Artist Spotlight-Woody Whatever
By James Duran

http://radio.dominican.edu is proud to debut the new Artist Spotlight column. Our first spotlight is Erik Schmall, the mastermind behind Woody Whatever. Out of Ohio, Woody Whatever has been a mainstay here on http://radio.dominican.edu. We recently caught up with Erik as Woody Whatever prepares to tour in support of their new album Smiles & Knives..

R.D.E – What influenced you into becoming a musician and what made you decide
to start recording and putting out music?

Erik Schmall – I guess when my older brother Jeremy started learning guitar I wanted in
on the action too. He was 13 and I was 11. It wasn’t long before we were
writing our own songs, mostly Beatles and Weird Al rip offs. I remember
we figured out some cool overdubbing techniques with the boom box but
sadly, those tapes are long gone. The first song I ever wrote was
actually on a snare.

R.D.E – According to the official site, the album that is in recording stage at this
moment for Ionik Records, is the first album done with a full band-why
was that decision made for this record and not for earlier albums?

ES – I’m pretty much a loner, especially when it comes to music. I’m not a
great communicator either so for me it’s just easier to record all of
the parts myself since I hear in my head how it should sound anyways.
There have been some albums that have other people playing with me, mostly
on drums, but for the most part, it’s just me overdubbing by myself. I
really like the Woody Whatever line-up now though. I have tried to play
the role of songwriter and let them create their own instrumentation.
We all brought our influences to this new record and the
result is the most diverse a Woody album has been. Very guitar heavy.

R.D.E – Recording fifteen albums in a five year span is impressive…has the
process ever seem tedious over the course of recording that many
albums?

ES – Oddly enough no. I wouldn’t say that I am slaving away in front of a
recorder anyways. My friends always wonder how I get so much done since
they see me do so little. When inspiration strikes, I ride it out. On a
good day I can write and fully record about six songs. The latest Woody
EP (which is free online) was recorded in two sessions, separated by at
least a month of lying around watching PBS.

R.D.E – What is the name of the upcoming record for Ionik. If that has, been decided?

ES – Smiles & Knives. It should be wrapped up by next week and available
sometime in late April. This stuff has been in the works since over the
summer, the longest ever for me, so I am looking forward to writing some
new songs this spring.

R.D.E – Does any one show stick out in your mind, good or bad and why?

ES – The last show on our mini Midwest tour last December in Toledo sticks
out for me. The bands we played with were all great and for some reason
we were just on. Pretty much only the other bands plus some guy who
thought it was movie night were watching us. I was not expecting much
from Toledo but the vibe at that bar that night was great. Plus we were
drunk.

R.D.E – What feelings, if any, are there about performing?

ES – I love performing for people who want to see Woody Whatever or at least
are enjoying the music. It’s a great feeling. I hate performing for
people who stand there with this look as if I am force-feeding my music
down their throat. I mostly try to shut my eyes and imagine everyone’s
really into it.

R.D.E – Is there any one song that is a favorite and why?

ES – I have a soft spot for all of the songs on Roar, my first EP. I really
wasn’t sure how people would take it. The songs were very unpolished
and mostly just had me and an acoustic guitar overdubbed on a few
tracks but there is something fresh about it. Every night I sat
in front of my 4-track and forced myself to write at least five songs
before going to bed. I filled up about 10 tapes, and then cut it down to
9 songs. Some of the remaining songs ended up on “I Can’t Aim When You
Keep Moving” and “Rock Monsters”. The rest of it is unlistenable. In
my opinion, you have to write many terrible songs before you start
writing
songs you like and Roar kind of shows that process.

R.D.E – Any thoughts for the future of Woody Whatever?

ES – There is going to be a shake up in the line up this summer. It looks as
though we are all moving from Athens, Ohio to different places around the
country. So I will be looking for a band again. I would also like to get
on one of the big indie labels, of course. That’s always a goal. Mostly
I am just going to keep doing what I have been doing, releasing albums.