After interviewing Jen last week, Songs and Sonics catches up with Henry. The interview covers the variety of subjects covered by the group’s music, one of Henry’s favorite Aloud songs, the inspiration behind the new single “The Cash and the Pearls“, and what gets him geared up to write:

For the most part, though, I’m always looking to get my hands on new music, or stuff I’ve never really heard, or even things I might hate. Another equally important part of the equation is reading for the same simple reason: it inspires me to write, whether it’s books or reading about current events. I’ve met a lot of other songwriters who place less importance on the lyrical side of songwriting—which is perfectly fine, good on you and all that—but I personally have a really hard time functioning that way. […] I really need to give a s**t about what I’m writing….

Read Henry’s interview right here on Songs and Sonics: Interview: Henry Beguiristain from Aloud

(And in case you missed it, you can read Jen’s Songs and Sonics interview from last week here.)

Jen and Henry were recently interviewed by the songwriting and recording blog Songs and Sonics.

Jen’s interview was posted yesterday morning to the Songs and Sonics blog. In it she talks about songwriting, the inspiration behind “Exile in the Night”, a bit about her childhood, and what to do when writer’s block strikes.

Number one, I do not attempt to write. Bad idea. I go off and read books and listen to music that I’ve loved forever. It helps me remember what I loved when I started this whole thing in the first place. I jump into other people’s art basically.

Head on over here to read the whole piece: Interview: Jen de la Osa from Aloud

Henry’s interview will be posted next Friday, November 11.

It’s the end of the week and our light jog through Remember When Memorial Park comes to a close.

Here’s an interview Aloud did on December 11, 2005, with Dave Duncan (or Dunkin?) on New England Product, the predecessor to his current show Boston Accents on WFNX. The band had recently completed the album and came on the show to talk about it, working with Hugh Wyman, and a few upcoming shows.

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After the jump, we’ve got the music videos released for Leave Your Light On (“Beaches” and “Can You Hear Me Now?”, both directed by Tom Fitzgerald). We’ve also got a short piece on the album’s cover girl, Elizabeth Acle, that is occasionally informative and a fun three minutes or so.

We’re also streaming the bonus tracks below for your listening pleasure. The tracks are previously unreleased recordings, which you can read more about right over here. All three are available in the Aloud Store when you purchase Leave Your Light On this week (and for only $7 till this Sunday, May 8, kids).

That’s as far as we’ll be digging through the vault for the time being. Thanks for taking a stroll with us through memory lane this week!

Photo: Anna Mazurek

Henry and Jen speak with Time Out Boston

Henry and Jen spoke with Jessie Rogers at Time Out Boston. During the phone interview they covered the nuances of living in a minivan for a few months, working on Exile, a few road stories, and on a new-found sense of community with other touring acts:

Jen: There actually are some really awesome people out there, and a lot of them are in bands making good music and they’re trying to hit the road just like we are and make a living out of it. Why not support them? That’s kind of how it’s going to have to be. It’s not about the traditional record contract anymore….

You can read it in its entirety at the Time Out Boston site by clicking here: timeoutboston.com/music-nightlife/music/49113/interview-aloud

The homecoming show – don’t take our word for it

Poster by Erin Genett

For those of you still firmly entrenched in the “maybe” pile, we understand. Solely going on our word that this is going to be an amazing show would be totally irresponsible and negligent. It’s not enough that this is Aloud’s first show back from tour, nor that This Blue Heaven is releasing their long awaited video for “Slow Dance Slow”, nor that One Happy Island is releasing an EP.

You’re serious folks and there are a lot of good shows going on this Saturday (which will not be listed here because we’re a right bunch of jerks). In lieu of cloning technology destined to be mired in ethical and judicial conflicts for decades, you require due diligence on this matter. You want more sources, verification. We get it.

Below the jump are a bunch of other intelligent people—such as yourselves—telling you why you just need to come to this show. Aloud resumes the Exile tour shortly after this gig, and you may not see them around these parts till later this year (and to make it crazier, this show may sell out… grab tickets, you fools).

