Photos by Richard Schmid
Dazzletine is the braichild of guitarist Dan Koshute. His voice is a cross between Robert Plant and Billy Corgan while his style is like David Bowie. The glam band also consists of Nick Fleury on guitar and synth, Darren Diederich on bass and Nick Charters on drums. The bands first full length album, “Orgonomy” is expected to be released before the end of the year and we promise you will not be disappointed. We caught up with Koshute to chat about the new album and the Pittsburgh music scene. You can catch Dazzletine Saturday, October 29 for Spirit’s Psychedelic Creep Show Vault & 3D Lazer Lodge Shindig.
Sound Scene Express: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music
together?
Dan Kohute: We formed in early 2011. I hand-picked everyone in the band to make a kind of dream team from friends/musicians I knew. Because I got to put together what is my mind the ideal band, we’re naturally inspired to make music together just by our innate chemistry and relationship between the four of us.
SSE: How was Dazzletine chosen as your band name?
DK: The name Dazzletine just came to me while I was working through drastically new songs I had written in late 2009 that ended up being the songs “Skin Period” and “Plumage.” With that the entire concept of the band came to me in that instant too, and I saw into the future almost.
SSE: Who writes your music? What is your/their inspiration?
DK: I write the songs, and I don’t get inspiration for songs so much as I get inspiration to be a creative force and this comes from literally everywhere: not only all kinds of music, but all art, poetry, relationships, feelings, etc. Anything. I have a gift that songs and words just flow out of me fully formed. When I was younger I thought this was a curse until I found out my musical heroes–Billy Corgan, Marc Bolan, Prince–all have this gift, an endless well spring of material. I fall in that category of artist. I could make 10 records a year easily, and I’m working on organizing my life to take away the unnecessary stuff that stands in the way of that.
SSE: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
DK: We rehearse at least twice a week, but when we are working on a show, tour, or I’m teaching new material it could be 4 or more. I found out early on, I’m talking like 12/13 years old, that the more you love to practice the greater you will be, and the band who loves to practice the most will be the greater one. We subscribe to that all the way. I don’t mean perfecting things as much as fine tuning the relationship between everyone through playing together constantly.
SSE: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
DK: Our course is set to play all over the world, in every city, and to everyone.
SSE: You are about to release your first full length “Organomy,” what was the process like?
DK: The process of making Organomy took everything I had, and I put it all into this record, without a doubt. I finally feel a sense of satisfaction that I always wanted to feel, partially because I made an album I always wanted to make. 4 years, multiple cities: Chicago, Princeton, New York, Pittsburgh, 2 studios: our hometown studio in Pittsburgh in Sharpsburg on the banks of the Allegheny river and Speakersonic Studios in Brooklyn. But it came together very organically and easily as far as the actual recording sessions. As a producer, I got to fulfill every fantasy.
SSE: The first single “Culled to Bells” is real fast, will the entire album be like this?
DK: The rest of the album features a range of looks. We picked “Culled to Bells” to be the lead off single because we wanted to grab everyone’s attention.
SSE: For those who haven’t seen Dazzletine live, what can we expect?
DK: Our live shows are the most important aspect of Dazzletine. We want them to be transcendental experiences that you come away from changed. Expect a completely immersive experience. See us live and you’ll know what I mean. Everything we’ve earned we’ve earned on the stage. Everything. And we leave it all out there.
SSE: What is your favorite Dazzletine song and why?
DK: My favorite song is probably “Unitas” because it’s the first Dazzletine song I wrote and it’s dear to me. Written right on the cusp of tomorrow and today.
SSE: What do you think of the Pittsburgh Music Scene?
DK: The Pittsburgh musical landscape/community is amorphous and diverse. It’s almost impossible to speak generally about because there’s so much going on that people will never be made aware of, stuff that’s only made for a handful of people in one-off situations. Which is really as far as I’m concerned the strength of making music in Pittsburgh: things can happen independently of market forces. I grew up idolizing the Pittsburgh artists that reflect to me what the city is uniquely capable of producing and nurturing, artists like Girl Talk, Grand Buffet, Weird Paul, Modey Lemon, Great Ants, Mary Celeste, Tommy Amoeba, Phat Man Dee, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Gil Mantera’s Party Dream. Those are who I always wanted to be like.
SSE: Who is your favorite Pittsburgh band/musician?
DK: Pet Clinic is not only my favorite Pittsburgh band, they’re also one of my favorite bands of all time. I’m a super fan which is kind of embarrassing because I’m close friends with all of them. I also love Ghost Guts who I would see live every single day for the rest of my life if I could. And Slugss are brilliant and are up to something really special.
SSE: What’s next for Dazzletine (big tour, long break, etc.)?
DK: Next we’ll be releasing some new videos, got our record release show soon, and then we’re touring the US and Europe in the spring of next year. Probably another US tour in the fall too. We’re going to start work this fall on a companion EP to Organomy called The Flamelet Mass featuring 8 tracks that weren’t on the LP.
