Washington band Dot Dash released their fifth album Searchlights earlier this year via independent indie record label The Beautiful Music. Recorded over a weekend at North Carolina’s Fidelitorium Studios and produced by Missy Thangs (Ex Hex, Ian McLagan), the 15-track Searchlights is Dot Dash’s most varied, expansive album yet. While the quartet’s combination of adroitly poppy melodies with an often visceral instrumental attack (drawing comparisons to The Jam, Big Star, and The Replacements along the way) remains undiminished, Searchlights reaches further – comprising a broader range of musical dynamics than previous Dot Dash albums. On the live front, Dot Dash has played recent shows with The B-52s, Tommy Keene, The Fleshtones, Ash, and Chris Stamey, among many others, and Flowers from the band’s 2015 album, Earthquakes & Tidal Waves, was recently included in the soundtrack of IFC-TV comedy Benders. Check out the new album below!
We managed to catch up with front man Terry Banks about the latest album, fans, new music and more!
How has the release of Searchlights gone?
It’s been good — lots of nice reviews and write-ups, a bit of radio play here and there, people singing our songs in the street.
What is your favourite song from the album?
I guess ‘Lonely Serenade’ — https://dotdashdc.bandcamp.com/track/lonely-serenade
Would you say this is your best release to date?
Yeah, we’re proud of them all, but I’d say ‘Searchlights‘ is the best so far, or at least the most rocking.
What inspired you guys to write this album?
The same themes as usual: the passage of time, diffuse light, insects with 100 arms, that kind of stuff…
Are you looking forward to playing The Hamilton?
For sure — it’s a swanky, polished-brass railings type of place. And it will be great to play with Ian Hunter, the Mott The Hoople dude.
How much do your fans mean to you guys?
If we get any, we’ll let you know. I’d imagine we’d treasure them.
How much effort does the indie label The Beautiful Music put in to your records?
A lot! They put our records out — and that’s enough. We love them. All hail The Beautiful Music!!! Check them out atwww.thebeautifulmusic.com
If you could work with any artist/band in the world, who would it be?
Hhhmmmm… Mitch Easter, who produced all the early R.E.M. records (among tons of other bands) produced our fourth album (‘Earthquakes & Tidal Waves‘), and that was cool, but no more cool than Missy Thangs, who produced the new one. I don’t know… maybe Johnny Marr? or Roky Erickson?
What has been your proudest moment to date?
I think it’s the fun we’ve had playing shows… Some of the bands we’ve done shows with include The B-52s, Tommy Keene, The Fleshtones, Ash, The Psychedelic Furs, The Chameleons, The Dickies, Hugh Cornwell, The Monochrome Set, Stiff Little Fingers, Glen Matlock, The Bats, Sylvain Sylvain, Urge Overkill, The Drums, The Trashcan Sinatras, Frankie Rose, The Clientele, Drivin’n’Cryin’, The Empty Hearts, Matt Pond PA, Wussy, Terry Malts, Moon Duo, Chris Stamey, Soulside, Wax Idols, The Supersuckers, and Elf Power, among lots of other rocking combos.
Are you guys thinking of releasing new music soon?
We hope so. Thanks to The Beautiful Music we’ve had five albums — spark>flame>ember>ash, Winter Garden Light, Half-Remembered Dream, Earthquakes & Tidal Waves, and Searchlights — come out in less than five years. Hopefully, we’ll be able to make a sixth album. That would be great.