…or “Tuesday Morning Round-Up, Pt. 2: Wednesday”

In advance of tomorrow’s album release show at Church for Exile (*cough cough link to Facebook event page here*), Aloud has been getting some love from Boston today.

This week’s issue of the Weekly Dig features a glowing review of Exile that’s left everyone blushing. Here’s an excerpt:

Jen de la Osa and Henry Beguiristain have made a name for themselves with the searing vocals and straight-forward rock efforts of 2008′s Fan The Fury. With Exile… Aloud has delivered a stunning, multifaceted opus, proving that Beguiristain can do more than bust guitar strings and de la Osa is hardly just another girl screaming into a microphone.

Go pick up a free copy of the to read the rest. It’s worth it for the Dig’s kickass feature on pies alone.

This Blue Heaven‘s singer MacKenzie Outlund’s weekly Wednesday Duologues features a chat (as in G-Chat) with Jen. Click here to read it and quite possibly find out about German strippers who may or may not be at the show tomorrow. (SPOILER ALERT: there will be no German strippers at the album release show. All strippers will strictly be of Québécois descent.)

Anything else? Why, yes! C. D. on Songs over at Boston Band Crush has posted a song review of Old Soldier. Reviewer C. D. Di Guardia was among the first to hear a very rough mix of Old Soldier back in November of last year during an interview for the Performer cover story featuring Aloud. Click here to read what he thinks of the finished product close to one year later!

Boston Band Crush has gotten their hands on Exile and had this to say:

… their new CD, Exile, shows a certain maturity and refined sound. The band shows no sign of slowing, with the release of their third full-length record this Thursday, September 23 at Church, and a full U.S. tour to follow.

Click here to read the whole piece and an interview with Henry and Jen on the Boston Band Crush site!

Aloud is on the cover of this month’s Performer Magazine! Henry and Jen recently sat down again with Performer’s C.D. Di Guardia for an in-depth interview about 2009 and the next record they’re working on with producer Daniel Daskivich. The article includes new photos by Mick Murray.

Some selections from the article:

““It’s pretty liberating, but it’s scary and frightening,” admits de la Osa. While the group wouldn’t mind having full-time, committed band members, they realize their current pattern really isn’t so bad. “The shitty thing is that you don’t have permanent guys and the stability isn’t there,” says Beguiristain, ever the optimist. “But at the same time, you get to meet people who really enjoy playing music, and just some really cool people.”“

““The perspective changed on the songs and how to approach them,” says the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. “Instead of a band in a room creating a song, it’s more like using the studio to create the song – it’s a piece of art, so you’re going to throw a brushstroke here and what’s it going to sound like?”“

“Aloud’s current brushstrokes are creating stunning, multi-layered works. They look at each new song (and in the larger sense, each new record) as a continuation and alteration of the previous one.“

PDF of Performer Magazine December 2009 (will take you directly to article):
http://www.performermag.com/pdf/NortheastPerformerDec09.pdf#page=10

A super guy and fantastic writer, Jonathan Perry, wrote up a piece about us in Boston’s Stuff @ Night.. You can pick it up for free or read it here.

Thanks Fitchburg for a fun time. It was great to play outdoors! Next stop Buffalo and Troy.

Don’t forget we’re on FNX’s New England Product (101.7FM) this Sunday, May 14.

Cheers,

Jen

Currently listening to:
The Joshua Tree
By U2

Henry had the opportunity to speak to online music blog IndiePulse. The colorful interview includes questions about how he and Jen write a song, favorite towns to perform in, and how to (hypothetically) kill a Keebler elf.

Don’t believe it? Click here to read it!

Henry got a chance to talk with the folks at IndiePulse, an excellent music blog. We got ourselves a little feature and Henry reveals his masterplan involving Keebler Elves.. Strange? Yes!

Check it out HERE.

Cheers,

Jen

Currently listening to:
Past Masters, Vol. 2
By The Beatles