An interview with Eric Zeiler and Monica Heidemann of Xylos

Zeiler and Heidemann before their set at Mercury Lounge (Photo by Alanna Romeo)

Eric Zeiler had every reason not to start a band. After being accepted into Columbia University's MBA program, he had four months to contemplate whether or not a world filled with meetings, brief-cases and cubicles would suit him.  So he dusted off his instruments, sat down in front of Pro Tools and set to work on a five song EP.

Initially, the collection was distributed solely to friends who told Zeiler the music was good. . . really good. Encouraged, he walked away from Columbia and committed himself to the Xylos movement by recruiting a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist and drummer.  Fueled by unprecedented buzz, and focused on the release of their debut album, this group of twenty-something rockers are hoping to put the Xylos brand into the national spotlight.

Zeiler and the group's bass-plucking frontwoman, Monika Heidemann, recently took a few minutes before their set at the Mercury Lounge to eat some grilled cheese, drink some funky matzo-ball soup and talk about where this whole music thing is going.

Matt Thomas:Your MTV appearance features an acoustic rendering of "Not Enough", which is drastically different from the studio version of the track. Is Xylos an acoustic band?

Eric Zeiler: No, we're not an acoustic band. That was solely for the [TV] spot. We wanted to do something comfortable, where they could see us in more of a rehearsal space. So we decided to do an acoustic set to show more of our folk side. "Not Enough" shows the folk element, and that pop side, our two halves. It was the first time we ever did anything like that.

Monika Heidemann: It wasn't anything too serious. We honestly did it in my apartment. We just thought we'd tone it down, and wanted to see if we could do it.

MT: Eric, right now you're finishing up the first Xylos LP with the other four members after self-producing the EP Bedrooms. Is it challenging to have so many different voices producing one song or do different members take the lead on different tracks?

EZ: Well, we're definitely not a jam-band, although I think jamming could be a great way to record. The studio is where I'm most comfortable. I'll record all the demos on my own using Pro Tools. Then I'll start bringing in band-members one by one to work on specific parts or whole songs. Pro Tools creates a very different dynamic. With the rest of the band there I get to humanize those songs, and then it becomes something completely different. Sometimes the songs I write are really developed, other times really raw.

MT: Recently in The New Yorker, published a feature on Vampire Weekend. While the band was shooting an upcoming documentary, they interviewed blink-182 and Angels and Airwaves guitarist Tom DeLonge, who tried to sell Vampire Weekend on his ModLife venture. Knowing that half of the music world today is based on marketability, what would you say to Tom DeLonge if he asked you to buy into ModLife?

EZ: I would hear him out. I'm definitely into making a career out of music. I don't know if the ModLife thing is the way to go. It seems kind of gimmicky. I'd rather make money licensing my music. What better way than making a score for a movie or something?

MH: Definitely what Eric said. [ModLife] wouldn't support my reasons for being a musician. I didn't get into this so people could, like, I don't know, buy a T-shirt with my name on it. To sustain the creation of music is the reason for being here, and I want to constantly learn about different ways to do that.
 

MT: Can you explain how the current line-up came together?

EZ: Aaron and Mike [our original drummer] were friends of mine, and they brought Nikki aboard. But we still wanted to have both male and female lead singers, so I put an ad out on Craig's List. Monika responded; we held an audition; loved her voice; thought she was a great bassist, and invited her to join the band. After that, Mike had to leave since he was commuting in from Philadelphia, and it was just difficult to work out rehearsals and shows. Since Chris replaced him, things have really moved to the next level. He constantly pushes us, forces us to go faster, heavier. Everything changed when he joined.

MH: Before Xylos I was really into jazz, and in a rock band called the Monika H. Band, which was more prog.-jazz-rock. I really wanted more of a collaborative experience. I never had that before, and [with Xylos] we collaborate on all of our songs, and work them out together. I came into the band thinking I wouldn't be singing, but I got tricked. I'm not sure if I enjoy it  or dislike it as I move into more of a frontman role, I guess that's what you'd call it, but I definitely love being up there performing.

MT: Is Xylos ready for a national tour?

EZ: The chemistry within the group developed organically, so there's really no tension. The small tours and handful of shows we've done so far have gone bizarrely smooth, which is surprising because we're not a laid back band at all. We're a little tense, and I can be control freak. I'm constantly trying to tone it down. You never would have thought that five kids in a rock band could be so boring.

As far as a larger tour goes, we definitely have some things being planned, just a northeast one for right now, though. We're still a new band. We've done about 20 shows to date.

MH: Yeah, we're looking forward to it. We really didn't have any problems on the other tour we did. I mean, I went on longer tours before, and as long as you have food and a place to stay you can't really complain. None of us have ever been on a long tour though, and I know always being on the road can get tiring, but I think we'll be OK.

You can listen to some great Xylos tracks by visiting their My Space page.

Xylos's next show is on 2/5/10 at St. John's University in Queens, NY.

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