The music of the PA/NJ based four-piece, Earth Telephone weaves together the genres of pop, alternative rock and even punk for an unforgettable sound. From catchy choruses to complex arrangements on strings and a spirited live performance, Earth Telephone is a force to be reckoned with.
Earth Telephone is Chris Diehm on guitar and lead vocals, Biff Swenson on drums, Max Stern on guitar and backing vocals and Eric Friedman on bass and backing vocals. Together, Earth Telephone creates music that lets others know they are not alone while undergoing loss and hardships.
The Pop Break had the chance to interview Chris Diehm of Earth Telephone to discover the meaning behind their band name, what drives them to create music, all about their most recent release, Loss and news of upcoming music.
As you guys are PA/NJ based, where are some of your favorite places to play in the Tri-State and PA area?
We love to play anywhere people are very passionate about having a strong and inclusive musical community. It’s nice to work with nice people with whom we’re values aligned. Some shining examples thereof include, but aren’t limited to: Boot and Saddle in Philadelphia, Warehous3 in Swarthmore, Asbury Park Brewery, and Asbury Park Yacht Club.
How did you decide on the name Earth Telephone and what does it mean to you? How does this name reflect who you are as a band?
The name comes from the German Erdtelefon, a piece by “social sculptor,” Joseph Beuys, which resides in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Beuys believed that everyone is an artist, and that everything can be art. The piece reminds you of the art of something ordinary, while implying the social weight of constant connectivity.
It takes an everyday item out of context and reminds you that it’s art; something we strive to achieve by writing songs with a slightly skewed traditional pop structure, something, that in the grand scheme of things is still relatively new to me.
From emo to pop punk and indie rock, what sounds are explored in the music of Earth Telephone? What makes your music stand out?
We tend to explore what we can do with the dynamics of a pop line-up (two guitars, bass, and drums; this ought to be good, right?) and then find the space in those dynamic shifts for more grandiose things like the swelling string arrangements on our EP written by Eric and performed by Jenn Fantaccione.
Who are some of your musical influences, and in what ways do they inspire you?
I’ve been feeling inspired by some very talented friends lately. I was lucky enough to spend a few days on the road with Camp Cope, Petal, and Sidney Gish this week, and I’ve returned to Philly feeling more inspired than ever. These are groups of incredibly talented and outspoken people using their music as a platform for social change and that is incredibly humbling to me. Listen to all their records.
Also, Courtney Barnett and Carly Rae Jepsen just kick ass. Like, a lot of ass.
When it comes to live shows, what do you enjoy the most about being up on stage performing?
My favorite part is making eye contact with Biff or Eric or Max and catching a candid smile or a burst of energy, because I just feed off of that with them. It makes me feel incredibly alive and present. I mostly just like to nuzzle my head into them while we’re playing like a dog would do.
Since your EP Loss was released in October 2017, have these songs taken on any new meaning for you?
Loss is mostly about my father’s death, and he always told me after you release a song it’s no longer yours, it can mean anything to anyone. I always liked that, and I hope they do mean something to someone. His death has been a long and difficult process to work through, and it’s far from over, but these songs, more than any I’ve written in the past feel deeply autobiographical, like snapshots of a very hard time, something I can reference from further along this path, like a bellwether for my progression.
Along with the very apparent theme of personal loss that your most recent release explores in-depth, what others themes or ideas pervade your music?
I’ll answer in the form of a list; I like lists:
– Karmic retribution
⁃ The “meet cute”
⁃ Depression/anxiety
⁃ Sex in your parent’s house
⁃ The cosmic goof
⁃ The honeymoon period
⁃ Planetary bodies
⁃ The full stop
⁃ Waiting in the wings
How does your music help you cope with everything that’s going on in your lives?
It is the only thing I feel comfortable describing as a full evacuation of my anxieties and depression. It’s like a hold button for the doldrums of routine because it can be anything we want it to be.
Is there any song of yours that you find yourself connecting to the most right now? If so, what song is it and why is it so relatable to you currently?
My family still struggles with the death of my dad, and this is a struggle that has no end date. There’s no full stop. My mother is having a particularly rough go of it, and “Loss” always feels like a good reminder to check in with her. Here again, I come back to Eric’s inimitable talent for arrangement, because the strings in this song make me feel like my heart is going to burst open and flood my body.
What is the best part about creating and performing music as a member of Earth Telephone?
The best part is the time spent with Biff, Eric, and Max, hands down. Surrounding yourself with the people you love the most is a massive perk of the band gig.
What’s coming up for Earth Telephone this summer and for the rest of 2018?
We’ve finished two new songs with Ian Farmer at the Metal Shop, plus a cover that we’ll release when they come back from mastering. The cover will go up for a rotating women’s charity, where it will remain in perpetuity.
We’re also planning on writing more new material throughout the remainder of the year.
