Marriage, church, cupcakes, and a drunken promise helped the cosmos-hurdling Nebulae come to be. Playing their first shows back in 2013, they’ve gained the reputation of being one of Oklahoma’s loudest bands. When you are taking influence from bands like Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine and Mono, compounded by a deep affinity for space, that gargantuan sound only makes sense.
Now the post-rockers have bottled that massive, galaxy-spanning volume into a recording with their self-titled debut album, which is being celebrated with Friday night’s show at Opolis in Norman with Foxburrows and Sun Chaser. Featuring guitarist Joey Powell, drummer Jason Scott, Luxy Machovic (synth/keyboards) and Steve Machovic (bass/guitar), the instrumental Norman act shared its thoughts on astrophysics, anime and opera in an interview with Oxford Karma.
Oxford Karma: You were originally Tumbling Nebulae and just dropped it down to Nebulae. Why the change?
Luxy: We all agreed not to confuse too many people and to keep it simple. I kind of like the new name.
Steve: It was a bit of tongue twister.
Scott: Yeah … the name loses some of its cool when you have to explain it every time.
OK: I know the name had roots in Doctor Who. How much of a role does that kind of sci-fi/comic/anime culture play into the music you are making?
Luxy: I don’t think it does, in my opinion. Maybe some of the sounds I make on the synth remind me of some kind of Mecha Anime. Think Gundam or Evangelion.
Steve: I’d have to agree with Luxy. It doesn’t really play a big role in making our music, although I do try to wear at least something to show my love of sci-fi/anime at our shows.
Jason: It’s a little hard making “space sounds” on drums; I mostly just try not to overpower what the three of them are trying to do. I’ll occasionally imagine we’re scoring a movie, and let that steer my playing.
OK: Do you feel like you create out of a place of wanting to translate those sort of fantasy realms into a more concrete, tangible thing with this music, though?
Luxy: I want to make space sounds. Like Jason told me: “Space whales!”
Steve: I do. I think we want to make our music feel like a journey that will take you somewhere else.
Scott: Space whales with humongous explosions & kick ass special effects!
OK: Along that line, space is obviously a theme that runs through a lot of the titles and art associated with the band. What about that world and realm of possibilities do you find most fascinating?
Luxy: It’s never-ending. I studied cosmology and astrophysics and have always been a big fan of the subject. I’ve heard the sounds coming off of moons and planets. I find it fascinating. I could go on for hours.
Steve: I never really thought about it but a lot of my basslines have delay added to them. It’s sort of like they are a constant stream of radio waves in space. They change slightly but not very often. They are the constant to Powell’s guitar playing, the chaos, in a good way.
OK: Your sound most closely aligns with post-rock and shoegaze. What sort of spin do you like to think the four of you put onto that world, specifically with your debut album that just came out?
Steve: I’d like to think our sound is mixture of all the music that influenced us. We all bring different styles to the table. There’s ambient, post-rock, drone, sludge metal and shoegaze.
Scott: It definitely started out as, “We like these post-rock bands. Let’s make some of that.” But we all have our styles. We’ve developed, to this point, into something like post-stoner-gaze-space-opera rock. Does that make sense? Minus the opera. In space, no one can hear you sing; that’s why we don’t have a singer.
OK: Is it exciting to finally have a proper release out there? And what about this album would you say you all are most proud of and pleased with at this point?
Scott: I think I’m most proud of the smash-and-grab job we did recording it. We were in and out of the studio with a fully mixed album that I’m proud of over a weekend last summer. This is my third album to record with Chris Harris (Hook Echo Sound, Depth & Current), and we couldn’t have accomplished that without his efficient professionalism and demeanor that puts one in a good headspace to be creative. It was also nice to clearly hear what everyone is doing (we can get a bit loud).
OK: What about this release show at Opolis with Foxburrows and Sunchaser are you all most excited about?
Luxy: Seeing all of our fans, family and friends. Playing with the greatest group of guys ever. Also, Foxburrows was the first band to play with us in 2013, so it was perfect to have them play at our release.
OK: What sort of plans do you have for the rest of 2015? Do you see yourselves doing any touring, regional concerts or anything like that?
Luxy: Maybe some tours within an eight-hour radius (we all have full-time jobs and like to use our vacation days for vacation).
Steve: I hope to take our band to Tulsa and outside the state.
Scott: Yeah, there are a ton of good markets within an 8-9 hour drive, so we’re going to do some mini-tours, because of the jobs and such. I know I would like to lay down another album before the end of the year as well. The writing process comes so naturally with this group that I know our newer songs plus the ones that haven’t been born yet will build on that what we’re releasing this week.
