Keith Lynch: I guess the best way to put it would be a little bit of my previous albums. The same kind of sound I guess. Mostly the difference would be that it’s more energetic. Other than that, you just have to listen to it in order to really understand what it’s about.
the WILD honey pie: Are there any strange traditions you have when you record?
Keith Lynch: Nothing, you know, too elaborate. It’s usually just whenever I feel like writing is usually when I record. It’s not like I write and then I record later. It’s pretty much done at the same time. It’s kind of based on the moment, the inspiration for whatever is happening, that’s when I record it.
the WILD honey pie: You’re in a room filled with complete strangers that haven’t heard any of your music before, and someone gives you a guitar. What do you play? Why’s that?
Keith Lynch: Good question. It would depend on the day, and how I’m feeling, where I’m at. I don’t really have a favorite song or anything like that. It would probably be something more laid back I guess, just to introduce people to what my sound is like. It wouldn’t be anything too complicated. I actually just finished working on a new song, practicing a new song for my live shows. I would probably play Every Measure In Space. It’s a track off the new album. More of a laid back kind of song. Just because I haven’t played it a lot of times, not necessarily because I like more than any of the other songs. [I] like to play songs I haven’t played before. It’d be new, more interesting that way. Rather than a song I’ve been playing for years.
the WILD honey pie: A ton of musicians are coming out of cities like Brooklyn, London, and Seattle, yet you don’t often hear of Iowa musicians. Why do you think that is? What’s the music scene like there?
Keith Lynch: I could venture to guess. I would say a lot of it would have to do with that in the past it’s been difficult to get your music out there because there [weren't] things like social networking and blogs and all these different types of technologies. 10 years ago, it didn’t exist in the form it is now. A lot of people were hesitant, didn’t travel to Iowa for live music so you had to get somebody on one of the coasts or in Chicago if you were lucky to listen. It’s more difficult obviously to get those people to pay attention without playing live shows. You have to go on tour. London obviously has always been a very well known place. Brooklyn obviously, always been a very well known place. Iowa doesn’t seem to have that same kind of familiarity as the other places do. There have been acts that have broken out of Iowa like Slipknot, just not in the independent level. Chicago, obviously, has a lot of acts that break out of there, and that’s not far from where I’m at. It only a couple hundred miles, but there’s a lot of great musicians in Iowa. Especially in Iowa City and Des Moines, and there’s more and more coming out of this area. Omaha, of course, is in the Midwest, and they got their fair share of independent acts as well.
the WILD honey pie: I’ve never been to Iowa City, what are some must see attractions? Anything a tourist may miss that shouldn’t be overlooked? What’s a great cheap restaurant in town?
Keith Lynch: It’s not a big place. It’s really more of a town than it is a city. It’s got a good artistic community. There’s a good venue called The Mill that a lot of acts go through. You’d be surprised actually. The Mill is probably the most well known venue here in Iowa City. There’s a new place called Blue Moose Tap House which is actually starting to bring in some good acts. So other than that, there’s the University of Iowa here, and there’s nothing really that interesting other than those places in my opinion. [And] McDonalds? I’d say The Mill probably would be the best place for restaurants. I really don’t go out to a lot of restaurants, if I’m gonna be honest with you.
the WILD honey pie: What’s your favorite sandwich? If your music could be epitomized by a type of sandwich, which would it be?
Keith Lynch: That’s a good question. [Pause] It’s hard to relate my music to a sandwich to be honest with you. [Pause] A grilled cheese sandwich with tomato in it and ham, and lettuce, cause my music has a lot of layers. Because it’s very dangerous to make a grilled cheese sandwich sometimes. You can end up with a really good sandwich and enjoy yourself, or you can also end up getting burnt on the stove, you know? So it’s kind of an experience that you have to take into consideration whether or not it’s going to be good or bad for you. It’s more about the experience of making a sandwich than it is about the sandwich but the end result is a grilled cheese sandwich, and if you enjoy [them], then you will enjoy my music!
the WILD honey pie: Is there a constant theme throughout your albums? Are your songs mostly autobiographical?
Keith Lynch: Yeah, there’s probably constant themes. I’ve noticed recently a lot of different themes. I went to school for philosophy, so I’m really interested in questions [about] why things are the way they are. Things we don’t understand. Those are really where a lot of the music comes from. The name Unknown Component kind of has to do with that too. It’s us the idea that we don’t have it all figured out yet. People that think that they do are probably not helping themselves by saying that they do think that they do. That’s probably a constant thing. The idea of humility in the face of the reality.
the WILD honey pie: What article of clothing in your wardrobe do you prize the most? Why?
Keith Lynch: Probably sweatshirts. I like warm clothing cause it’ cold here a lot of the times. Anything that’s warm is nice to have. Especially since I don’t have [a] very warm coat.
the WILD honey pie: I got to see Yeasayer live the other night. They were fucking amazing. Maybe one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. What’s the best band you’ve ever seen live? Have you ever seen a band you expected to be great live, but really fell short?
Keith Lynch: I can’t say the latter, that I experienced that. I never went to see a concert that I was just like, “oh that was awful.” Usually, I don’t go to concerts usually. The only concerts I ever go to are [ones] that I really want to go to. But I did see Radiohead in St. Louis and that was really amazing. Probably one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. I also saw Bright Eyes, saw Kings of Leon at the IMU at the University of Iowa li
ke a couple years ago. Those were good concerts.
the WILD honey pie: This site is named after a song by The Beatles. Who was your favorite Beatles album? What was your favorite album by them? Why?
Keith Lynch: I don’t know. I’d say… I don’t know if I can pick one to be honest with you. They’re all so good. I like the White Album, but that’s just because it’s weird and nobody ever really says that. I like Sgt. Peppers, I like Help!, I like they’re really old stuff. The very very first things they released. I mean the poppiest sounding stuff you could ever possibly hear but to me some of that stuff is just their best. I also like their Rubber Soul album and stuff like that. The very beginning of when they first like early 60s, 1963, that’s good stuff. It’s all pretty good.
the WILD honey pie: What’s your favorite time of day to write music?
Keith Lynch: Definitely at night. Sometimes I write during the day when I actually have to, when I feel like I gotta write this. I feel like writing right now, so I’m going to write. That can happen at any time. Usually it happens after midnight. I think that’s why a lot of musicians end up sleeping until noon or 1 because they’re up until 2 or 3 in the morning writing and recording music.
the WILD honey pie: Thanks again for talking with me dude. One more question. It was just Valentine’s Day, the most romantic day of the year (I guess). What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done? What’s your favorite romantic song?
Keith Lynch: Most romantic thing I’ve ever done? Let me think. What have I ever done that’s romantic? I’m not very romantic. I don’t plan out elaborate things like writing someone’s name in the sky or something like that. I guess a nice dinner would be as far as I go. Favorite romantic song. I like jazz. Miles Davis. Sigur Rós, have you heard of them? It’s definitely calming, and good for romantic endeavors.
