A Dirty Dozen with MICAH PUESCHEL of IRATION – May 2019

According to a recent press release: “Reggae-influenced alternative rock band Iration officially kicked off their “Live From Paradise!” tour in Albuquerque, NM, bringing the aloha spirit and good vibes across the country this spring and summer. The 43-date outing, featuring special guests Pepper, Fortunate Youth and Katastro, marks the group’s largest tour to date since their formation nearly 15 years ago. Of the tour, guitarist Micah Brown recently explained to Billboard.com, “Every night we create a little bit of paradise for the people that are coming to the show. Live From Paradise was kind of a tongue-in-cheek term where every night, wherever you are, it’s your paradise. It is a positive healthy way of looking at life.” We get lead singer and guitarist Micah Pueschel to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

We always include a few little Easter eggs and adlibs that make the song listenable more than 1 or 2 or 5 times. An example would be the lyrical references to some of our favorite reggae songs “Plastic Smile” and the line “standing on the corner” is a reference to Israel Vibration. Lots more but we’ll leave it up the listeners.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I don’t think there was one moment. I think it was more of a gradual obsession with playing live and the feeling that comes with connecting to a crowd.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Not one specifically. We spent a lot of time watching concert VHS vids, DVDs, etc. of multiple artists like Bob Marley, Black Uhuru, Clapton, Metallica, etc. just to try and glean anything we could.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Personally? The Beatles, Tom Petty, Clapton, Beck and the Ka’au Crater Boys, ha

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Producer, would probably be Mark Ronson just because the quality of the music he is making right now is so high. Artist, I’d say Tom Misch just because I’m really into funky guitar and sounds right now and he’s the guy.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I always say we’re reggae/rock. People say “sunshine reggae” and that’s a bit cringe. I think what we do has a little more alternative rock to it as well as pop sensibility.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I think we all enjoy cooking, which is nice. Drake or Cayson probably mixing the drinks, and Micah Brown or Adam probably doing the jamming.

8. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

I saw Michael Jordan a few years ago and that buckled my knees. He was my biggest hero growing up as a kid.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part is the constant support and love from fans and the audience. Not many people get cheered on at their jobs every day. If I could be anything else I’d probably do something in the golf world like design golf courses or build them.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I don’t know if I have a question I wish people would ask. Definitely tired of explaining where the name Iration came from.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Yeah, I’d probably rethink some of the singles we put out. Maybe would have put more effort into pushing “Time Bomb” and “Turn Around” when they were released.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

The White Album… album is genius.

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Category: Interviews