Spending Valentine's Day with Snail Mail
[UNPUBLISHED:] How’ve you been? How’s this new year been treating you?
[SNAIL MAIL:] I’m great! It’s been great for me, creatively, to just slow down and pick up hobbies again. Having quiet time to read and write is how I recharge best and usually when I feel the most like myself. Knowing there are shows on the horizon is exciting and having time between them to take it easy and work towards the next record makes me feel so much saner than I have in a while.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Congrats on announcing Valentine Fest! You must be so excited, how does it feel to be putting on your festival in your hometown?
[SNAIL MAIL:] Thank you! It’s a huge honor to be able to put something together like this and I have been nervous, trying to make it as special as possible, but mostly it’s been gratifying to work towards. I’m grateful to be from a city with such a rich artistic history and to be part of the music scene in any way at this point.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Your festival sold out, which is so amazing, how does that make you feel?
[SNAIL MAIL:] I still haven’t even processed it. The idea of putting five nights on the table scared me at first because I thought we might only sell out 2 or 3 nights, so the speed and fervor of the ticket buying took me by surprise. Other than that I’m just excited to go wild and stupid :).
[UNPUBLISHED:] How did your friends and family from Baltimore react to this announcement?
[SNAIL MAIL:] Everyone has been overjoyed at the idea of all of us being in one place for so many days, celebrating. It’s going to be a bloodbath of friendship and love out there.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What are you most excited about regarding the festival?
[SNAIL MAIL:] Some of the openers are dear friends, and some I am a huge fan of and have never seen play, so I’m excited to see everyone.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How does it feel to be playing in your hometown for the first time in over four years?
[SNAIL MAIL:] I can’t even believe it’s been that long! I found that out for the first time in an interview about the fest! It feels overdue, but I had no idea it was that overdue. I can’t wait to bask in the love of the homies.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What made you decide to bring Valentine Fest to Baltimore?
[SNAIL MAIL:] I’m from outside the city and grew up going to DIY shows almost every weekend. I studied up on the scene and Baltimore’s music history. I was constantly going to record stores in the city, wanting to learn everything there was to know as a fan and talking to anyone willing to share their experience before I was ever a part of it in any meaningful way. Now, I live here again and it only feels right to honor the ol’ hometown by throwing a 5-day party, surrounding the greatest holiday of all.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What was the process of planning the festival like?
[SNAIL MAIL:] It was all about trying to pick bands that I have admired for a long time as well as new bands that I’m excited about. The initial stages were tedious, trying to come up with a plan and dealing with peoples’ schedules, but I’m happy with what we came up with.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have any songs you are particularly excited to play at the festival?
[SNAIL MAIL:] You’ll have to come see to find out! No spoilers.
[UNPUBLISHED:] If you could plan another festival and add three other artists, dead or alive, who would be on your dream lineup?
[SNAIL MAIL:] Right off the top of my head it would be The American Analogue Set, Ivy, and The Velvets.
[UNPUBLISHED:] When you’re not working on music or the festival, what have you been doing recently?
[SNAIL MAIL:] I’ve been reading a lot, working on music, playing stupid amounts of Far Cry 3, driving far and wide to see friends, and getting ready for some one-off shows we have coming up.
