2016 has already been a busy year for Eliot Sumner, with the release of Information, her debut full-length album under her own name back in January, and this summer only promises to be even bigger. Just last week, Eliot kicked off her U.S. tour which takes her from New York all the way to California, with two stops in Colorado the 16th and 17th of June.
We talked with Eliot just before she embarked on her summer tour dates, and although she joked that she isn’t good at answering questions, she was excited to talk about Information and the upcoming shows. Read the interview below, and catch Eliot Sumner at Lost Lake Lounge in Denver on June 16th The Black Sheep in Colorado Springs on the 17th.
Interview by Shannon Shumaker
You’re kicking off summer dates headlining the US in June – what are you most excited about on these shows?
I always get excited before going on tour. I’m really looking forward to going to Denver because we had a really great time there and it was our first time, so hopefully when we come back, the people who came before will bring their friends and we’ll eat really well and have a great time!
What would you like fans to take away from your upcoming shows?
We always try to make the live show ten times better than the album because it’s a different kind of experience. I’m not too sure what in particular I’d want them to take home… It’s a very high energy, high octane show, so for them to have the best time ever. I’m setting some pretty high expectations [laughs].
You celebrated the release of Information earlier this year, which also served as your debut release under your own name, so how does it feel to finally have it out there for people to hear?
We were kind of sitting on it for quite a while, just kind of getting everything right and preparing it, so it feels great that it’s finally out. The response so far has been great, which is good news.
Being involved in projects in the past, was the writing process for Information different than previous albums that you have worked on?
The first record I put out, I was very young – I was about eighteen years old. So there was a huge difference, but I’ve been there before, so it felt a little bit easier. I really enjoyed making this album compared to the first time though, because I felt like I knew more what I was doing.
When you were beginning to work on the album, did you have any major goals for it?
Well, Duncan [Mills] who produced the album, his enthusiasm and encouragement really helped, because before, I didn’t really have a vision of where I wanted it to go. Duncan is really good at bringing out the best in people, so I think without him, there would be no structure to the album at all.
How do you feel he effected the way it turned out?
We both like the same kind of music, we both listen to a lot of crowd rock and psychedelic stuff, so we spent most of the time just sharing music with one another and trying out different styles over the songs. Very quickly, we forged a sound together that worked over everything.
Are there any songs lyrically that mean a lot to you or that you were excited to share?
Yeah, a song called “Dead Arms & Dead Legs,” the first song on the album. That song lyrically is my favorite I think. I love all of them, really, but that one means the most to me.
And any tracks that you’re excited to perform live?
Yeah, “Let My Love Lie On Your Life,” “Come Friday” and “Information” are my favorite songs to play live. And also “Species” is one of my favorites, because it’s one of the only ones that I can play and I feel like I’m in Slipknot. It’s fun.
After tour finishes up in June, do you have any other big plans for the rest of the year?
We just got confirmed to play Austin City Limits in October, so we’re going to book another tour around that, which is kind of exciting that we’re booking another tour before even starting this one.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Do you have any restaurant recommendations in Denver?
Oh, my favorite place is this diner called Steubens. They have an amazing breakfast!
Great! We’ll see you in Denver!
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UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
6/9 Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop
6/10 Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
6/12 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
6/13 St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird
6/14 Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
6/16 Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
6/17 Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
6/19 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
6/21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
6/22 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s