Birthed in New Zealand and suckled on Cali pop, Maori folk, and assorted indie-rock eclectic undefinables, the Ruby Suns plucked the title for their new sophomore album, Sea Lion (Sub Pop), from our very shores: the critters basking off Highway 1. I exchanged e-mails with Ruby Suns' king Ryan McPhun, who appears with his band tonight, April 4, at Bottom of the Hill.
SFBG: So why title your new album after the sea lions who live near San Francisco? What sort of experiences have you had with them?
Ryan McPhun: I guess my explanation is not too complicated. My girlfriend and i were driving down the coast on Highway 1 and came across this colony. We sat and watched these animals for about an hour. We were really close. They were making some amazing noises. It was a great time, so that's why. It was an inspiring trip.
SFBG: Your press literature says that the album was intended to contain mostly world music; what brought on that direction? And how do you feel about the genre - do you think it gets a bad rap for being too vague of a label?
RM: It's definitely too vague to consider it a genre. What does that mean anyway? I guess we are world music because we're from New Zealand? But maybe not because we're antipodean? Who knows. I was wanting to make some different sounds and rhythms and things, and I was inspired by interesting polyrhythmic stuff I was hearing from friends and stuff I found in record stores.
SFBG: So what are your five favorite world music recordings?
RM: Hmmm, I don't know the names of them all. I've got a lot of vinyl of really great stuff, but it's all in storage in New Zealand so i can't tell you the titles. Konono No. 1 - Congotronics. This album called Busy Body by an artist I can't remember from somewhere in Southern Africa I can't remember. An album by the KLM steel drum band from Trinidad and Tobago. Some sweet flamenco records that I can't remember the names of. Lots of other random stuff.
SFBG: Your music has elements of almost Beach Boys-like choral vocals. Is there something about that group that suits nature-centered themes and sounds?
RM: Perhaps not, though they did have quite a few nature-centered themed songs. They're some of their best tracks, I reckon. Some of the tracks off Surf's Up and Holland, in particular.
SFBG: Ruby Suns make music that veers away from what many would describe as a New Zealand sound - what has inspired it?
RM: Lots of different things. I used to listen to this island/Polynesian station in Auckland that I would get really into. So I guess that influenced my writing a bit. Some of that polyrhythmic stuff reminded me of some of the flamenco albums i have. But lots of stuff inspires me - anything and everything.
SFBG: Do you write songs around field recordings or vice versa?
RM: The field recordings were just added at the end when I knew some of the songs had something missing. I laced in some stuff from my travels, and the songs felt a lot better to me - probably because of the personal association I have with the sounds.
SFBG: How much influence do Maori sounds have on Ruby Suns?
RM: As per above. sure. The big choral stuff you hear on the radio or on TV is pretty inspiring. Music seems to be ingrained into the Maori culture, more than us whities.
SFBG: Any plans for the future?
RM: Lots of touring - as much as I can get the rest of the band to do!
SFBG: What are "Lichen Ears"?
RM: Good question.
RUBY SUNS
With Magic Bullets and Le Loup
Fri/4, 10 p.m., $10
Bottom of the Hill
1233 17th St., SF
(415) 621-4455
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