sandiegopunk.com

An interview with...
Dan Maier

Dan Maier isn't a native to San Diego, but over the past few years he's played an integral role in our music community. Dan's played in bands like The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, Gasoline Please, and (his current project) Last Priest, he's a well respected studio engineer, and can frequently be found mixing live sound as well. Dan and Spencer Gooch (also of Last Priest, ex-Find Him and Kill Him), recently took over and re-designed the local hardcore website, sandiegocore.com, which focuses on exposing San Diego punk and hardcore bands. We spoke with Dan (via e-mail) to find out a bit about his history, the recording business, and his thoughts on the scene in general.

How'd you get involved in the recording business? When I was about to finish college, I started searching out studios I could intern at. I was working at a radio station at the time and the program director was friends with this guy named Rafter in San Diego. He was building a studio and starting a commercial

music/composing company. I took a trip down to San Diego to meet Rafter and he offered me an internship. From there, I started recording my own clients. Then about 3 years I ago I went free-lance and started working at a few different studios, but mostly at a place called Audio Design Recording.

Has your college training helped you out? For engineers in training, do you recommend getting a degree (is it possible to become an engineer without one)?

It's definitely possible to become an engineer without schooling but I wouldn't recommend trying. It's kinda like trying to become an actor with no training. A few people are naturally talented at it but most of us need some sort of training. In my opinion, I think it's best to stay away from vocational schools such as Full Sail or The Conservatory. If you're gonna pay 30-50K for school you might as well get a BA or BS rather than some certificate. There are a bunch of good colleges with recording programs, such as my old college, The Evergreen State College. I really have a love/hate relationship with recording right now, especially now that I'm nearing 30. Financially, it's feast or famine. I think I'm really lucky that I can somehow pull it off and pay my bills. Now if I could only afford health insurance...

From an outside perspective, it seems as if you're recording has really taken off (working with bands like the Locust, getting a "best local recording" nomination from the SD Music Award, etc). What do you think you've done to become successful?

I'm not sure... I guess just trying to be down to earth, and sincere with my clients. Plus, I think a lot of bands like to record with someone that actually listens to the same music as them, rather than some random old person. Plus, I've heard some horror stories of bands recording with other people in San Diego. Supposedly I'm real easy to work with if can you get passed the red hair and bad jokes.

What are the keys to making a good record?

This is a really subjective question. It can really depend on the band. Each band likes to work a certain way. I guess finding a common ground where the engineer/producer and the band are on the same page is really important. Having time and money always helps. I think a lot of bands don't realize that the popular bands they listen to spend thousands of dollars and weeks in the recording studio making records. I get bands calling me all the time that want to record their entire record for $400. Unfortunately, that won't cover enough studio time to make something I'd be happy with. The studio I mainly work at, Audio Design, is actually pretty cheap considering how nice the equipment is.

You do live sound too. Do you prefer one over the other?

I think at heart I'll always be a studio person, but I enjoy mixing live as well. I would never completely quit doing live sound, but sometimes I wish I was in the studio more, rather than the back of a venue. I recently did my first tour as a live engineer for a band and had a total blast. It's fun mixing at a different club every night.

Where'd you grow up? How did you get involved in the music/punk scene out there and how did you wind up here in San Diego?

I grew all over, but mostly in Colorado. The story of I how got into punk is pretty typical. I didn't really fit in with the "normal" kids and I wasn't very athletic . This older kid gave me a tape with Minor Threat on it and from there I was hooked. I played in a few shitty punk and hardcore bands during and right after high school, then I moved to Olympia, WA to go to Evergreen. I didn't really play in any bands while in college cause I was so busy with school. After I graduated, I moved to San Diego for that internship and to start playing music again.

Comparing the scene you had growing up in Colorado to San Diego's scene today, do you see any major differences? Are there things we can do to make the scene better? I think the major difference is the amount of bands, and more so, the amount of bands touring, Before the internet, it was a lot harder to tour and find out about new bands. Now every band, no matter how big or little can have a website, myspace, and purevolume account. There is nothing wrong with more kids playing music, but it seems since all these bands are so accessible on the internet, show attendance has dramatically declined. I also think this rush of band exposure, plus the mainstream co-opting the punk sound and image harder than ever, has homogenized the genre on a grand scale. There are more clone bands than ever, and it seems that cities aren't developing their own sound anymore

What can we do to make the scene better?

To be honest, I really don't know. I guess get involved beyond posting comments on message boards. I'd also like to see more people attending shows. Especially for bands that aren't on MTV2.

What's your overall impression of the San Diego music community?

San Diego has a strong music scene but I think the lack of all-ages venues is really detrimental. There are really no all-ages venues in central San Diego, besides Soma, which is too big for most smaller bands.

You and Spencer just took over sandiegocore.com. What are your plans with it?
For it to be functioning website that will focus on DIY hardcore and punk. For the most part it will be similar to sdpunk.com but more focused on smaller hardcore and punk bands. We really want the website to be another great resource like sdpunk.

How do you balance playing in a band, professionally recording, and running a website? Do you find them conflicting in any way?

Not really, It can be hard if I get busy recording or go on tour, but for the most part it always gives me something to do. The website is my new baby. I've been learning a ton.

Between doing live sound and recording, have you come across any local bands that really stand out amongst the rest?

Ummmm. The Locust of course. I think the Kill Me Tomorrow record that came out last year was absolutely amazing. Sleeping People, Crime Desire, Some Girls. I recently saw Spacehorse and thought they were great. Business Lady is strange and wonderful.

Any advice for people interested in getting involved in the scene (from how to start producing to playing in a band to making a website and anything in between)?

As far as recording goes, buy one of those cheap little 4-tracks and a few mics and go crazy. I've heard some amazing things come from little 4-tracks.

Dan Maier interview conducted via e-mail, August 2005 by Joel Scheingross.
http://www.lastpriest.com
http://www.sandiegocore.com