Photograph by Allan Crain
The album that Middle Class Fashion will release with a free show at Off Broadway this Friday night, iii, is a project that stretched across two years, a couple of studios, a pair of lineup changes, and a significant shift in sound with the final product.
“We’ve taken our older sound and changed it to a synth-driven, grittier thing, but with the same pop sounds,” says songwriter and vocalist Jenn Malzone of iii’s vibe. “That came from a lot of different things. I started writing with slightly different sounds, making demos that were based on electronic, hip-hop beats. It took so long to record, and when you release it, you’re in a different place.”
As the direction of the group shifted, bassist Brian McClelland eventually left the group on amicable terms, spending his musical energies on his other group, Whoa Thunder, along with a growing gig in music video production. Eschewing the idea of adding another bassist, the group simply divvied up that task on synths, while adding one new member; or as Malzone says, “We’ve always got someone with a left hand free to play the bass parts.” The group taking the stage on Friday includes: Malzone, her longtime drummer/collaborator Brad Vaughn, Katie Lindhorst on keys and percussion, and the newest addition, Lindsey McDanel on guitar.
The studio process began with a stint working with David Beeman at Native Sound in the summer of 2014, before moving to Phat Buddha, where Tom Burns added synths and beats. By the end of 2015, the album was largely complete, but the usual spate of hold-ups ensued, and the group decided not to rush things with an earlier 2016 show.
Malzone admits that the set they’ll play Friday will be heavy on the new album’s material, for obvious reasons, but that at least four newer songs have crept into their playlist recently. She jokes that “I think we’ll start recording on May 21. It’s really hard when you have this much new material.”
Regarding thematic trends on the album, Malzone says that “it’s taken me a month to figure out the answer. Usually people ask, and I haven’t known what to say.
“I think it starts with the first song, ‘Don’t Stop It,’” she says. “You can’t stay right where you are. You can be in a situation where you’re stuck for a while, and it’s going to be painful to leave there, but you’re approaching that with strength. As with any breakup or leaving of a situation, there are moments when you’re really low, but this is about moving forward. That’s the theme throughout. It’s got a party vibe, but also an after-party vibe, more introspective.”
From people who’ve heard the new work online, Malzone says, “I don’t know if I’ve heard any revelations, but it’s cool when people listen to the album and to be able to ask them what they think the songs are about. I like to leave songs open and hope people find personal meaning or assignment. People can be right about those things on some level, but you don’t realize it (as the writer) right away.”
Interesting, though not essential to the group’s chemistry, is the fact that “we span 18 years and hit a lot of points inbetween,” as Vaughn says. “I think there’re a lot of benefits to that. The older members, AKA me, have played a lot of shows and have a lot of experience. The younger ones don’t have to go through the same things, since I’ve found things out the hard way. For me, the benefit is staying current and relevant, hearing things that I might miss or are not on my radar, which is great for me.”
“It’s weird,” Malzone says, “but it works.”
As does the new album, a real crackler among local releases in the early months of 2016.
“We’re intentionally trying to make it more like a party,” Malzone says. “Start a little earlier, since a lot of friends and family don’t go to shows and stay out till 1 a.m. We’ll play at 10, not super-late, and by 11, we’ll DJ music and hang out with friends, have a dance party. And it’s free.”
On Friday, the release show for iii will feature doors at 8 p.m., a set by Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship at 9, that early 10 p.m. start for the headliner, then DJ sets from the bands until the doors close. You can find info on the gig here. A week later, the group will perform a live set on at Vintage Vinyl, on Friday, May 27, at 7 p.m.; details here.
