INTERVIEW: Hibou’s Peter Michel talks debut album & Seattle inspiration

Tell us a little bit about the debut album. How long did the writing and recording process take? What was your goal for the sound & vibe of the record?
 
The writing & recording for the album was kind of all over the place, because at the time I didn’t know that the songs would actually become an album. Some of it was done in my walk-in-closet between April – June 2013, which shows up on the Dunes EP. I spent some time touring and living life, and then started to write again in late 2014. The rest of the recording happened in my room at my parents house. Once it was apparent that an album was going to happen, I went to Los Angeles to mix it with Drew Fischer. The 11 songs were then mastered by John Greenham.I’m not sure I’d say I ever had a goal for the album, since the melodies would often come spontaneously. The vibe is undoubtedly influenced by Seattle’s Discovery park, where a lot of the melodies would come to me, before being solidified in the night.

 

It’s tough to single out a song from an extremely consistent album, but can you tell us a little about “When The Season Ends” and how that song came together?

When The Season Ends was written in Minneapolis in the late summer of 2014. It’s about seeing things in retrospect, and how things never feel or seem like they were the same thing when they’ve been left behind.

 

My favorite album covers are those I feel represent or go hand-in-hand with the music in some way. Yours does this perfectly. Where did this cover art come from?

I was browsing through Flickr one day (blast from the past eh), and the picture grabbed my attention immediately. To me, it was the album in visual form. I couldn’t get in contact with the photographer, Li Hui, for the longest time. I added her and sent her messages on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter..it was very creepy. Finally I was able to get her permission to use that beautiful photograph, and I couldn’t be happier.

 

I’m always interested in how albums end. When did “Keeping Still” come along in the process and when did you know you wanted to close the album with it?

‘Keeping Still’ was the 2nd to last song written for the album, after ‘Shutter Song’. This is my National Geographic song. It reminds me of helicopter shots over canyons and birds eye views of rivers. It was important to me to leave the album with a kind of soaring feeling, and notion of continuation, because although it’s the end of the album, it’s still the very beginning of Hibou.

Photo by Jenny Jimenez

What was the biggest thing you learned about the demands of touring life while on the road with Craft Spells?

The biggest things I learned while touring with Craft Spells is how to live with 4 other guys indefinitely, in a cramped little space. I learned how to swallow my pride, choose my battles, but most importantly respect the people that get together every night and give it their all to play music they truly care about, because that’s beautiful.

 

What is the best part about being a musician in Seattle? How do you think (if at all) Seattle has shaped your sound?

The best part about being a musician in Seattle to me is the people that I’ve met. I’ve had so many amazing opportunities  purely from the generosity and chances given to me. I feel so lucky to have grown up here with such a supportive scene of insanely talented people. Hibou’s sound is strongly influenced by Seattle, particularly Seattle summers, which as we all know are unbeatable. As I mentioned before, a lot of the melodies arrive in Discovery Park, but the sound wouldn’t be what it is without the influence of every person that’s ever played in a band with me or been in my life.

 

Is there a city or venue that you haven’t played yet that you’d love to? What has been your favorite venue to play so far?

I would love to play in Spain. I’ve never been to Spain but I only hear how fun it is to play shows there, especially festivals. The favorite venue I’ve ever played is probably the El Rey theater in LA. It was the first time I ever stood behind a curtain when it opened, what a feeling.