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1.) We’re very happy to have with us today a few members of the acclaimed Boston Indie Rockers extraordinaire, Air Traffic Controller; greetings and salutations, gang! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, could you each say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?
Hello there. I’m Dave Munro – singer, guitar strummer, former air traffic controller, yes.
Adam Salameh – drums
Joe Campbell – bass
Bobby Borenstein – lead guitar
2.) Welcome back to the ever-wonky world of touring! Dave, after an enforced hiatus brought about by the worldwide pandemic, how does it feel to get back into the touring scene?
Dave: We’ve been playing these songs by ourselves for way too long. We’re just happy to finally get out there in front of people. We did play some gigs regionally, but after spending this much time away from touring, we’re sort of reliving the experience of discovering we have fans scattered across the country. Our streaming listeners have grown significantly since we last made a trip like this, so I can’t wait to meet these new faces. And for all the friends we’ve made on past tours, it’s like we just planned a reunion in multiple states. It feels good!
3.) Can you give fans some details on this upcoming tour and perhaps make a hint or three as to what sort of show they can look forward to?
Dave: This tour is mostly headlining small clubs with local openers. So we’ll play a big batch of songs across every album with full band. It’s going to be a rock concert, but somewhat intimate in these venues. We’ll take some requests, hoping for some ATC sing-alongs, so they should come prepared. This is going to be quality time with our audience.
4.) A belated congratulations on the most recent album from Air Traffic Controller, Dash! What was the genesis of this remarkable album?
Dave: After the tour cycle of our previous release, Echo Papa, ATC went through some major band and life changes. I was raising a family, our multi-instrumentalist Steve Scott was also busy raising his own. Our female vocalist/bassist Casey Sullivan moved to California and ultimately left the band. Our lead guitarist Adrian Aiello left Boston for California as well.
ATC could have thrown in the towel at that point, but we still had this music happening in our heads. Loss, motivation, hope, fear, optimism, fate, triumph, all this stuff going on with us was great album material. I did lots of co-writing with drummer Adam Salameh, followed by demos with our friend and previous ATC drummer Seth Kasper, eventually leading to a demo session at an old farmhouse in middle-of-nowhere Maine, which included guitarist Adrian Aiello (flying over from LA) and “new” bassist Joe Campbell. We knew we couldn’t just make a record that sounded like ATC, but minus Casey. We decided to toss the book out the window and make something totally fresh on our own, but we needed a professional onboard. We took our “Great North” (farmhouse) demo to a highly recommended producer/engineer at nearby Dimension Sound Studios in Boston, where we could continue the party of doing whatever we wanted. Enter producer Dan Cardinal.
We all clicked with Dan immediately and everything was going incredibly well. Our team was deep into the record at Dimension, with lots of experimentation, momentum, most of the songs near completion, but then the pandemic hit, shutting down the whole operation. Our guitarist Adrian worked remotely (from LA) on DASH for a while. We even finished and released one of the songs along with a video (“Sometimes”), which kept things moving forward, but he ended up deciding to leave the band (thanks again, California!).
The rest of us eventually got back in studio to finish the job. Adam and Joe invited guitarist friend Bobby Borenstein in and we hit the record button once again, bringing our album, DASH, to its full glory. Some of the final tracks were done live in studio, which I think helped. Not only did it round out the sound of the album, but it captured this new energy we found together, and sealed our bond with Bobby.
The album title came from a sermon I heard at a funeral during the pandemic. There’s a dash on every gravestone between our date of birth and date of death. The priest asked everyone to think of that little dash as a timeline, an entire lifespan. He remarked on what a full life this person had lived, and asked, “What will you do with your dash?” When I got back in studio, I suggested naming the record DASH and everyone loved the idea.
5.) Who was the producer on Dash and what did the collaboration between band and producer look like in the studio?
Dave: Dan Cardinal was like another member of the band in studio. We all had ideas, everyone was sort of like a “producer,” but Dan was the only one who knew how to get it done. He was not our boss, not calling all the shots, just always making sure we were on track and sounding awesome. He is a brilliant producer, a master of his craft and his gear, a tinkerer, a mentor, he never told us what to do, and that’s what we needed for DASH to happen — complete creative freedom.
6.) What differentiates Dash from anything else found on the current-day music scene?
