04.29.07
Interview with: ERIC WOODRUFF of PROSSER
By Stacy Sardelli
Editor in Chief

Indie / Down-tempo / Folk Rock

Prosser are: Eric Woodruff, Brian Woodruff, Peter David, and Eric Peters.

Partial official description: "Prosser is the new project of Eric Woodruff, formerly of Bellingham, WA. spacerock band Delay. His debut CD 'Prosser' is a unique melding of indie rock and alt country, with hints of psychedelic and folk influence. Vocals, cello and a few keyboards are sprinkled on top layers and layers of the jangly guitars that form the basis of the sound. It is a modern take on a classic sound that many will fall in love with."

Interview

Babble & Beat - There's a town in Washington by the name of "Prosser." Did this town inspire you to name your band after it?

Eric W. - I didn't know that Prosser was a town in Washington until after naming my project... I found that out off the back of a wine bottle, of all places!

Babble & Beat - As you know, we adore your self-titled debut! You've received lots of other fantastic feedback about it. How happy are YOU with the final product?

Eric W. - I'm quite pleased with it, actually. The record is the culmination of several years worth of work, and it's easy to lose sight of reality when you're so invested in a project for that long. But now that it's done and I've had a break from those songs, I can fully appreciate how cool it was to work with Clickpop on it. I really didn't want to lose the lo-fi feel the original tracks had, and Paul did a great job of producing and mixing without making it too slick.

Babble & Beat - Your songs really move us. They seem so personal and sincere. Are you a great storyteller or are these songs your life?

Eric W. - I'm the worst storyteller I know! I'm incapable of writing from any other perspective than my own. I'm in awe of some of my peers that can come up with these epic, meaningful stories written through someone else's eyes - I guess I'm too narcissistic for that. The whole reason I started writing was to make songs that I wanted to hear, and so I guess by default they end up being autobiographical.

Babble & Beat - What else do you hope the listener takes with them from this album?

Eric W. - I don't know, they're just simple pop songs, and I'm mainly just trying to convey a feeling or mood. I think the record's strongest quality is its texture - listen to it late at night, on headphones...

Babble & Beat - We know you sing (and very well!) but how many instruments did you also play on your debut?

Eric W. - Thanks, this was my first go at singing. I ended up doing everything on the record - drums, bass, guitars, singing - because it was convenient, I guess. I really enjoy playing the drums and bass, but I'm not good enough to be an actual drummer or bassist in someone else's band, so I have to settle for being my own rhythm section. A few of my friends make appearances on the record - Dylan Rieck played the cello, Josh Haupt played some guitar on 'Summer Song 1', and Paul Turpin played organ on a few songs.

Babble & Beat - How did you signing on with the Clickpop label come about?

Eric W. - I had at least an album's worth of songs, and wanted to find a cheap way to mix and master them so I could give them out to my friends. I knew Paul and Dave from Bellingham, and sent them the CD to see if they could do anything to make it sound better. I guess they liked it, and asked if I wanted to be on their new label. Good timing, I suppose...

Babble & Beat - Before Prosser there was your band Delay. Delay was a "spacerock" band. Was the music style transition easy for you?

Eric W. - Delay was actually a bit of a departure for me. I've always been really into bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain or Velvet Underground, but before Delay I had never attempted to play anything like that. So the styles that come across on the Prosser record are definitely where I'm most comfortable.

Babble & Beat - Name 5 things, events, or people that helped make you the musician you are today.

Eric W. - Hmmm...

1) My Dad's old 1960's Harmony Stella guitar - it's kinda crappy but I love
    it. Used it a lot on the record.

2) Built to Spill's 'There's Nothing Wrong with Love' - my first introduction
    to "indie" rock, I was probably 16 or so and it completely blew my
    mind. Sloppy perfection.

3) Neil Young. I think 'After the Gold Rush' was the soundtrack to the first
    10 years of my life.

4) Every girl that's ever broken up with me.

5) Not wanting a day job.

Babble & Beat - I feel you on #5, buddy!

What were some of the highlights for you at SXSW this year (your first visit to Austin)?

Eric W. - Stubbs BBQ. I saw Architecture in Helsinki - that was pretty cool. And the band that played before our showcase - Relay - I think they're from Philly. They had a cool My Bloody Valentine thing going on. But Stubbs BBQ would have to be the main highlight.

Babble & Beat - What's in the works for the rest of the year?

Eric W. - I just started recording again, but this time I'm getting the whole band in on it. I think it'll be nice to have input from other musicians, it can become a bit insular when you're playing all the instruments yourself. We're also gonna do a short tour this summer, and I'd like to get down to Portland and San Francisco more for shows. If it ever warms up I'll go swimming. And barbeques - lot's of barbeques.

Babble & Beat - Glad to hear you're recording! We love barbeques so much here in Wisconsin that we do them year round, a foot of snow doesn't even get in our way!

Juicy Tidbits Section

This is where we ask personal questions for the fans. Yeah, they're often stupid questions. We like reading the answers though!

Babble & Beat - In a past life you were the musician known as _____________.

Eric W. - No one anybody's ever heard of.

Babble & Beat - What would we find on the floor of your car right now?

Eric W. - I recently sold my '67 Volvo 122s. That may have been a mistake.

Babble & Beat - What kinds of jobs did you have before you were in Prosser and Delay?

Eric W. - Still got the day job! I work at a cancer research center, but I've put in my time in coffee shops and restaurants.

Babble & Beat - The last nice thing someone did for you was _____________.

Eric W. - Put out my record. Thanks Paul and Dave and Jeff!

In Closing

Thank you so much, Eric! We're all very excited here about your debut and wish you all the best.

Links:
You can purchase 'Prosser' by Prosser at Clickpop Records, Amazon.com and iTunes.

Official Prosser website
Prosser MySpace - music clips!