CheekyChicago

Hooray for modern hippies! Most musicians are typically full of tenacity, but it appears that there is a new elastic act on the horizon. While interviewing guitarist Christian Letts, I asked a question about the band being in a cult similar to Charles Manson. I loosely suggested that they lived in a desert commune together. It launched their publicist into a bit of a tizzy. Let me assure you, they are not. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes are free souls and veteran musicians that have the ability to put anyone into a sand-in-between-the-toes trip. They are different animals. They’re not out for the money, or to manipulate their fans with ego-fame. This band is a blended concoction of love and truth that will force even the most timid of person to dance until their feet are inflamed.

Cheeky: I was flipping through a magazine the other week and I came across an article about your band. I think it was MOJO. Is it true that the entire band lives in a desert commune together?

Christian Letts: We’ve heard that before too, but that’s not true. We’ve spent a lot of time in the desert playing shows and shooting videos, but we don’t live in the desert. It’s all bullsh*t.

Cheeky: Would you agree that The Magnetic Zeroes have a bohemian-cult following that’s possibly similar to Charles Manson?

CL: I don’t like the Manson cult idea very much. That makes me feel a little strange. It’s happiness, man. It’s love and forgiveness and trying to be as happy as you can. That’s what the music is about and I think people can feel it. People need to stop trying to pretend to be something else. We’re having a good time and people are very appreciative. I’m very grateful. Every time we play a show, it’s a fifty/fifty experience. They create energy too and we all feed off of each other. It’s all about truth.

Cheeky: With your band’s recent success, what new things are there to come?

CL: Right now the band is about to go into the studio and start recording a second album. Over the next couple of months we’ll be starting up. It’s just rough sketches right now, but we have some good ideas and it’ll take some time to see how it comes to life. I’m just really excited to get to the studio.

Cheeky: From the feel of your music, I’m assuming that a majority of you are very spiritual. What do you think about the world of technology and how it affects peoples’ life perspectives?

CL: It’s good to have access to technology even though you have to put up with all the B.S. that there is. We recorded an album in analog and that was one of the perks of technology for us. It was really rewarding. Also, it’s great to have access to everything. I’m on the road a lot and it’s nice to use email to keep in touch with my friends and put pictures up.