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Interview:
Midwest Dilemma
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Midwest Dilemma consists of:
Ben Arunski - Tuba
Elizabeth Webb - Clarinet/Vocals
Nicholai Johnson - Electric Guitar/Vocals
Justin Lamoureux - Classical Guitar/Vocals
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What got this band together and started in this business?
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Elizabeth: Through Justin's perseverance.
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Nicholai: Midwest Dilemma has been happening for a long time. The idea of
the concept album surfaced on a beach in California somewhere if I remember
right. The line up just fell in place when the recording started.
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Justin: I started Midwest Dilemma in 2001 or 2002, I can't remember. But
it was a totally different band then, non of the same members. We were more
straight ahead Rock n Roll. Then it evolved to Alt Country and now it's
somewhere between Americana and Chamber Pop (Orchestral Folk). Over the years I
found a passion for bettering my craft and continuing my growth as a songwriter.
Midwest Dilemma's latest release Timelines & Tragedies is the perfect outcome!
OEA Album Of The Year! As far as the business goes, that just happen in 2009.
Damn taxes!
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Who writes and produces all the material for the band?
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Elizabeth: Justin does. We all have a hand in the orchestration though.
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Nicholai: Justin writes all of the songs. The production of the song
itself is usually structured between several of us with in rehearsals.
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Justin: I write the songs and have some idea as to where I want the song
to go... tempo, sound, vibe... But most of the time the band as a collective
will make the calls. Nicolai really helps out with arranging strings and
melodies/harmonies and such. I am very lucky to be able to work with him. I am
usually pretty blown away at what this band can do. Elizabeth is the master of
woodwinds, she comes up with the most exotic and mesmerizing melodies! I am the
weakest link musically. That's why I write songs!
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Has the band played in front of or with any acts our readers would know from
the mainstream?
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Nicholai: Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) was in a small room hanging out with
us. Justin got up and jammed with David Rawlings (Gillian Welch and Ryan Adams).
We played with The Counting Crows in July.
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Justin: We have been pretty fortunate over the years to play with bands
such as: Paleo, These United States, Run On Sentence, Nick Jaina, Little Brazil,
The Band Of Annuals, Cameron McGill, Audrye Sessions, Conor Oberst, Jake Bellows
(Neva Dinova), Simon Joyner, and about a thousand or so more!
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Where can people access your music on the web?
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Nicholai: CDBaby, Amazon, itunes. If there is ever an easier way it would
be just directly from our site ( myspace.com/midwestdilemma).
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Any embarrassing moments on stage?
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Nicholai: The only time that I've embarrassed myself... that would be a
better way to word this question. My amplifier blew a fuse and all of my sound
cut completely in the middle of a song. That sucked.
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Justin: Zipper down and wide open... Sneezed and snot can out my nose...
Ate a huge moth at an outdoor performance... Anytime I try to burp and sing at
the same time, it comes out all funny and wrong... Oh, there is more!
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Any good stories you want to tell us?
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Nicholai: When I was young I dreamed of playing in California, New York,
flying, traveling out of the country, and being with people that I could call
my friends that I felt sincere about, and somehow knew that they would be
sincere towards myself. All of these things and more have happened with being a
part of Midwest Dilemma. I grew up poor. You want some stories... I could write
stories from forever on.
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Justin: When traveling solo one year I hadn't showered in a few days and
attracted a bear while tent camping in the Wyoming. It was pretty scary! I slept
with a pocket knife open and my finger on the panic button for the alarm on my
car. Nothing really happened. The bear just helped himself to the cooler and a
cold beer. Somehow I fell asleep and awoke suddenly in the daylight. I tried to
jump out of my tent, but landed face down on the ground with my little pocket
knife stuck in the ground. I got up and ran to the outhouse... Yeah, they had an
outhouse... I ended up tearing down the tent in record time and got the heck out
of there! I haven't been able to camp since.
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