Major Love Event Take Over Portland...and the World

Major Love Event is a charming new gem of the Portland scene. The duo of Rebecca Van Damm and C.k. Koch bring a vibrant breath of fresh air to the world, as their self-titled debut is made for the masses. The sultry sounds blended with airy vocals, create a prominent and noteworthy release that will carry you through the Summer. We had the chance to catch up with front-woman Rebecca Van Damm on the eve of the big show, to talk about the ps

Major Love Event plays their album release party at Alberta Street Pub, tomorrow evening at 8pm. $7 advance / $10 door. With special guest Who Can Sleep.

You have a new single out right now, "Sandy Sound" What can you tell us about the new release? What fueled the inspiration behind the piece?

This song is about yearning and my futile attempts to strategize my way into someone's heart. It was inspired by a very specific experience of unrequited love I had some years ago. Falling in love with an unavailable person can feel like bearing weight on a raft that can't actually hold you. There's a lot of water imagery in the song, which both points to the personality of my (then) love interest as well as my emotional state at the time.

When writing music, what are your influences? How long does it typically take you to write a song? Do you keep coming back to the piece and revising?

My biggest influence has historically been my perpetually broken heart. Although, now I'm happily partnered and my focus has shifted to spirituality and politics. My focus has always been on that stuff but I have never been compelled to write about it until now. It will be interesting to see what songs come out of that. It's a brave new world for me.

Every song takes a different amount of time--anywhere from minutes to months. I typically work on something until it feels done and then I bring it to C.k. for feedback. Nine times out of ten, he'll tell me it's too long. I'm always trying to cram every thought and feeling I have about a situation into one poor little song. So, he makes a few nip/tuck suggestions. Once he adds drums, the song transforms into something very different, which is always a fun and surprising experience for me. From there, we spend a lot of time hashing out dynamics--where to build, where to release, etc.

What are your influences musically and lyrically?

Paul Simon, without a doubt, has played a big part in my songwriting upbringing. I love his music because it's challenging and experimental but also relatable and satisfying. He always has a juicy moment in each of his songs, which could be anything from an especially moving lyric or an impossibly sweet chord change. I strive for those juicy moments.

What was the recording process like for the new record? Did you self-produce? How long did it take to write and record the album as a whole?

Recording is the hardest part for us. We both just really want to get it right. Our mindset is that if we don't feel it, no one will. So, we work on something until it moves us and then we move on to the next part. We do self-produce. The whole album was recorded in our living rooms. C.k. is the mastermind behind the production. I write, sing, and play keys. He does everything else. It took us a few years to make this album from start to finish. We're very excited to finally have it out in the world.

Do you have any plans on touring this year?

Not yet but it's on the horizon.

What is your favorite part about playing shows in Portland? and what is your favorite venue(s) to play?

Portland audiences are awesome. People love music here. We love playing the Waypost, quite honestly. It's such a sweet little spot and there's always a built-in crowd. So, we have a chance to play our music to people who haven't heard us.