. I love shopping for clothes very much.
HD: What are you wearing right now?
JW: I’m wearing a vintage bordeaux colored cotton penguin polo shirt, a straw colored skinny belt from American Apparel, skinny tan Levi pants, and dark brown Sperry Top-Sider shoes. And, a vintage wool sport coat with suede elbow patches. At any given moment what I’m wearing is a careful combination of second hand pics and new articles.
HD: Where did you get that cool handsome boy hair cut?
JW: I’m rocking the side part and I got the cut from Melissa Williams at Daredevils & Queens. She is the jam.
HD: Favorite hip hop artists?
JW: N.W.A., EPMD, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, The Click, Mac Dre, Digital Underground, RUN-DMC, Too Short, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, DJ Quik
HD: Is there a musician that you have been fanatical about?
JW: Leonard Cohen
HD: Favorite stoner music?
JW: Old folk like Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot and Nick Drake. When I actually used to smoke I listen to Hip-Hop, The Cure and The Isley Brothers.
HD: How do you come up with lyrics? Fact or fiction? From the heart? JW: Lyrics are always fact but sometimes altered a bit for rhyming purposes.
HD: Whats next?
JW: Finish editing the scene from my screenplay and finish the Tiny Pyramids EP. When I’m happy with the EP, possibly live shows!
HD: Any statement or words you’d like to close up shop with?
JW: I always hope people like what I create but it’s all really just to be having fun.
HD: Do you have some links?
I just uploaded the latest versions of two songs that will be on my EP. Also, here is link to two “fan” music videos I shot and edited and the trailer for my short film called THE END (OR, KAREN FOX IS NOT INVISIBLE). There is also and upgraded version of my song(s).
Tiny Pyramids Videos Movie Trailer
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