"We get all different kinds of stuff. We get big question marks (laughs). We get people like 'Whoa I wasn't expecting to be into that at all. But now I kind of see music in a totally different way!' Yeah, I think it's just amazing to hear that from people… it's kind of unbelievable."

The decision to focus on a more "live" sound has been widely anticipated by many Animal Collective fans who swear that seeing AC live has "changed their lives." David Portner (better known as Avey Tare) loves seeing the energy and the reactions from live shows.

For the past two years, Animal Collective has been touring extensively and all along the way they've been playing the nine songs featured on Strawberry Jam, their 8th studio album. The band wanted to bottle the feelings they experience every time they are on stage.

But trying to recreate this energy in a house in the Arizona desert proved to be a bit difficult. David realizes that "it's hard to fully capture one live feeling. We are so into moods and atmospheres of songs. The album has one specific mood." The lively mood of Strawberry Jam transcends the recording studio through songs such as "Peacebone" and "Fireworks."

Within Strawberry Jam, their 8th studio album, Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz) proved that they can continue to make music and develop as a band in the only way that they know how—by challenging themselves. After talking to Portner, one of the only members who has been featured on every Animal Collective album, I realized that Animal Collective is one unique band, not just because of their sound, but because of their approach to music.

"Experimental is, for me, just somebody who is doing something that is challenging for themselves," David said adamantly. He went on to explain that even though the sound of Animal Collective has changed over the years, as a band, they are still (and will always be) experimental.

"I think that we are still doing stuff that is pretty unique and new to us," said Portner. This passion for challenges is how Strawberry Jam was born, a record that seems to be considered "more structured" and "more cohesive" than past Animal Collective albums by most critics.

While music reviewers and listeners alike are just now discovering a new and crisper sound of Animal Collective, David Portner has always seen the structure within his music: "There is somewhat of a structure to every single song." Each song is carefully crafted with layer upon layer of intricate details and sounds unique to Animal Collective.

On Strawberry Jam, the members of Animal Collective decided to limit themselves to recording and mixing on only 24 tracks (give or take a few) so they could try and capture the energy and sound of their live performances. "Yeah, we wanted to keep it much more minimal, more of a live feeling. And we definitely didn't want to do more of the vocal harmonies and layering that we have done in the past. It was definitely a conscious decision to keep the vocals feeling like one singer."

The result of these efforts is a collection of nine songs that show Animal Collective in a new light. With vocals more audible, and a brighter sound, Animal Collective tried something fresh on Strawberry Jam and everyone seems to agree that it worked.

Each song on Strawberry Jam has its own certain magic and energy, but Portner recalls that "Cuckoo Cuckoo" caught the attention of the entire band as they were recording. "We were always just felt like we were excited by that song. It was so obviously like nothing else we have ever done. We were always just like 'dude, this song is fucking sweet'(laughs)."

Even thought this is their eight studio album, Animal Collective still approaches music the same way that they did it from the very beginning—they make music for music sake, nothing else. Being together for so long has done nothing but made their recordings and experiences together stronger, which is always good for us listeners.

"We have gotten to a point where we have known each other for so long that we are beginning to know how to adapt to each other. We are also learning how to understand how each one of us has changed, especially over the years and [all of us] not living in the same place. I think that not living together has actually made these last couple of years really positive. It makes getting together and playing music and recording that much more special. You know what I mean?"

These intense moments captured within each track are what make Strawberry Jam worth listening to. It is purely Animal Collective. "I mean it's good that we are still getting behind what we are doing, individually and [still] liking it. All of the energy comes from there."Surrounding their 8th long-player, Strawberry Jam, Animal Collective has been touring with very positive results. I talked with band member Avey Tare on June 27th, 2007 and asked him questions about the new record and their recent tours.

Bailey Pennick: Hi, This is Bailey from MORA magazine and Everythingrock.com. How are you Dave?

Avey Tare: Hey! I'm good, hey sorry about yesterday…I just kind of forgot what day it was…

BP: Oh man don't even worry about it, we all have those moments.

AT: Haha, yeah right on.

BP: Do you consider Strawberry Jam, your 8th full length album, to be a new direction for Animal Collective or a maturation of sorts?

AT: Uh, I think it's kind of a different direction, it's definitely a different feeling. You know? A different kind of emotion. Just the overall sound of it is kind of… it's a lot more stripped down for us. Yeah, we didn't do a lot of vocal layering that was done over the last couple of records and even though it sounds really cool, we just kind of wanted…we were focusing on making every sound that we were doing live matter. Sort of a "less is more" mentality. So in that way it is a little different.

BP:Yeah, it's just a good direction for a stripped down album, does it match with the live performances that you have done?

AT: Um, more or less a lot of the songs are pretty similar, there might be a little of a different mood here or there. Its hard to recreate…

BP: Yeah, well you have to assume because it's a studio album—

AT: Yeah, it's hard to fully capture one live feeling. We are so into moods and atmospheres of songs. The album has one specific mood, but we don't try to add or change anything for live performances.

BP: Its also easier because you have been playing most of these songs on your live tours already.

