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.
New Jersey trio Night Windows recently released the killer LP, In Memories. By embracing the sadness that comes from growing older and losing those around you, the indie three-piece have crafted something special. TGEFM took a break from the record to chat with Ben Hughes (vocals, guitars, keys) about the band’s sound, their influences and of course, what’s next.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the release of In Memories and the response its received thus far. What can you tell us about yourself and your sound?
Thank you! It’s great to be here. Just like our first two LPs, In Memories was recorded at my house. Now with almost 20 years of experience producing homemade records (tracing back to the early days in my childhood bedroom with whatever type of recording device I could get my hands on), I’ve learned to lean fully into the organic and leverage my limitations. I try to capture good sounds and good straight-through performances, prioritizing feel over accuracy when I can. And I’d be remiss to not mention my friend and longtime bandmate, Ryan, who taught me everything I know about recording and played a major early influence on me as a writer and musician.
Other formative things contributing Night Windows‘ sound: I blew out my voice back in 2016 during a Daytrotter session. We finished the tour, but then after a visit to the ENT, I was directed to take at least 6 months off of singing to let my vocal cords heal. During that time I read novels (Updike, Roth, and the like) and watched TV series (The Office, Breaking Bad, etc.), among other things. Hiked with my wife, Jess, and our dog, Penny. I escaped from tunnel vision, gave up the dream of playing music, got a steady job, and inadvertently came down with something of substance to write about when I finally returned to songwriting.
Playing in other bands, during this time, had an influence on me too: Pilkington, Commonwealth Choir, Upperfields, Jesse Gimbel & Nicklas Hughes. You pick up certain things from each experience and learn to apply them in practice, whether it be how to lock in with the kick drum as a bass player or how to be a better leader in your own band. Really grateful for those experiences. Pilkington recorded their debut LP at Gradwell House in Haddon Heights, NJ. And since then I’ve pumped everything I record at home, for Night Windows, through Matt Weber (mixing) and Dave Downham (mastering) at Gradwell. Those guys work wonders and are a joy to work with. They, no doubt, play an important role in determining our sound.
Lastly, my top 3 all-time favorite albums:
Bright Eyes – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning
Death Cab for Cutie – Transatlanticism
The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site
What have been some of the most memorable moments (most unexpected, weirdest or best) you’ve experienced as musicians?
The making of In Memories. The writing sessions with Tad, the demos, the solo sessions, the band sessions (later dubbed slumber jams by Adam), and the nights Adam and I would spend working in the same Google Docs and Dropbox folders, simultaneously, adding auxiliary parts to tie the whole thing together. The entire process served as a much-needed bright spot during a dark and uncertain time. And to top if all off, Jess threw me and the boys a surprise album release party. Just a perfect, unforgettable night.
On the unexpected/weird front, I played a solo show that stretched for 3 hours at a vaccine clinic/health fair one town over from me. It felt very Flight of The Conchords — I vividly remember one kid wandering through the park on his way home from school and asking, “What is this?” That was a good question, haha. But overall, a positive experience. It gave me an excuse to learn a bunch of covers, which probably actually somewhat informed some of the songwriting for In Memories.
We’ve all got a few. What are your biggest regrets: A gig you turned down, advice you didn’t take, what one thing do you wish you handled differently as a musician?
I always say that it’s hard to regret, knowing you made the best decision that you could at that time. That being said, I wish I didn’t wait so long to start asking for help and advice.
What album or band or significant singles made you go “Yeah, this is what I want to do” Not just an influence but who or what was the catalyst? On the flipside to that one… Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should know about?
Weezer Blue hands down. I had started writing songs a few years before high school, but after getting into Blue (and instantly bonding with Ryan after seeing a Weezer Blue CD hanging out of his backpack in Algebra class) things began to get more serious. As for bands on my radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, I’ve got to point to Masters Of The Hemisphere. You could call them indie rock’s best kept secret. I’m never sure why more folks don’t know about them. Start with Protest A Dark Anniversary, and thank me later.
Not to put the cart before the horse, what’s next for the three of you now that the record is in people’s hands?
More shows! We plan on hitting the road a few more times this year; would really love to get out to the west coast for a run. I’ve also been writing a lot, so hopefully we’ll begin to see at least a vague shape of what the next record or release will look like.
Was there anything we missed or that you’d like to put more focus on?
That’s it from my side, thanks for having us!
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
