Interview with The Upsidedown

We got the privilage of asking Sarah Jane from The Upsidedown a few questions. The Upsidedown is a band from Portland, Oregon on Beat The World Records - the label that The Dandy Warhols started. Check out the band’s take on working with The Dandy Warhols, their favorite things about touring through Chicago, and why the grape is the most important fruit in the fruit cup. The song is Silver Wind from the band’s new album - Human Destination.


Tell people who don’t know The Upsidedown about your music and your top influence.

The Upsidedown sound is a celebration and statement of the human condition. We use our voices and our bodies to make decadent, layered walls of sound and waves heart. Our top influence is the spirit’s desire to be heard and also to relate to the souls around it. We have a little something for everyone interested in the human heart and space/time travel.

Congratulations on releasing “Human Destination” last month. What was the writing and recording process like for the album?

We spent years on this record. Which was a complete blessing. The songs grew as the musicians did in that time. We had a little help from our friends. It was a very communal sort of recording process. It happened in several studios, including The Dandy Warhols’ Odditorium. That was so fun. Our friends stopped by and we recorded a rag-tag choir part and get a guest guitar spot in the same day.

Being on Beat The World Records – The Dandy Warhols’ label – must be super cool. What’s the biggest thing that being around the band has done for your music?

We are constantly learning from them. We’re good listeners and we ask questions. And they’re so supportive of us getting to the next highest status so that we can afford to record and travel, like they do. They keep us aiming high.

You’re currently touring around the country. What are your live shows like?

The live shows have been really good. It’s a shorter set so we really give it our all and make the biggest impact we can. The Canadian crowds are always really supportive. I think they appreciate the effort and the excitement of our live show. There’s lots of movement and dancing on stage that instigates a similar movement in our audience.

On this tour, you played the Vic Theatre in our neck of the woods. What was your favorite part about Chicago?

The deep-dish at Bochino’s, the bloody marys at Sterch’s and Oz Park at nighttime.

What about your hometown? What’s the music scene like in Portland?

There’s lots of music in Portland. With the huge migration that’s going on we have lots of big names there now, but there’s a small hometown feel still. A real large overall sense of community but with plenty of niches and small genres to keep things interesting.

What’s the best tip you would give an unsigned band to get their music heard?

Don’t stop talking, living, breathing your music. Do what you can to get your name out there and put yourself out there. People like a good human association as well as great music.

How did you come up with the name The Upsidedown?

Standing on our heads.

Where can people find your music, your show schedule, and more info on The Upsidedown?

Check out our blog at theupsidedown.com and our myspace.com/theupsidedown. We’ve recently inducted ourselves to the facebook community. We check all of those and we really love feedback. We even comment back when we can! Our new record is available on tour at the shows and we’ll have a larger pressing and distribution this fall. Until then it can be downloaded at emusic.com and itunes.

Random question to close out… What’s the most important fruit in a fruit cup?

The grape. It comes comfortable in it’s own skin.