insta - stratosphere

Stratosphere: Well, I've known you two as Alison's Halo for a while and now you are releasing tunes as Insta - does this mean that Alison's Halo is no longer??

Adam: No, but we are definitely devoting all our time to Insta. Alison's Halo as a "proper" band is pretty dormant, we haven't played a show in a year and a half. Song-wise there is still another 15-20 songs that need to be either recorded or released. At this point I would call the Halo a uhhh "studio band", which is a disgusting term and a complete 180 from years ago where all we did was play show after show. We were really great live, very massive, it was something very special. The members we had at the time of recording the "Eyedazzler" LP on Burnt Hair had a wonderful, turbulent, twisted, chemistry that I doubt we could ever re-create. The only way we could ever even mimic that same vibe is in the studio with only myself and Catherine at the controls.

Stratosphere: The 'Horn-Rim Fury' ep is beautiful pop and to me it seems to be influenced by the band Heavenly. Am I mistaken or is this a good reference point for your tunes? What bands/singers do inspire you?

Adam: I've only heard snippets of Heavenly, I can't say they were an influence at all. I was raised on 1960s pop. I wouldn't consider either of my parents huge music fans but they seemed to always have great poprecords around. I spent a large portion of my childhood with headphones on listening to stuff like The Carpenters, The Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, Burt Bacharach, Simon & Garfunkel, The Byrds, Elvis, The Supremes, The Left Banke, etc. I completely absorbed those sounds and songs. Those groups led me to seek out the British invasion stuff I listen to today like The Beatles, Chad & Jeremy, The Zombies, The Kinks, The Who, and so on.

Catherine: Heavenly has never been an influence but I find that we do get comparisons to them. I am inspired by great melodies and lyrics. I don't care who the artists is...you can never ruin a truly great pop song.

Stratosphere: I'm a bit confused because in the press I've read that you both are either brother and sister or husband and wife. Now I'm pretty sure as to which one is correct, but could you fill us in? :)

Adam: We are husband and wife. I think that was a review from Spain that mention us as brother and sister. We left it in the press kit to bring up our sales in certain "backwood" sections of the country!

Catherine: Yes, my brother!

Stratosphere: Adam, you're running Submersible Records (cool name + tag line!) - what bands are on your label? How is it all going + could you give the address?

Adam: Currently, Insta are the sole band on the roster, although I'd love to release more pop bands (send those demos kids). The label is doing great, I love releasing records... especially ours! We have great distribution here and overseas. We've almost sold out of the first pressing of the "Horn Rim Fury" EP, which I am completely amazed by. I honestly thought we'd have huge stacks of records collecting dust. Now all I have is two tiny boxes on my shelf. For some reason 50% of our records on this pressing ended up in Japan, they are huge pop connoisseurs.

Stratosphere: I'm going to ask about the signifigance of your old band name The Pastry Heros! How did you come up with it 'n' what does it mean?? (when I think pastry, I think sweet, and as for Heros, I think strong 'n' triumphant...but that's my opinion!)

Catherine: We wrote a song called "the pastry hero". Although the lyrics don't point to anything specific we wrote it with a friend/pastry chef in mind who has always been one of our best supporters. We thought that it was the perfect title for our new project.

Stratosphere: Your lyrics are now at the forefront, as opposed to Alison's Halo tunes. Is this important to you? Do you feel that more meaning can be put across in this way?

Adam: We've always spent a great deal of time with the lyrics. Insta lyrics are just as personal as the Halo stuff it's just that now it's in a more classic pop song context and needs to be out front. Not only that but I think the songs and melodies are far catchier and demand much more attention. If we buried the voice in the mix to be another texture ala Alison's Halo it would be a terribly disservice to the song.

Stratosphere: Are you working on any new material as Insta or any other band entity? :)

Adam: Always, I write songs or at least strum around on the guitar every single day. Currently we are finishing up the songs for our debut full-length and demoing more for various singles and compilations. We just finished 3 songs (Surround, Dim, Leave Me Be! a cool Zombies cover) for a 7" single that Sunday Records will be releasing soon.

Stratosphere: What's spinning on the ole record player these days? Have you been to any good gigs? Adam: The House of Love (Babe Rainbow) The Left Banke, The Summer Hits (from California), Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Ivy (Apartment Life), Yo La Tengo (Heart Beating...) Bailter Space (Whammo!) Astrud Gilberto etc.

Catherine: Stereo Lab, St. Etienne, Yo la Tengo, The Wanadies, Ivy.... I really love Astrud Gilberto and I'm really checking out Salsa and Caribbean music.

Stratosphere: Have you ever toured the East Coast of USA? Are you considering touring soon?

Adam: We may head out and play Chicago and New York in the early part of 1999.

Catherine: We would love to tour as much as possible. I think 1999 will be a touring year for us.