We caught up with drummer Justin Frederick and guitarist Mike Novak of Chicago-based Secret Colours during Austin Psych Fest. Check out who they were most psyched (ha!) to see and what the deal is with all this festival hair envy:
Allston Pudding: What were your biggest influences for your latest album [Peach]?
Justin: It’s difficult. I can tell you with the first two [albums] we kind of wore influences on our sleeve. But this one, prescription it was the first time where it felt like truly ourselves. Of course, sales there’s things that are reminiscent of other things, cause that’s just how it works, I guess. But, on a personal level, I was listening to Fleetwood Mac drums. Everyone had their own reference point really.
Mike: I was on a Kinks binge at the time. Buffalo Springfield was a big one, too.
Justin: Buffalo Springfield definitely became a staple while we were recording, every night we’d turn it on and it just became a kind of anthem.
AP: Who are you most excited to see here at Psych Fest?
Justin: I’m stoked for Temples who are playing tonight, we’ve been seeing them walk around with their amazing hair.
AP: Yeah, so much hair envy going on here.
Justin: It’s not the cast of Game of Thrones, it’s just Temples.
Mike: Yeah, that’s probably the band I’m most excited to see too, but the whole lineup is killer.
AP: If you guys could form your own supergroup, who would you put in it?
Justin: I’d say Kevin Parker of Tame Impala would be cool, Jim Eno of Spoon with all his percussion and drums. I’d be off somewhere on the side, just enjoying it. And fronting it?
Mike: Miles Davis.
Justin: Yeah, Miles Davis, in hologram form.
Mike: Psychedelic-era Miles Davis, like late 60s would be really cool.
AP: If you could get in someone’s head a lá John Malkovich, who would it be?
Justin: That’s a good question, I’m kind of stumped. There’s some people I’d like to see for novelty, just see what’s going on in their life. Maybe an old Keith Richards would be pretty interesting.
Mike: It’d actually be interesting to see a young Keith Richards and then an old Keith Richards.
Justin: Spike Jonze, too.
Mike: I’d love to see the day-to-day life of Tom Waits. He seems like a pretty crazy dude.
AP: What’s next for you guys?
Justin: Heading back to Chicago after this. We have a bunch of local stuff in Chicago, but working on setting something up for the summer.
AP: What’s your favorite venue in Chicago?
Justin: Lincoln Hall is so great, it’s nice and they have great sound. Empty Bottle is awesome too, cause they’re just so hospitable and cool.
Mike: Empty Bottle is pretty much our home turf. It’s got the perfect balance of dive-y, yet approachable, I guess.
Justin: They have really great hospitality for the bands, it’s half off drinks so that’s just the greatest.
AP: And last question, since we are in Texas, what is your favorite BBQ food?
Mike: Pulled pork.
Justin: I’d have to go with brisket.
AP: Awesome, classic choices.
