KEXP Q&A: Min Yee of Dreamsalon

Seattle's Dreamsalon gets you right away with their tight rhythms, deep bass and quick, quirky melodies. Ever since 2011, they've been rocking as a cohesive unit spilling out songs with high energy. We wanted to catch up with bass player Min Yee to get his thoughts on the project, how the band members met and what's next.

What is it like for you and the band as you're preparing for a show? What are rehearsals like, how do you deal with nerves?  

Lately our rehearsals for shows have been just figuring out what the set list should be, then running through it 2-3 times. We try to keep all our set lists so we can remember what we did in the past, see what worked and what didn't.

Nerves are easy - we drink for that. Preferably Modelo Especial and Jim Beam. Or if we're really lucky we get Ricard and Kronenbourg 1664. But really we just like to have a few drinks when we get together. We've been playing shows (with other bands) for so long that nerves aren't the problem they used to be.

What are the elements in your mind for the perfect show?

The most important thing is that everyone is having a good time. People are up front dancing. There are vocal monitors for the band. Getting paid would make it even more perfect!

But honestly we're not too picky. The other important thing, though, is playing with good bands. I get really happy when we play with bands who play great music.

As for other stuff, it's like I tell most booking agents: weekend shows, nighttime, in bars or somewhere where we can get drinks. Venue size is more a result of what is typically out there. Generally the bigger the venue, the worse the experience, but I've had exceptions to the general rule. Plus a lot of that is because when I've played big venues, it's as the opening band. And I would think the headlining bands have a much better experience in that venue.

What was the first song you ever covered?

In Dreamsalon, the first song we covered was “Helter Skelter”. It was horrible fun and we only played it once at a show with Grave Babies. We've only covered one other song, "Green Walls" by The Enemy. Personally, I can't remember if my first ever was “Romance D'amour” (anonymous) or "Time and Time Again" by The Smithereens. That would have been 1989.

The band seems heavily rhythm-oriented mixed with a secondary pop sensibility. Did it take a while to get that sound, was it conscious?

I don't think it was conscious, per se. That's kind of how each of us are wired internally, and we've been friends for years before this band, so it's the natural sound that results when we get together. And Matthew and Craig had been playing together for at least 7 years before this band (as Love Tan). We're all pretty good on the rhythm end and keep the focus there, and Craig has a keen pop sensibility.

The overall sound of the Soft Stab LP is actually a bit specific to that record because we had a lot of different sounding material to choose from going in to the recording. We did meet, sit down, and go over which types of songs would fit well together on the album, and narrow it down to the 9 songs that fit together best. We had a bunch of other ones that sound pretty different from Soft Stab material, and some of those will be on the next album. Some we might try as singles.

How did the band meet? What do you like doing together outside the realm of music?

We met a long time before the band got together. Craig and Matthew met in art school around 1999. They started the Pyramids in 2002 which later became Love Tan. I met Matthew in 2000 at Jeffery Taylor's (Wall of Sound Records, Climax Golden Twins) 4th of July party. We hit it off and soon after that Matthew introduced me to Craig one night at Matthew's house. Matthew had been really talking each of us up to the other, and so Craig and I were sorta nervous to meet each other - pretty funny in retrospect. The three of us each had our other bands, so it wasn't until 2009 that we all played together and it clicked. It wasn't called Dreamsalon at the time, and for two years we were a 4-piece with Erin Sullivan on lead guitar and that was called Evening Meetings. Then Erin left and Dreamsalon started for real at the end of 2011.

Outside of music, we just like hanging out at Matthew's place, listening to the best records and shooting the shit. His collection is insane. Craig is a sharpshooter at shit shooting.

What’s coming up next for you?

Up next we have a show February 7 at the Blue Moon Tavern with Gazebos and Gang Cult. We're taking a little break after that. Craig and his wife Adria are expecting their first baby, so Craig will be busy learning the ropes of fatherhood for a while. I don't know what's coming after that. We'd love to tour Europe and do a single or two, and another LP. There are no solid plans.