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1) We’re super-excited to have some time today with acclaimed indie rock band Pale Rider; greetings and salutations gang and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, could you all say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive reading audience?
Howdy! Jon Santana. I play bass.
Hey Hey – Rus here… vox, synth, experimental noise
Hello, Vents Magazine readers! I’m Thomas and I play guitar.
Hey! I’m Jon Paz Gale (JPG for short). I mixed and added a few production touches to the record, such as some guitar parts on Your Faces, a vocoder on Into Light, and other little things that are more felt than heard.
Hey! Joe Ramos-drums/percussion
Major kudos and accolades on your newly minted album, 1to0, which will light up record charts around the globe when it premieres this February 28th! Joe, can you talk about what inspired this beautiful sophomore album from the band?
Thank you so much! I’m really excited about 1to0. This is the first project I got to work on in my home studio, which I’ve slowly been building out for some time. I think Rus was actually living with me when I was just working out how I wanted to set up my space. When Rus asked me if I would record some drums for this project, initially it was just replacing some programmed parts he had for a few tunes. I definitely feel my challenge for this one was making the programmed parts come to life without straying too far from the vibe that was already present in the demos. It all slowly started coming together so well that we went ahead and did the whole record.
3.) Thomas, 1to0 was a true labor of love for Pale Rider from start to finish and, as if to prove this very point, the entire group collaborated on the producing–end of putting the new LP together; congrats! Can you talk about the pros to serving as your own producer, versus outsourcing the gig to someone outside the group?
Thanks for the congrats! I think the advantage of self-producing is that you can bring your vision to life in its purest form. The moment you create something exciting — whether it’s a lyric, a chord progression, or a melody — you’re capturing that idea in its rawest, most inspired state. Having full control over where, when, and how that idea is presented is a powerful artistic tool. That said, as creators, we’re not always the best self-editors. Outside producers can offer objective advice on how to refine and present your ideas in a more efficient way, helping your songs connect with others more effectively.
4.) Rus, speaking of collaborations, Pale Rider collaborated with respected industry veterans Jon Paz Gale and Nick Bassett in putting 1to0 so successfully together. What was it like working with these two Euripides of the music industry?
Hey! JPG here – I’ll take this one. Frankly, I was in love with the sound of this record right off the bat when Rus first got in touch. I remember pulling up the first song and just feeling a surge of adrenaline through my veins. And working with the Pale Rider guys truly feels like an honor – they’re the real deal. The spirit of collaboration through the process felt so natural, even down to the most hyper-specific details. Between the collective effort, our shared references, and sources of inspiration, every song felt like a new chapter in a book I couldn’t put down.
5.) Jon, we’re big admirers of the tune No Divider which stands front-and-center on the new 1to0 LP; congratulations again! What’s the scoop on how this gem of a ditty came into being?
Given the nature of our geographical dispersion, we have to write songs and parts in a less common way than most. Rus is our cup that runneth over with skeletons of songs which he sends to the rest of us to contribute to. This was not the first song we recorded, but I’m glad it opens the record. It really sets up the sequence that follows.
6.) Joe, in the wake of the February 28th release of the new Pale Rider LP 1to0, can fans look forward to catching the group on the touring/performing circuit in the coming weeks and months?
We’re really working the kinks out for this as we’re a little displaced over SoCal and with Thomas in Philly… but it’s not totally off our list. I’m sure every one of us would love to make it happen. We just need to work and pull things together a little more than a band with all of its members in one area.
7.) Thomas, how is 1to0 similar tonally to the band’s first album 2is1? How is it different?
At the heart of both albums is Rus’s songwriting sensibility. While 2is1 was entirely self-recorded by Rus, the key difference with 1to0 is that it’s a much more collaborative effort. The dreamy soundscapes of the first album are still present, but with all four of us contributing, the new album naturally sounds bigger and more layered, incorporating a wider range of sounds and influences.
8.) A question for all of you: Who are some of your key musical influences?
RUS: ELO, Collapsing Scenery, Brian Eno
Jon S: I listen to Cocteau Twins and a lot of the early 4AD stuff on a daily basis. I’m a fan of Hardcore, with Ceremony being in heavy rotation. Dub Reggae and George Michael are always playing too.
JOE: I’m a bit all over with this one. My musical A.D.H.D. is real. QOTSA, The Mars Volta, Mastodon, Zeppelin, D’Angelo, Earth Wind and Fire, Tower of Power, The Meters, Herbie Hancock… etc. I could go on forever listing artists and specific drummers that inspire my approach to the instrument and music in general.
9.) Rus, Pale Rider hails from Southern California. How do those particular stomping grounds inform the sound and flavor of the band?
SoCal is SO SO broad when it comes to music genres/styles…it’s all over the place. We’re all very inclined to try and do something different and interesting …it could end up sounding like anything from shoegaze or noise to post-punk or ambient at any given point in a song…there’s really nothing we try to keep borders on when we’re working with sound and flavor. If it sounds right and keeps the narrative flowing, we’re usually fine with just letting it be what it is without too much scrutiny. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t connect…but that’s the beauty of experimenting with all kinds of sounds, taking those risks, and seeing if you can pave some new roads with it.
10.) Jon, any final thoughts you might like to share with fans about the new Pale Rider LP 1to0?
This record happened at a strange time in my life. A time of massive change; of finding love, of saying goodbye, of learning a lot about myself. Music has always been a saving grace for me. A spiritual experience that has saved my life a million times over. Making this record was both fun and paradoxically painful on a personal level. I think the emotions we all felt individually—where we were in our lives—come through in a beautiful way on this album. Thank you for listening and letting us be the soundtrack to part of your life.
