Numbers
Vocalist Indra Dunis adds up the changes and challenges leading to the noise rock trio’s latest release
By Stacey Anderson
Published: October 3rd, 2007 | 11:29am
After four frantic, synaptic noise-rock albums, San Franciscan trio Numbers has gained an earnest following far beyond its city. In 2000 the group debuted with the cheeky Numbers Life, which delved deeply into no wave disco but kept a brim of pop ambiance. Then in 2004, their thrash-heavy In My Mind All the Time followed and landed them a spot on Kill Rock Stars’ label, a roster which also featured 2005’s volatile We’re Animals.
Now members Indra Dunis (vocals, drums), Dave Broekema (guitars), and Eric Landmark (keyboardist) have distilled their energy into Now You Are This (released August 21, 2007) — a fourth album as windy and rewarding as their city. With a new dreamy presence and the influence of world music, it sounds like the conscious maneuvering of three punks growing up. As Indra Dunis trekked a particularly daunting hill, she shared some thoughts on recording Now You Are This shortly before the album’s release and the U.S. leg of the band’s 2007 tour.
Venus Zine just reviewed your new album and said it's a pretty radical departure — it does sound less hysterical than past releases, more brooding and contemplative like your San Francisco mates Deerhoof. Is this an accurate take?
Pretty much. It's different in many ways. When we started, we had so much hyper energy to get out. Now we're in a different place; our music is slower, more meandering, and everything develops longer.
We started out kinda punk and went with that for a few albums. After the second album [2005's We're Animals], we got back from touring Europe and felt really exhausted. Honestly, I felt done with making that kind of music. We decided to take a break from the band for a few months.
Then we got back together and we had each come to write totally new things. The songs were moody and different. I felt that excitement I'd missed, and I realized that this band didn't have to be a one-dimensional thing. There was room for us to grow and we'd support it.
How does San Francisco influence your music? Do you hear that backdrop in your sound? More recently, yes. I can see the influence that California has had. I live in lower Haight-Ashbury — up the hill from many famous houses — and tour buses go by every five minutes. But aside from that, I feel a very strong connection with nature, that's why I moved here.
I wanted to live somewhere close to the ocean. San Francisco is a beautiful city, but it's also surrounded by so much beauty. That has probably rubbed off on me. I write lots of songs about nature, animals, etc., and some are from an environmental perspective. I really appreciate the natural world.
In 2002, our first record came out, and [at that time] in San Francisco there was a blossoming scene of different experimental bands, lots of no wave influences. Everyone we played shows with kind of blossomed at that time in a wide range of sounds: electronic, rock. A community formed and we'd all play shows together. It was supportive and so fun. That's where bands like Erase Errata and Deerhoof came from. Six years ago we all played together. Deerhoof would open for us and there'd be two people there!
Have you noticed a change in your live audience over the years?
Yeah, our crowd has changed as we have. We have old fans who love the old stuff and new stuff. But then there's some who loved the old stuff and are like, “What are you doing now?” I think it's really mixed. I have noticed recently that we've been selling far more large T-shirts. So I think there are more guys coming! We'll see.
Issue #35
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