Maybe it was the first days of winter, which we Istanbulites usually dread, or the lack of Tarlabaşı-crew promotion for the show (yes, a sort of mini street-mafia in charge of posting or ripping down all those event posters around Istiklal), but Thursday, 28 November, at Babylon was not as happening as I had hoped it would be. Lymbyc Systym, a quirky instrumental duo, was in town, representing my adoptive home-turf of Phoenix, Arizona and playing the last show of their European tour.
It was really too bad that more people didn’t show up because the music they brought was clever and sophisticated, gentle, beautiful and inspiring – just a piano and drums (plus, the sound at Babylon was professionally produced as per usual). I caught up with Michael Bell after the show and asked him some questions about the band, the creative process, his personal tastes, and of course the music scene in Istanbul.
Smilja Jankov: Tell us a little something about your band. How long have you been playing?
Michael Bell: LS is myself and my brother Jared – we’re 3 years apart in age. What began as a cheeky rap trio with our neighbor in elementary school evolved into a high school funky jazz ensemble with whomever we could find in our direct vicinity that could hang, both musically and humanistically. Eventually I went off to music school in New York, Jared to Evergreen College in Washington State. Neither of us stayed [in school], and eventually migrated to Phoenix, AZ to form what became LS.
SJ: How do you usually work and compose?
MB: For the last album, we wrote our parts separately, then would periodically send pieces back and forth online, regardless of if we were 7,000 miles apart or in the same city. Eventually we put the pieces together in person. For the new album we’re working on, we are going to write most of the record together to change it up a little. It should be a really fun process, I’m looking forward it.
SJ: How often do you tour?
MB: These days we don’t tour very often, maybe 2 to 3 times a year.
SJ: How was your tour?
MB: We just finished up a really fun tour of Europe, including Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey!
SJ: And what are some of your favorite memories?
MB: A highlight night for me was having my birthday in Moscow, Russia, on the night of our show! Our awesome hosts in Russia, Stop the Silence, made me a birthday cake and right as Jared and I were about to begin our set, they brought out the cake with candles and the whole crowd sang happy birthday in Russian! It was totally awesome. Then came lots of vodka. Another highlight of the tour, for both Jared and myself, was visiting Istanbul for the first time. What an amazing and historical city to get to see. We had one of the best times ever with our Turkish hosts, including a few extra days off at the end of the tour. Istanbul has an absolutely amazing choice of good food!
SJ: Do places you travel to or visit influence your music making process? If so, in what way?
MB: We’ve definitely been influenced by the places we’ve traveled to, as far as it seeping into our music. After our first big Asian tour in the summer of 2010, Jared had compiled enough photos and footage to make a music video for our song Narita (the name of the big airport outside Tokyo). Watching the video really captures some of the feelings I had on that trip. It was a memorable experience.
SJ: What kind of music are you into now?
MB: I have been listening to Nicholas Jaar, DIIV, Fela Kuti, Evenings, and Todd Terje, to name a few.
SJ: What 5 songs are always on your playlist?
MB: Nicholas Jaar – “Mi Mujer”; The National – “Fireproof”; Cream – “Sunshine of your Love”; Mungolian Jetset – “Smells Like Gasoline”; and Todd Terje – “Inspector Norse”.
SJ: What is one band you think everyone should listen to and why?
MB: Another hard question…Fela Kuti is definitely one of them! His music is such a great combination of rhythm and melody. He also really stood for his convictions and wasn’t afraid to push things to crazy limits while always preserving a legacy of what he essentially invented.
SJ: Tell us a little something about your gigs in Istanbul… What kind of feedback did you get from your fans?
MB: We had a nice, little crowd at Babylon, and got to open for an awesome new British band called Tropics. It was a great night, and the venue was really nice!
SJ: What were your impressions about the music scene in Istanbul?
MB: Istanbul seems to be a town with a varied nightlife! From a shiny club scene, to really tasty dance nights, to a market for more underground rock, electronic music and DJs.
SJ: Do you have any advice for local artists or people involved with the music scene?
MB: Just keep writing great music, it all starts from a great recording.
SJ: How was the organization at Babylon?
MB: Babylon was extremely well organized! They had a large staff that helped with all aspects of the production, and they have some good house equipment, such as drums.
SJ: Did you have a good experience with local promoters?
MB: We sure did, we are glad to say that Hemi Behmoaras, the guy who promoted our gig, is now a great friend! We spent 3 days going all over the city with him, drinking and eating some of the best food of my life.
SJ: If you could give local promoters some advice, what would it be?
MB: Well I only dealt with Hemi, but I think he’s on point and knows exactly what he’s doing. A town like Istanbul is lucky to have a guy like Hemi, who is down to put all his energy into bringing in some really amazing small bands. There was a funny and somewhat annoying moment at the show, though, when some audience members kept talking during the music set.
SJ: Do you think that there is a certain concert going etiquette that should be respected? If so, what would it include?
MB: Yes, indeed – I feel there is a known rule, basically for humanity, that unless a performance calls for audience participation, the performance is meant to be silently appreciated. I mean, big rock concerts or metal shows or you know, anything with a rowdy crowd is suited for a rowdy audience. But when a mellower band is playing in a small venue, with really great sound, and everyone is really polite and quiet for the most part, it really stands out when a drunk American brosef starts talking at you really loudly, as though it’s just you and him hanging out at a party and he’s trying to talk over the music.
SJ: Finally, if you could pick one song to describe Istanbul, what song would it be?
MB: The sound of the call to prayer coming from one of the many mosques in Istanbul. The sound echoing through the buildings is something truly sonically descriptive of the city for me!
