PUBLISHED: 09-08-08

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with Maps & Atlases

In 2004, four Columbia undergraduate students-Dave Davison, Erin Elders, Shiraz Dada and Chris Hainey-got together to collaborate on their own off-campus student activity-their band, Maps & Atlases.

After five years of being a band, these Columbia graduates are finding themselves in new territory with their latest album, You And Me And The Mountain, which was released Sept. 6. The band hosted two CD release shows at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., the same day.

The Chronicle sat down with the band to talk about the interesting sound they create that is all their own, their stage show, the inspiration for their guitar-tapping and their songwriting process.

The Chronicle: How long after the band formed did your musical career start to take off?

Erin Elders: We started playing music together, and it took us a good two years before we really figured out what we were doing and what we really wanted to do. We were writing songs and not really doing anything with them. It wasn’t until two years after we formed that we did that first EP and thought there was an OK representation of what we wanted to do.

What was the inspiration for your new record?

EE: This record, like our last-as far as the lyrics and stuff go-is based on things that happened in our lives, everyday things.
Dave Davison: [When we write,] it’s like a documentation of things that happened in a specific time period, which makes it really interesting to go back and listen to our first EP. It was such a representation of that time, being at Columbia.

What did you do differently on the new record?

DD: We definitely layered it differently. It was a more focused approach in regards to the actual songs, whereas on [our album] Tree, Swallows, Houses, the songs developed out of a lot of time spent playing and stumbling upon things. This new record is more focused and edgy. This record is more concise and has to-the-point songs.
Shiraz Dada: We just wanted to spend less time trying to get an idea across; we are definitely way more focused.

What’s your songwriting technique?

DD: Typically, it’s different for every song. [On] the first EP, [it] was a lot of stumbling upon things in our lives and taking them in that direction. On this [record], our songs started off in a much simpler form, with lyrics and melody-the core. We expanded from there and became more abstract.

How did the tapping style develop into your music?

EE: That came from our interest in the percussive element that it has. When writing songs we think very rhythmically, and that became an easy way to translate a lot of those ideas.
DD: We try to create rhythmic layers over a central idea; the layers have a tonal quality that allows us to play things that are based in chord structures but move in a way that is unique.
SD: I can’t really speak for Dave and Erin, but it allows us to play things that normally wouldn’t be possible to play if you were playing in a more standard style, for me, anyway.

Because Chicago’s music scene is so large, what differentiates you from other local bands?

DD: In most cities, you perceive them to have this really cohesive scene or coherent group of bands, but I don’t think Chicago has that, in a sound sense. There are a ton of great bands here, and there are definitely several different communities of a lot of really good musicians and bands that play together and are supportive of each other. As far as what makes us different, I don’t really know many bands that sound like us. There aren’t really that many bands that sound that much alike, that I know of, but there is a feeling here of everybody can just play with whoever they want, which is a really good thing.
SD: We’re not really locked into a genre, and I feel like a lot of other bands in this town are the same way, lots of freedom.

Maps & Atlases are wrapping up their U.S. tour before heading to the U.K. To hear Maps & Atlases, check out MySpace.com/MapsAndAtlases.

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