Dave: ATC has always worn its heart on its sleeve, and yes, just about every band could say the same, but I think most artists express themselves in more poetic ways, where ATC just kind of says it. These songs are true stories about relationships, about us and people we know, and somehow, even when we’re very specific, we’re able to connect with listeners of all ages, no less. I’m most proud of that. I’m also psyched that the current-day music scene is holding up “bedroom produced” music, stuff that sounds very DIY because that’s something we’ve always been into. Although we’ve made all of our albums in studio, we love to throw our charming little demos into the mix. Listen closely and you’ll hear them. We are not perfect, we’re not cool (not me anyway), we keep it honest. We’d like you to understand us, but more importantly, we just want you to feel something, anything.
7.) How is Dash similar to past music from Air Traffic Controller? How is it different?
Dave: In a way, DASH brings us full circle. ATC started out with one lead singer, and we have returned to that. I’ll share some history. On our second album, NORDO, I invited Casey Sullivan to sing on a couple songs. Shortly after that, she joined the band and became another lead singer, contributing her own songs and voice for the next album, Black Box, and the EP that followed. When Casey left, I knew it wasn’t the end of ATC. It was simply the end of our Casey years.
There may be no female lead singing on DASH, but we gained a new member this past year, Emi McSwain, who brings so much talent and personality to this new formation of the band. I’m stoked to be able to perform a lot of the duets that ATC fans adore, and thrilled, knowing there will be more in our future. I can’t wait for everyone to hear what we all sound like on the next record.
As lead singer and songwriter, I think I’ve gotten less precious as a collaborator. I’ve learned to let things happen with songs, see where the band takes it, and this has really paid off for ATC. Not only does everyone feel invested in the music, but our sound gets to evolve naturally. On our last two albums, our music had evolved to the point where ATC had two lead singer/songwriters (former female member Casey and me). If anyone thinks I’m kicking myself for over-evolving, they’re dead wrong. I knew the Casey years wouldn’t last forever; in fact, she often said it. I’m glad those songs are out in the world with our name on them. It’s a big part of our story. We put out the best music possible with the people we had, and that’s why ATC can keep going. Your expectation needs to just always be, “This is going to be different.”
What does remain similar is my songwriting style, which I couldn’t change if I wanted to. There’s something about nearly every Air Traffic Controller song that makes it very ATC, and I’m lucky I get to be that common thread. Everyone in studio helped shape this album, but I think we all kept in mind, without forcing it, this is still very ATC.
8.) For a first timer interested in getting into the music of Air Traffic Controller, how would you describe the sound of the band?
Dave: A fan once told me it’s rare to hear music about what it’s like to be an adult in this world, and ATC embodies that. I love this description, but if we’re adult music, then why do little kids like us so damn much? There’s definitely something playful about ATC. We celebrate the smallest victories in life and I think that makes people happy. The spirit of the band naturally makes its way into our “sound” by keeping things melodic, conversational, anthemic at times, because it’s fun, but one thing we adults tend to do is reflect on our youth, so maybe that’s our all-ages formula — we sing about things that literally anyone can get down with.
9.) A question for all of you: Who inspires you musically?
Dave: Petty, McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, REM, Cat Stevens, Flaming Lips, Harry Styles, Counting Crows
Adam: The 1975, Oasis, LCD Soundsystem
Joe: Brian Wilson and Nick Drake
Bobby: Jack White, Pinegrove, John Prine, The 1975
10.) As Dash was mostly written before the pandemic, is it a safe bet that you are currently hard at work on a follow-up?
Dave: Yes, this crew has been demoing and even dropped into the recording studio a few times. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to. It’s different… again!
11.) Final – SILLY! – Question (for all of you): Favorite movie about the music scene – This Is Spinal Tap, Almost Famous, That Thing You Do or The Doors?
Dave: Walk The Line
Adam: The Sound of Noise
Joe: The Commitments
Bobby: Almost Famous
ATC Tour Dates
Thu., July 13: Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
Fri., July 14: Cheyenne, WY – Fridays on the Plaza**
Sat., July 15: Fort Collins, CO – Private House Concert
Sun., July 16: Council Bluffs, IA – Maloney’s
Mon., July 17: Kansas City, MO – minibar
Tue., July 18: St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
Wed., July 19: Madison, WI – The Bur Oak
Thu., July 20: Chicago, IL – Reggie’s Shack Room
Fri. 8/4/23 – Providence, RI – Fete Lounge
Sat. 8/26/23 – Salisbury, MA – WXRV Riverfest
Sat., August 19: Wellfleet, MA – Beachcomber
Fri, September 8: Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair++
