San Diego’s own The Flowerthief are set to release their latest record, Natural Selection with a release show January 18th at Soda Bar. We sat down with frontman Christian Motos to talk all about the record, rock n roll and to learn all about what makes The Flowerthief who they are. Check it out!
The Flowerthief all started when singer songwriter Christian Motos moved to San Diego back in 2001. A recent break from his previous band still fresh in his mind, he decided a solo act was the perfect next step for his musical career. “I decided to start fresh as a solo act and envisioned creating music that gives great emphasis to what the song demands rather than limit it to a particular style or genre. Being a solo act gave me that freedom,” Says Motos.
After releasing his first record, HALF, he came to know the limitations that went along with being a solo act in regards to performing live, and soon enlisted a friend to back him up live on percussion. Motos was encouraged to put together a full band and soon The Flowerthief had grown wings and was ready to take off. The current line up is Christian Motos, Greg Smith on drums and Greg Irwin on guitar.
The Flowerthief decided early on to take a different approach to the typical “full band” set up by enlisting members into an open door policy style membership. Members were asked to join and to play as long as they found themselves happy doing so. If any member came to a crossroads, they could leave at any moment with no hard feelings. After a few line up changes the band recorded and released their second record, Without A Safety Net.
The Flowerthief is back again, with their third full-length record Natural Selection. After a few set backs in the writing and recording process, including an unforeseen trip to New York for Motos and the departure of long time bassist, Carissa Aguayo, the band pushed through with recording and mixing in November of last year. The record was engineered by Robert Garrity of local group A Scribe Amidst The Lions, who is also set to fill in on bass for some live shows.
Natural Selection delivers a collection of songs that span genres from classic rock, to indie blues all the way to campfire sing along and folk rock, while utilizing many instruments to create a very specific and studio produced musical experience. Motos says, “(We) understood that the song always takes precedence over style.” Claiming the bands outlook on their style can be, “at times rough around the edges, multi faceted and catchy.” Motos description hits the nail right on the head. Certain tracks off the new record will find their way into your head and will keep your foot tapping and head bobbing all day long. Catchy tunes? Acquired.
Track “Polaroid Girl” delivers a fun and danceable classic rock n roll style track, with its bouncy bass riffs accompanied by a screaming horn section. “Cowboy Song” gallops along with a softly strummed guitar paired nicely with a beautiful sounding country violin and harmonizing vocals through the chorus, and finds itself flirting the line of both campfire and indie rock.
Natural Selection will be officially released at Soda Bar San Diego January 18th. Show starts at 9PM and they will be joined by Kelsea Little & Knockout Bell who will also perform. The record is also currently available on shelves at M-Theory Records.
Check out our full interview with singer and songwriter Christian Motos from The Flowerthief below.
What was the approach to writing Natural Selection compared to your previous records?
We approached Natural Selection like The Beatles did with Sgt. Pepper. To make an album that is not limited to just a band arrangement, linear production, and live performance constraints. We want to give the song what it needed like the horn section on Polaroid Girl, fiddle on Manhattan Blue and Cowboy Song, we also have Indian instruments like the harmonium on Titanium Love and even incorporated cinematic 007 elements with Skyfall (originally written and pitched for the movie). In spite of that, we were very careful not to overproduce and suck the life off it. We still kept our 1-3 take discipline and not muck about tiny imperfections. I think there’s more of a democracy in how the song was arranged this time, unlike the previous ones where I came in not just with the song but also the arrangement I wanted.
What are some of the bands favorite tracks off of the new record, Natural Selection?
All of them are but we have a few we enjoy playing live like the jazzy keyboard groove plus rousing finale of Dear My Dear, the wave crash heavy chorus of Indefinitely, and the barnyard stomp of Cowboy Song. My personal favorites would be Titanium Love and Manhattan Blue. For me, they are a step up in what I think to be my development as a songwriter. It’s also very personal, AND like most of my favorites, they wrote themselves without effort. It’s like I tuned in to a clear signal from the ether.
Natural Selection is filled with classic sounds and instruments. What are some of the instruments utilized in the recording studio to complete the final sound? Who were some of the extra players involved?
We have incorporated some Violin/Fiddle work on Manhattan Blue and Cowboy Song via Melissa Barrison, a very talented musician who is the go-to violinist in the local scene. We had a horn section on Polaroid Girl. Sax and Trombone courtesy of Blaise Garza who is one of the best brass players in town (He toured with the Violent Femmes during his teens, I heard). We also have trumpeter Chris Block who earned his stripes with a number of Big Bands in and out of town. We also have other guests like Mike Hams who played drums and Kris Towne, lead guitar on the track Skyfall. We also have the harmonium, an Indian instrument primarily used for worship. You can hear it on the first chorus of Titanium Love.
What are some of the feelings you wanted to portray in the writing of Natural Selection? What is a typical writing session like for The Flowerthief?
Originally, I just wanted to capture the band at the time knowing full well that nothing is permanent. I also acknowledge the fact that our sound is constantly changing obviously due to the members, group dynamic, and what we are capable or willing to do to push things forward. That’s why we borrowed the Darwinian concept of evolution by natural selection and named our album after it. In this case our music has evolved and hopefully continues to do so into something else. Hopefully we could pass the good bits to the next one.
A typical writing session would be me coming in with a song, have the band play around it or jam, then organize things amongst ourselves; some songs from this album were re-arranged during the recording.
When did you first start playing music, and what are some of your main musical inspirations?
I picked up the guitar when I was 13 and got into a band 2 years after. I grew up in a very musical household with a huge vinyl collection and was exposed to a lot of 60’s and 70’s stuff. The Beatles were a big influence to me. They’re the reason why I picked up the guitar because I could no longer appreciate just listening to it, I soon wanted to learn how to play it, then I moved on to writing some of my own.
What are the bands favorite venues to play? San Diego and otherwise?
Locally, we enjoyed playing at the Tin Can Ale House, The Soda Bar, and The Casbah. We liked Lestats Coffeeshop too because they’ve got the best sound, (you can literally hear yourself!) and not just a wall of sound, too bad they don’t have alcohol. You can’t have everything.
With the release of Natural Selection January 18th at Soda Bar, what can we expect next from The Flowerthief?
I don’t like getting ahead of myself but ideally I want to get this band tighter, play more and bigger shows, and record some new music. I’ve been nurturing quite a few for a year or two now but I’m more inclined to hear what we can come up with as a band.
Please finish this sentence… Without music…
Personally, without music I’d probably end up in a boring desk job doing something I hate, end up in jail, or go mad and cut my ear off like Van Gogh.
Thanks to Christian Motos and The Flowerthief. Don’t miss their record release show at Soda Bar San Diego January 18th. Check out their Facebook for news and updates.