A Piano in Every Home, led by Travis and Jake, play melodious, soothing honest music. They have a new single (Terrible Things) coming out Friday (Sep 13, 2024). And you can see them live Friday November 8 at Aster Cafe.
Please tell us about A Piano in Every Home. How did you get into music? How did you get together 10+ years ago?
In those early school years we really hit off. Without an incredible amount of formal music training, we taught each other. Jake later went on to college for music composition but early on we figured it out through blunt-force wayfinding. It’s an interpersonal exploration even more than it is an intrapersonal.
You have a number of songs about places, on Terrible Things, it’s Los Angeles – and “Saint Paul and Saint Fernandez” in Forever Dreaming and others. How does place (or do places) influence or inspire your music?
When I’m writing it’s rarely top-down, in the sense that I don’t start with an idea or narrative direction before writing the song. That said, I do often start with place as a jumping off point. I have traveled quite a bit, ever since I was a kid. All of that is informing the work.
I love Honnete. It’s a sweet song, and to borrow from the lyrics, an honest song. What inspired you to include a song that is so short and half in French?
The arrangement of Honnete is very sweet and delicate, and I knew it would be too much of a good thing if drawn out a full 3-4 minutes (ever eat too much baklava?) I liked the idea of keeping the story concise and the song close to a minute long. The half english and half french dialogue does the heavy lifting by providing a second, implicit narrative that allows the whole song to come together in 66 seconds.
You have a great way of using comforting images (such as “slow like Sunday,” in Cheap Champagne) with ambiguous or darker imagery (“…slow like running away” or “slow like burning it down”) . It’s beguiling, especially when the music is also more comforting. It feels like there might be some major themes or events behind the album or at least many of the songs.
I wouldn’t want to spoil the intrigue. I’ll just say, you’re right!
Please tell us how you’ll celebrate the album release. When is it? Will singles tease us during the wait? Will you play a show?
Friday November 8 at Aster Cafe in Minneapolis. We love playing there, always sell the place out and it’s a great time. You’re on the list if you want it!
Mostly Minnesota 