A Scene From The Cinema: The Postmarks

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A Scene From The Cinema: The Postmarks

By: admin on: Fri 07 of Aug., 2009 22:14 EDT (1158 Reads)

Words: Ryan Patrick Hooper
Photo: Eric Sutton

The Florida sun blazes on massive expanses of black asphalt, turning large Buick Centuries idling in the parking lots of movie theaters into deathbeds for senior citizens and dehydrated toy dogs. The summer droves of jobless, youthful and spontaneous plunge forward into the afternoon matinee - the open, airy lobby a proven stomping ground for adolescent flirtation and, most importantly, the last refuge of coin-operated arcades. Cash switches hands - a ticket stub, a bucket of popcorn, an industrial-sized box of chocolate-covered indulgence and a slurp-till-you-choke Diet Coke (because, you know, you care about the environment).

Once the large, red doors of the theater swing open, the ultimate consumer experience has already been had and couples, lonely number ones and jocks quickly fill the best seats alongside blossoming Jills and average Joes. The air conditioning feels amazing (a ten-dollar escape from the August heat) and the reel begins to roll. But instead of useless trivia about who bleaches whose anus in Hollywood, a hauntingly beautiful, sweeping soundtrack of sorts spills forth. Jaws drop, eyes widen and the audience's attention focuses on a blank screen as rich, gorgeous vocals pipe through the speakers. South Florida’s own The Postmarks have spun the world of living, breathing soundtracks onto its head and the musical world of cinematic Technicolor jams, vibes and rhythms will never be the same.

“We have always talked about soundtracks as inspirations and wanting the album to sound like one,” explains Tim Yehezkely, the boyishly named frontwoman and multi-instrumentalist for The Postmarks, as she hovers above Chicago train tracks taking in the athletic facade of Soldier Field on the ninth floor of a friend’s condo, waiting for the excitement to kick before the band takes the legendary Double Door’s stage. Yehezkely describes The Postmarks' new album, Memoirs At The End Of The World (due on August 25 via Unfiltered Records), as a “more cinematic, more lush” approach to writing and recording - a pop-filled, lounge-esque, full-on evolution from their charming self-titled debut. Yehezkely is quick to cite Yann Tiersen’s work on the Amélie soundtrack as her favorite.

The Postmarks came to fruition when guitarist and creative force Christopher Moll and drummer Johnathan Wilkins stumbled upon the dreamy vocals of Yehezkely in 2003. Wilkins was DJing at a local Miami open-mic night and once Yehezkely took the stage, he immediately thought of a project Moll had been working on. At first, Yehezkely was skeptical.

“I was really flattered,” recalls Yehezkely, “because I had never really played out at all before that first night. After the show, Moll approached me and told me what he was working on … how we had to get together and do something. At the time, I didn’t know who this guy was and what he was talking about. But I’ll give things a chance sometimes. It seems kind of weird, but why not?”

The two would go on to meet and discuss the musical project further, quickly discovering their “touch points for musical references” were ideally the same. Yehezkely describes the process of recording their debut as “challenging,” subject to the growing pains of musicians working together officially for the first time. Since then, things have changed.

“The new album went a lot smoother,” says Yehezkely. “We all worked more collaboratively. On the first album, Moll wrote all of the songs with him and Wilkins arranging them. I did the lyrics and each had their job to do. Now, on Memoirs At The End Of The World, it's more fluid between us and you can hear that in the music.”

Yehezkely describes her musical inspirations (you know, those ones that get you to first pick up an instrument) as anything “quirky and flawed,” enjoying the idea that when playing music, “you didn’t have to be perfect,” she says. “I’ve always enjoyed bands that have had their own character - the Flaming Lips, Beck. I’ve always leaned towards the more unique artists who try to do something a little bit different than the mainstream expectations.”

While brash variations from the mainstream, pop-song structure require in-depth, deep-sea exploration into The Postmarks catalog, Yehezkely views such formulae as an asset bestowed upon her by her fellow bandmates and the celluloid sonic signatures of cinematic soundtracks.

“I’m fortunate that I bumped into these guys,” she says. “Moll is all about a pop song and following structure. I’ve learned a lot from that because a lot of the catchy stuff that I listened to, I didn’t realize there was a structure … that would catch me whether it was intentional or not. It helped me appreciate that aspect of it, but within those boundaries, there is still a lot you can do to make it your own. Even with a poem, you have a certain structure … but there is still so much room to imagine and change, even though at its foundation, there is formula there.”

The Postmarks’ Tim Yehezkely Romance Class 101:
Dating Advice For The Next Generation of Foxy Females

High Speed Chase
"I’m old-fashioned. I mean, I’ve chased a couple … but there is something about being pursued. Maybe it is a biological thing, an animal instinct thing - the males chase the females within the animal kingdom. Plus, you want a guy that can protect you. If they don’t have the balls to come up to you in the first place, forget about it. Sure, you can kick off a conversation, but never force anything - let it come naturally."

Trust Your Instincts
"Always trust your instincts! You don’t always have to listen to your friends."

... But Also Play Ball
"You have to play the game a little bit. Be true to yourself, but you have to play the game in the beginning. You have to be a little hard to get. You’ve got to make an indication that you’re interested … but not to the point where you are lying about who you are. If you are too honest, people freak out … or see you as weak," she laughs.

Couch Potato Valentine
"You can’t sit at home and expect things to come to you. You do have to go out and look for it a little bit. It’s not pursuing a guy see above, but you’ve got to go on dates and give people chances whom you might never have a relationship with in a million years. We all know people who get all bummed out, sit at home and complain that they don’t have anybody. You won’t find Mr. Right in one night, but keep a positive attitude."

A Table Set For Two … Or Ten
"It’s important to date for the sake of dating and without getting attached. Meet people, make friends, find out what you like, find out what you don’t like … and don’t sleep with someone right away! If a guy tries to take you to bed too quickly, resist … unless you’re into that sort of thing."