we got the chance to catch up with the world of chase pagan via e-mail a few weeks back, as chase is about to release his sophomore album, bells & whistles on june 9th. the release will be through esperanza plantation, a label that’s been home to CP for some time now.

the answers are a bit more short-winded than we’re used to, but it’s safe to say that we caught him at a busy time. in any sense, enjoy the interview, where chase touched base on his album, his label and being under the radar for oh so many people out there.

hit the jump to read the whole thing.

Roshan Bhatt, WWM: Hey Chase, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions for us at weworemasks, we’re huge fans. I guess I’ll start with the new album. Bells and Whistles is out June 9th. What are your most current thoughts leading to the release of your album?

Chase Pagan: I have been asked that a lot lately, and I am realizing I don’t truly have any thoughts leading up to the release. I am pretty relaxed about it, and no real expectations.

WWM: Your album’s being released solely through Esperanza Plantation, how did that relationship come about?

CP: Well, I am in a band called Bear Colony on Esperanza Plantation as well. That is [basically] how Chaney, the owner of Esperanza Plantation, and I met.

WWM: Tying into that, what happened with you and The Militia Group? Is it safe to say that they didn’t necessarily promote your album the way it should’ve been?

CP: Well that is hard for me to answer, I can say they went through some major changes shortly after I signed on. Chad (co-owner) quit the label after signing me and the new frontiers.

WWM: With the critical acclaim that came with Oh, Musica! did you feel any
pressure during the writing process? Were you surprised that the album stayed mostly under the radar for a lot of the industry?

CP: I didn’t feel any pressure, and some of these songs were written years before Oh, Musica! Some [were written] minutes before recording them.

I wasn’t surprised it “stayed under the radar,” that is where I thought [I’d stay], and same with this album. Music that large groups of people like usually suck right? Except the Beatles that is.

WWM: What were your biggest influences both musically and non-musically during the recording of Bells and Whistles?

CP: Well, I still like mostly the same music, but I can not say one band or artist inspired this record. Staying at home without internet and cable helped with that.

WWM: Is there any concept or theme to the record?

CP: There are a few scattered in the record, but not really a concept.

WWM: How does it feel to be compared to artists like Rufus Wainwright, Devendra Banhart, and Freddy Mercury, all of who you’ve been compared to regularly?

CP: It seems like a good thing to me, I like all of them.

WWM: What was the main inspiration behind the cover art? Who did it?

CP: Well, I am a part of a nice little three-piece family and that photo was taken in [my family’s] barn. It was inspired from wanting to do something that was close to home, and a few old Bob Dylan layouts. My friend Robert Lens put it all together.

WWM: Do you find it hard to find a balance between your family and music life?

CP: It can be a little hard, I just try to keep them involved and with me when they can.

WWM: Do you have any plans for a tour after you drop your album? If so, who do you plan on taking out/going on tour with?

CP: I will tour for the record, just don’t know any details on it yet.

WWM: That’s about it. Any last words you’d like to add to the readers of weworemasks?

CP: Thank you! and thanks for reading! My you can pre-order my record now on insound.com and you get 3 free songs that are not on the record. I think that’s about it!

WWM: Cool, thanks again, come visit us in Texas sometime.

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chase pagan on myspace.

preorder bells & whistles here.

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download two songs from bells & whistles:

chase pagan – the gun and the sword

chase pagan – life garden

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enjoy, and cop bells & whistles on june 9th.

-grizzly