AT: Oh yeah, definitely.

BP: Usually your fans have tagged your band as "experimental" and even "noisy," do you believe that Strawberry Jam approaches the experimental aspect of your past albums?

AT: Yeah, it's experimental, it is different for us. Experimental is, for me, just somebody who is doing something that is challenging for themselves. You know, doing something that is from their individuality specifically. You know what I mean? It is something that's not just ripping off something else or trying to fit into to any specific genre. I think that we are still doing stuff that is pretty unique and new to us.

BP: And that is what makes it experimental.

AT: Yeah, in some ways. There are some sounds used on the record that you don't hear in a lot of song forms. That is important for us. Using new sounds and song forms is important for us; [for us it is] pretty individual.

BP: Which, if any, of your past 7 albums have influenced you in the creation of Strawberry Jam?

AT: Umm, there is the best of everything on Strawberry Jam. There is a much more live looseness to it. Everything is tight, but the sound is loose. The melodies are really strong. There are a lot of different aspects coming together on this one.

BP: Yeah, just a collaboration of everything coming together. Now, on the other hand, are there any of the past album styles you just wanted to stay away from? Or any Animal Collective experiences?

AT: Well we limited ourselves to 24 tracks. That is basically all that we recorded [the album] on. We actually ended up adding a few things here or there, when we were mixing it down, but nothing much and nothing that anyone would notice really…except for us. Yeah, we wanted to keep it much more minimal, more of a live feeling. And we definitely didn't want to do more of the vocal harmonies and layering that we have done in the past. It was definitely a conscious decision to keep the vocals feeling like one singer.

BP: Yeah, I definitely noticed that on this album.

AT: Yeah and it's not because we don't like any of that stuff. Actually, we have been doing that again for more new stuff that we are working on now. I just feel like for those songs it was necessary to try and push to have it be and feel that way.

BP: Oh yeah, you need something new and something different. What influences affected the songwriting and execution on this album that has not appeared on any past Animal Collective albums?

AT: Everything is influential. You know what I mean? Just in terms to day to day life. It's really important to let our experiences of what is going on when we aren't recording, when we aren't together as a band, [let that] come in through and affect us through the music. I think that it is current emotions and current places that really make things new and unique. We have to let that stuff influence us. I don't think there was anything with regards to technique or anything. I think it all comes about really naturally. Sound wise everything is really specific and uniquely Animal Collective.

BP: Yeah, I've heard about your live shows just being epic.

AT: Haha!

BP: Oh yeah! Friends of mine tell me that your shows have changed their lives.

AT: Oh really?

BP: Mhm, Do you get a lot of responses like that at your shows?

AT: We get all different kinds of stuff. We get big question marks (laughs). We get people like "Whoa I wasn't expecting to be into that at all. But now I kinda see music in a totally different way!" Yeah, I think it's just amazing to hear that from people… its kind of unbelievable.

BP: I bet! Just to hear that you are affecting someone, that has to be cool.

AT: Yeah, definitely. I mean you kind of have to try and not let stuff like that go to your head. You have to realize that its not people against you, or [in some cases] people "not getting it." I think that everything is kind of humbling and that is important. I mean it's good that we are still getting behind what we are doing, individually and [still] liking it. All of the energy comes from there.

BP: Now, how is it working with the other members of AC. How many members of AC are on Strawberry Jam?

AT: Yeah, all four of us are on there.

BP: You are one of the only members that has been on every single AC album right?

AT: Yeah…me and Noah.

BP: How is the dynamic of recording with them?

AT: It's really good. We are like brothers. The closest you can get without being..uhh...

BP: Actually being brothers?

AT: Yeah (laughs)! I mean, the dynamic is really good and we have all known each other for a very long time. We have gotten to a point where we have known each other for so long, that we are beginning to know how to adapt to each other. We are also learning how to understand how each one of us has changed, especially over the years and [all of us]not living in the same place. I think that not living together has actually made these last couple of years really positive. It makes getting together and playing music and recording that much more special. You know what I mean?

BP: Yeah of course, every moment is now more of an intense moment.

AT: Exactly.

BP: I hear that you recorded this album in the heart of the Arizona desert; did the new environment affect the end product of the album?

AT: Uh, it was just cool to be there. I think that it is really important for us, when we are recording, to get out of New York; to get out of our normal lives and normal situations. We need to get somewhere more isolated to focus on the music. Tucson is where we recorded, but there wasn't a lot of "desert hangout" time, we are pretty hard workers. We actually spent most of our time recording. We recorded in the studio everyday for 8 hours a day.

BP: Wow!

AT: Yeah, but we all just lived in a house with mountains surrounding us. It was really nice.

BP: How do you feel about people saying that Strawberry Jam is more structured and more cohesive than past Animal Collective albums?

AT: Uhh, I mean to us everything is very structured. I mean within all of our albums there is structure…ok well maybe Here Comes The Indian comes off a little bit looser, but just because we kept it open that way. There is somewhat of a structure to every single song. I feel especially with the last three [albums], that there has been structure to them. Maybe on the two previous ones there have been moments that are more "floaty" or "ambient". I guess these sorts of moments don't make an appearance on SJ. I get that people are saying that… also the lyrics are much more audible on this album. It just comes off with production as a bit more cohesive or pop oriented? I don't know, I'VE always seen a structure.

