ARTIST INTERVIEW: Oberhofer
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Brad Oberhofer just might be the next big name in indie music. The only problem is you can’t find him anywhere. Nobody is talking about him. A Google search of his full name brings up some interesting results, one of which was an article written by the Weekly Volcano last month, other than that there’s really nothing. A Google search of simply “Oberhofer” is even more random and depressing. But upon listening to his music you’ll have the same urge I immediately had to spread the word as quickly as possible. What’s most impressive is that Oberhofer records as a solo artist. His vocals are reminiscent of Avey Tare with just a hint of Britt Daniel, perfectly complemented by his simple yet affective blend of folk, pop, and electronic music. I’ll get out of the way and let the music speak for itself. Here are a few of his works with a quick Q&A below: |
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| Newdust: What instrument did you start out on, and how long have you been making music? | 
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| Brad Oberhofer: I started writing music as a competitive freestyle rapper in about fifth grade. It’s been about nine years. |
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| ND: How do your live performances compare to the recorded stuff? | |
| BO: It completely varies. I’ve played guitar with my hands and drums with my feet, with only a drummer, with another guitarist and a drummer, with a string section, and a few other formats. Recorded music and live shows have become completely separate art forms, so I try to add things to live shows that aren’t in my recordings and vice-versa. |
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| ND: Who are some of your favorite artists right now (with records that have come out in the last 2 years)? | |
| BO: One record that came out in the past year, Clues’ self titled album. I haven’t been able to stop listening to it, I’d consider it a huge influence. I’m really into Okay, a project by this guy Marty Anderson. One of my favorite albums of all time is his “High Road”. I also love Micachu’s “Jewellery”. |
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| ND: What records have had the most influence on your sound? | |
| BO: As the years go by, the influences change. For a while it was Arcade Fire’s self titled EP, at times that Okay album has had a huge influence, and this summer that Clues album really affected things. |
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| ND: Have you sent the EP to any record labels or are you just gonna stick with the self-promotion gig? | |
| BO: I have given the EP to a few places. I really just want as many people to hear it as possible. |
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| ND: How can fans get a hold of your current stuff, and when can we expect another album? | |
| BO: I’ve been mailing it to people who message me or email me. I’m also working on ways to sell it online. I’ve been coming up with a lot of new material lately, and you could probably expect something in the next three months. Also, I have a Myspace page. The URL, myspace.com/oberhofer, is taken by some man who lives in New Jersey, who by the looks of it, appears to be a pretty nice guy. |
