Roll of the Dice: 5 Questions with Ghost Forest

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Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.

Chicago’s Ghost Forest closed out 2022 with the release of their long-delayed self-titled debut album. TGEFM had an opportunity to chat with the band about their past projects, what’s next and how they handled 2 year delay on the album’s release.

Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the release of your self-titled
record! What should TGEFM readers know about Ghost Forest? How’d everyone get together
and what other projects might we know you from?
(Gub) That if they want explosive in your face music they have come to the right place. The
record is a taste of our live performance.
(James Kimball) We are streaming on all platforms and have multiple videos. Yes, we are a very high energy live band. We tried to approach recording the album with that same explosive intensity… off the rails!
(James Kimball) Well the three of us have been friends for a couple decades. We’ve done a few things together before, but this band finally came to be after we recorded a movie score for the cult horror film Chicago Rot.
(Gub) I have been in or apart of many Chicago bands such as Gauge, Screeching Weasel, Ivy League, The Aldermen, Red Villian, Ming, and The Streetwisemen. I am also currently in Even In Blackouts.
(James Kimball) My previous bands I’ve been apart of as a member, on recording, or touring musician are Laughing Hyenas, Mule, Denison Kimball Trio, Foetus, and The Jesus Lizard.

What stood out most to you with this recording compared to your previous experiences in the
studio?
(James Kimball) For me there were some different approaches compared to records I have made in the past. We recorded at two locations. The drums recorded in a small theater on the fourth floor at the historic Metro concert venue. We also filmed two music videos up there while I was tracking drums. The rest was recorded at The Rot Studios. We spent a very long time recording and mixing and not all of us were in the studio when some parts were being recorded. The long delay was challenging as we just wanted to get across the finish line.

The record was originally planned to release in 2020, but circumstances pushed the release
back, how did the band handle that delay and what have you been up to over the last
two-plus years?
(Gub) This was a challenge one that says we’re still together. There are nuances with every
studio recording. This one in particular was a challenge to start. We were set to record in March 2020. The world changed as we all know and this pushed back the recording. With the help of Joe Shanahan, (owner of the famous Metro Chicago) thankfully let us record the drums at the venue. With Justin Yates (Trailblazer Studios) engineering skills and Doug McBride’s (Gravity Studios) decades of mastering skills we were able to accomplish the goal.

What does Ghost Forest have in store for fans in 2023 and beyond?
(Gub) Look out fans for tour dates, videos, and new material! We will/are/want to come to your
town/state/country. We will also be releasing the record on vinyl!
(James Kimball) We are working on getting vinyl out as soon as possible. Hoping to do some
touring in the US and Europe. We are writing new songs now and planning recording again.
Thank you very much for interviewing us!

One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found
most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers
may not know about, but you think they should know about?
(Gub) I will say check out these bands from Chicago area. Wrong War, Interesting Bricks, The Well Tempered, Or, The Cougars, and big bird.