BP: You guys created it, there has to be a structure to it.

AT: Yeah!

BP: So I was reading the early reviews and people seems to think that it is more poppy and mainstream. I was just wondering if that was an intentional change or just born out of the creation?

AT: No, no I didn't think that—WE didn't think that people would react that way. Surprisingly, I was talking to a good friend of mine the other day who just got a copy of it, and he was also surprised that people were having that kind of reaction to it. In a way it is I guess because of the way that it was mixed? But just in terms of the sound, there is just a lot going on. To me it isn't our most poppy record.

BP: It certainly isn't as poppy as say…Ashlee Simpson or something?

AT: Haha, yeah … no (laughs).

BP: Did the release of the album on a much larger label (Domino) have any affect on the product?

AT: No not really, we still approached the album as we approached every album. We never thought "Oh is this going to be a big hit?" We didn't change what we wanted or what we were feeling because of it, but we did want to give domino something that they were excited about as well. Just in terms that it is our first record on a new label.

BP: Make sure that everyone is happy on this one?

AT: For sure, yeah they were really excited to work with us and had been coming to see us live for a while. Yeah when you have people that are into your music in the first place you want to keep it going.

BP: Keep them interested. So since Strawberry Jam is a more stripped down sound for you guys, and a more "poppy" sound for reviewers, has this new sound brought a new and wider fan base to Animal Collective? Do you see new group of people coming?

AT: Yeah, well I just think in the last couple of years we see a rise in the number of people coming to see us and a rise in the number of shows that we are selling out on tours. I feel that the amount of touring that we did last year coupled with the side projects, like people responding so well to Noah's record, has brought us new people. I mean, we are always feeling like we are moving forward. It just seems completely natural to us; we are going up at the perfect pace for us.

BP: You guys just keep going up. Now working on this album, what was your favorite track?

AT: To make?

BP: Yeah just which ones were you really drawn to?

AT: Hmm, I'm just trying to think of all of the tra-"CUCKOO!" Yeah "Cuckoo", we were always just felt like we were excited by that song. It was so obviously like nothing else we have ever done. We were always just like "dude, this song is fucking sweet." (laughs)

BP: Haha, awesome. Yeah I think that is one of the strongest tracks, that and "Chores."

AT: Yeah, "Chores" was really nice in how it turned out. It has such a nice live and loose feel to it that we have been trying to get in the past. It was just really nice how it turned out. Just hearing the song and the melody shine…it's great.

BP: You played a lot of new material on your 2005-2006 tours, some of the songs aren't on Strawberry Jam. What is going to happen to those songs?

AT: Yeah, about that…We are going to do a single with remixes with "Peacebone". It is going to include a remix by this band we really like a lot, Black Dice. One of the songs "Safer" is going to be one of the B sides. "Safer" is one of our longer songs; it is like 8 or 9 minutes. We love playing that one a lot live and we had high hopes for it to be on the record but, I don't know…

BP: It just didn't fit well?

AT: Exactly, yeah it just seemed too long and we just couldn't get rid of any of the other ones that were working so well together.

BP: Yeah, you could say that it is more cohesive? Haha.

AT: Haha! Yeah, totally.

BP: You guys also seem to have a lot of material, old material and live recordings that haven't been released. Is there going to be any kind of coming together and releasing some of that?

AT: You never know! I actually get more and more psyched about doing live release oriented stuff just because of how people are responding. Especially for new fans getting into what we do live. And you know, just realizing that a recording of a show could be as strong or a nice document at least. You know what I mean?

BP: Oh yeah exactly.

AT: We have been talking about a totally different experience, so you never know…more live releases down the road.

BP: Well I have no more questions.

AT: Haha.

BP: I wish you the best of luck with Strawberry Jam. I really like it a lot.

AT: Oh really? Sweet! Yeah, no honestly we have been playing that stuff for so long and recording and mixing it that we have kind of lost our grip of how people are going to react to it. I think we have had more of an idea in the past of how people were going to like it. We didn't even know how our friends were going to like it.

BP: Haha, yeah just put it out there and see how it goes.

AT: Hahaha, yeah exactly, well it's good to hear positive things.

BP: Yeah you are definitely hearing good things, it's just the question of if it is the kind of good you want to hear. You know? This whole concept of you sounding poppy, do you think that people are going to think that you sold out?

AT: Yeah, uhh it's weird, but some of our hardcore fans would think that because of some of the ways the songs sound and the productions choices. But the way that the songs are, I don't see how they could be viewed as selling out.

BP: Yeah, bands change, its not always selling out.

AT: Yeah.

BP: Alright, can't wait to see you at the Filmore Show in San Francisco.

AT: Oh awesome! That show is going to be sweet.

BP: Great! Well thanks for talking to me Dave. It has been fun.

AT: Yeah it has been really great talking to you!

BP: Bye.

AT: Bye.