Half pictures

A couple of years ago, Joe Davancens and Kris Anaya’s band Doom Bird quietly put out its eponymous record. Perhaps not many people heard the album, but those who did were rapt by its tender, gracious songwriting and memorable, chamber-indie compositions. But then Davancens left town for school, and Anaya, too, hit the books. “The band was no longer.”

Not so fast: The duo has a new batch of songs—14 of ’em, enough for a full album, to be dropped this summer, Anaya assures—and a gig this Thursday, January 12, at the Crocker Art Museum.

Anaya, who spoke with SN&R last week, says the songs are mostly in the minor key and are influenced by disparate styles of music, such as Flying Lotus, Tune-Yards and composers Giovanni Scelsi, Morton Feldman, and Iannis Xenaxis. Here’s a status update from Anaya.

You’re playing inside the Crocker. Do you have a favorite piece of art at the museum?

I have never been to the Crocker.

C’mon.

I know, it is awful. I used to walk by the Crocker every day when I worked downtown, too.

So, what gets you stoked about this new record that you’re working on?

I have always wanted to have sequences in a song I wrote, however, I have never been influenced to do songs in that style until Joe once again pushed me. Joe presented a new idea to create melodies, primarily in minor keys, and attach them to sequences. This is going to create another path for our music listeners to enjoy—or not enjoy.

By “sequences,” do you mean electronic beats?

I believe a series of samples could be beats, could be loops or harmonies. It really depends on the frame Joe wants to put over the picture. Usually, what I have heard from Joe is he often likes to take abstract sounds and make them the main contour of the song.

Joe lives in Santa Cruz and you live here, right?

I write a song on GarageBand and send it to him via email. Joe then writes sequences and scores and sends the song back where I then record vocals. Standard 21st century.

Do you prefer being in a face to face band or an email band?

I believe that I sometimes miss being in a face to face band, however, I find it much easier to work with someone over the Internet. Joe and I seem to work really well together by just leaving our own art to ourselves, then—after he has created half of the picture and I have created half of the picture—we put it together. I miss rocking out in a room, I do. I just do not think for this project it is really necessary. We still do have practice sessions though. Sometimes.

You’ve been part of the Sacto music scene for a good while.

I feel like I am out of the loop. Most of my friends have moved away and tried to create music elsewhere. Some of my friends have become more and more successful in their songwriting, which I am so happy for. I rarely go and attend shows. When I do, it is usually to catch up with old friends and listen to their band.

What do you do in your free time when you’re not making music?

I attend school. I read a lot about politics, mostly Paul Krugman. I attend The Hideaway [Editor’s note: This is a bar in Curtis Park], sometimes too often, and read books about the financial crisis, mainly Jeffery Madrick.

Your thoughts on President Barack Obama?

I believe our president had some real progressive ideas when he was running for office, however, saying one thing and then making it happen is always a tricky thing. Especially with a Congress controlled by a Republican majority.

Maybe people on Capital Hill have lost the reason why they ran for public service: not for their donors but for the American people. When you go to Yellowstone National Park, there is a quote from [President] Teddy Roosevelt that reads, “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” I think maybe politicians should remember those words.

If someone sees you at The Hideaway and wants to buy you a drink, what do they buy you?

Jameson. And maybe a beer.

Wednesday the fourth was your birthday. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

Once got a huge pint of Jameson for free. That was pretty sweet.