We recently had the opportunity to talk to Portland, Oregon's Reptaliens. Raptaliens is the husband and wife team of Cole and Bambi Browning. The band is currently on tour with Turnstile and has announced their sophomore album 'VALIS' (Out 4/26) The couple talked to us about their influences, their upcoming album, and Paddington going ham on Winnie The Pooh. Check it out!
Rapid Fire Questions
1. What have you been listening to lately?
COLE: I’ve actually been revisiting a lot of punk stuff that I listened to when I was a kid. Minor Threat, Government Issue, Gorilla Biscuits. Up the punx!
2. Would you ever consider writing a song about Ray Romano?
COLE: haha maybe a song about Raymond Chandler in the style of Ray Manzarek.
3. Who would win in a fight? Pooh Bear or Paddington?
COLE: Paddington could fuck some shit up.
4. My biggest fear is aging like Billy Joel. What are some of your biggest fears?
COLE: Being a passenger in a car that Billy Joel is driving
5. What is Hambone up to these days?
COLE: Just being a good boy and hanging out with his best friend Coco
6. 14th and Main?
COLE: Oh god, still too traumatic to talk about.
7. What local portland bands should we checkout?
COLE: Starship Infinity, Bryson Cone, any band that Papi is in.
8. What conspiracy theory are you convinced is true?
COLE: Paul McCartney is dead and an actor has been playing him for years.
9. What is the worst advice you can give me?
COLE: Just do it™
10. I know you guys like having theatrical elements during your live performances. If you ever need a backup dancer with a wide array of costumes, let me know.
COLE: K, you got the job. Come with us on Turnover tour.
Isaac Gutierrez for Born Loser: To start things off, can you give us some background on the band, and how you came together?
COLE of Reptaliens: Bambi and I made a song for fun with no intention of performing or starting a band. Then we made more. When we decided to perform them we needed musicians so we asked Julian at a house party to play guitar and Tyler said he would drum when we were hanging out at Pickathon together one year. Rest is history.
BL: What was it like coming up in the Portland music scene? Is everyone pretty supportive, or is it every person for themselves?
COLE: It’s a mix. People are super supportive until you start getting big haha. Then the haters come out. But its a real small music scene so everyone is kind of involved in the game together. It’s a good community.
What music did you grow up listening to?
COLE: I grew up listening to punk and classic rock mostly. I would switch between The Beatles and Dead Kennedys CDs when I was just getting into music and learning guitar.
Who are your major musical influences?
COLE: Paul McCartney, Gary Wilson, Bambi Browning
Talk to us a bit about your upcoming LP ‘VALIS’.
COLE: It’s a personal, self reflective record. The songs face inward as opposed to the outward facing storytelling of FM-2030. It’s still relatable though.
Are there any songs from the LP that you feel like really capture the sound or theme that you were going for?
Bambi: I think Shuggie (I and II) are reflective of the more inward and personal theme of the album. They are both autobiographical but still a little veiled in personal moments and thoughts.
How has your sound changed since ‘FM-2030’?
COLE: We lost a bit of that future-lounge sound and there’s a lot more guitar work on melodies where synths used to be.
What would you say is the major inspiration or theme behind the LP?
COLE: Love and change. The experience of growth and interaction within the context of the individual
What do you hope to accomplish with or through your music?
COLE: Self expression, feeling happy with what we’re doing in our lives. Providing something helpful for listeners.
I know you’ve directed and performed in your own music videos. Do you guys have any other creative outlets besides directing and making music?
COLE: Screen printing, drawing, painting, sculpting. Anything artistic really. Art is a big part of our lives.
What is the hardest part about being in a band?
COLE: Being broke all the time.
What is your go to place to eat at while you’re on tour?
COLE: There’s an Indian food restaurant at a truck stop in Wyoming off of highway 80. It’s super hidden but we stop there every time we pass by no matter what.
What do you do to prepare before you play a show?
COLE: We have a secret song ritual that we all sing together. It’s not safe for work though, so I won’t write it here.
What is the most important thing for you when it comes to performing?
COLE: putting on a show. Even your favorite band gets boring after 40 minutes if it’s just people holding instruments and singing.
What is your most memorable onstage moment?
Bambi: Everytime Austin gets naked on stage we can’t stop laughing.
What can we expect to see from Reptaliens in the near future?
COLE: More costumes, characters, and skits. Crazier live shows and music that will always sound a little different but always like us.
To wrap things up, do you have anything that you want our readers to know about Reptaliens, or ‘VALIS’?
COLE: Everyone should read Philip K. Dick. He was a genius and could tell the future. VALIS (the album) is short and sweet. You’re gonna love it.
Listen to Reptaliens Here
Catch Reptaliens On Tour
Tour Dates:
03-22 - 03/24 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Festival
04-05 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live *
04-06 - Dallas, TX - Canton Hall *
04-07 - Austin, TC - Mohawk *
04-09 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee
04-10 - San Diego, CA - Observatory *
04-23 - San Francisco - Regency Ballroom *
04-25 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom *
04-26 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret *
04-27 - Seattle, WA - Showbox *
04-29 - Salt Lake City, UT - Complex *
04-30 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theater *
05-02 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall *
05-03 - Detroit, MI - Majestic *
05-04 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater *
05-05 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel *
05-07 - Worcester, MA - Palladium *
05-08 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom *
05-09 - New Haven, CT - College St. Music Hall *
05-10 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA *
05-11 - Norfolk, VA - Norva *
05-12 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live *
* with Turnstile and Turnover
Keep Up With The Band
