Interview: Radiation City channel band drama into joyous space-pop

Inter-band struggles often fuel the most resonant pop music (see: Fleetwood Mac, every other Britpop band), and Portland’s Radiation City had more than their share to contend with during the writing process for their third LP, the recently-released Synesthetica (Polyvinyl Records). 

Relationship issues, lineup changes, and a new approach to the songwriting process all fed into the band’s most eclectic album to date, a shimmering blast of lush space-pop that sounds like nothing else out right now.

We caught up with guitarist / vocalist Cameron Spies to discuss channeling drama into the songwriting process, the band’s wide range of influences, the evolving corporate takeover of Portland and more.

Radiation City play Montreal’s Casa Del Popolo on Saturday March 5, alongside Seattle’s Deep Sea Diver. Tickets are $12.50 / $15, available here. For all upcoming tour dates visit radiationcity.net.

Bad Feeling: The last time Radiation City was out this way you were on tour with The Rentals, with some of you playing live with the band; what was that collaborative experience like? Any recollections of the epic Montreal show that wrapped up at 2am on a weekday?

Cameron Spies: That tour was a blast. I can’t speak from first-hand experience about the musical collaboration, because it was just Patti (King) and Lizzy (Ellison) working with The Rentals, but we did get to ride in the big fancy tour bus, so we got to know Matt and his gang of misfits pretty well. It kinda felt like the plot to a shitty reality TV show: two bands, one dated tour bus, one crotchety but loveable driver… WHO WILL SNAP FIRST?

The Montreal show was sparsely attended as I recall. THATS A CHALLENGE, MONTREAL. BRING. IT. ON.

Bad Feeling: How did the personal issues the band was dealing with leading up to this album (relationships, lineup changes) affect the songwriting process?

Cameron Spies: That’s pretty difficult to succinctly put into words, but the record was heavily influenced by the personal issues in the band. I think if you’re writing from the heart, you can’t help but be affected by your personal circumstances, even if you’re writing songs about eating gummy bears on the moon.

Bad Feeling: Did you channel that tension into the songs that make up his LP? Or is writing for RC an act of escapism?

Cameron Spies: Songwriting has been a catharsis for us for sure, which is a kind of escapism, but I think it’s escapism by way of embracing the struggle, rather than running from it.

Bad Feeling: Did you feel as if you had to have a through line from your previous albums? Or did you look at this album as a blank slate?

Cameron Spies: There’s always a bit of a sonic thread between records, but I don’t think we are super methodical about it either way. We definitely moved away from the lo fi 60’s influences to some degree, but there are still psych, doo wop, and bossa feels sprinkled in, which we can’t ever totally escape, unless we all get lobotomies.

I think each record is a continuation of the last to some degree, because we don’t compartmentalize the writing process as strictly as it may seem. For instance, we don’t sit down the day after (2013’s) Animals in the Median comes out and say, “Ok, chaps! It’s time to make a new record! How do we want this one to sound?” Songs evolve over time, and sometimes we cull songs from the discard pile from older sessions, if we feel like they fit the bill.

Bad Feeling: There are so many styles and moods on this LP; is that eclecticism a conscious choice, or a by-product of the writing?

Cameron Spies: I think it’s a by-product of our tastes. We all contribute to the writing process, so our influences go in one side of the machine and come out the other side in a weird technicolor stew. Again, generally it’s not as intentional as that may sound, but our influences make up who we are as musicians, and the kinds of sounds we are drawn to, so we can’t help but channel them in our writing.

Bad Feeling: If RC could be the house band in any film,  what would it be?

Cameron Spies: Jurassic Park.

Bad Feeling: What’s your relationship with Portland like? How has it changed since RC started?

Cameron Spies: We love Portland. Quality of life is extremely high and cost of living has been low for a long time. That being said, the vampires have descended on the city of late and costs have gone up. Everybody’s got a different opinion about that, but I’m worried about the artist and minority displacement. What I’m trying to say is, we may not stay much longer.

Bad Feeling: What’s coming up for the band? Is there something you’re eager to tackle next?

Cameron Spies: We already started recording a new batch of songs, and we are pumped to keep working on that. We are also excited to go back to Europe and play some dates in new countries (UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium). We are mostly just excited to play Montreal in a few days.

Radiation City and Deep Sea Diver play Montreal’s Casa Del Popolo Saturday, March 5. Tickets are $12.50 / $15, available here.