Interview by EsteeS

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We Will Build treat their Internet fame as a hammock, instead of trying to paw out of the web and set foot on solid land they seem to be content swaying comfortably in this new method of existence. The Internet and technology in general for them has proven to be a wonderful thing. Aside from being on the edge of Internet fame combustion, technology also plays a large role in their music. Synthetic sounds smoothly blend with organic instrumental sounds to create brilliant pop music full of energy and motion. “This is Necessary” is We Will Build’s upcoming release and band members Zach Johnston and Dan Govier are excited about the lack of limitations they’ve imposed upon themselves with both their musical and business decisions. “It's not that we are against labels, I just never want to have to compromise with a label,” Zach says when I asked about how “This Is Necessary” will be released. “We’re kind of an Internet band, we exist solely on the Internet.” “This Is Necessary” will only be available on iTunes, which is a step forward from their previous untitled collection of songs that are available free for download on We Will Build’s website, www.wewillbuild.net. Zach and Dan make music simply for the joy of making music. They have centralized themselves on the Internet because it makes their music accessible to anyone with a computer, without having to deal with labels, money issues and the evils of the industry. The term “Indie” is increasingly being used to describe a sound of music and has become completely irrelevant. Bands like We Will Build are defining a new meaning of “Indie,” (or reverting back to the original definition of independent music) by using the Internet to do everything themselves. “The first collection of songs that people started to listen to was honestly just Dan and I getting together and having a lot of fun.” Zach says modestly. “I’m for musicians making money and I think they have every right not to have people download their music, but in our case, I just don’t care.” Dan states. The reason they’re making their album available on iTunes, Zach adds, “Is because, It would make We Will Build more official. I don’t plan on getting signed or anything, I just want to make music forever.” However, I can’t imagine We Will Build not getting label offers in the near future. We Will Build does not tour, even though I really want them to. Zach: “We would need at least 20 musicians on stage, I guess we are more about the art of recording itself.” Dan: “The recording process is where the music is written.” Zach: “We’ve never ever played a show. We want to instead, to make up for not playing shows, release albums on a more frequent bases then most bands do.” We Will Build's music reflects brightly their strong friendship, silliness and good intentions. Zach and Dan both grew up in Baraboo, Wisconsin, but Zach is in film school in Toronto, Canada, while Dan is still situated in Baraboo. This causes obvious complications when recording. Zach explains, “Usually when I would come home on a one or two week break we would try to push out one or two songs a week. Recently we’ve been sending files back and fourth though the Internet. That’s how our newer music was made, like ‘Pandemonium’ and ‘Jerusalem.’ This method can be different…when you’re in the room together and you’re working on music together it’s more immediate, your response and energy is reciprocated.” On “This Is Necessary,” We Will Build is experimenting with adding lyrics to their songs. “I can’t sing at all but I don’t really care.” Zach says. “Vocals are like a filmmaker who wants to make a feature film on a digital camera, it’s just a medium that people accept. I understand that people like lyrics and I’m willing to compromise because it’s a new thing for us. We’re trying to completely reinvent ourselves every time we get together.” Their method of attacking their newest album was, as Zach continues to explain, “Let’s make this instantly likable in every measure and try to make as many melodies as we can.” Dan, aside from We Will Build, has a beautiful music project called “Lights.on” but Zach says his own solo efforts continuously end up as We Will Build material. “Sometimes my ego gets away with me and I’m like, ‘I’m going to make a folk album on my own!’ And then I do, and I show it to Dan, and Dan is like, ‘Why don’t I add a harmonica in reverse with 93 effects on it!’ I really can’t say no to that because I like 93 effects on harmonicas in reverse. Then he goes ‘How about I glitch up some drums!’ And then it’s all over and I’m like, ‘Fuck it, make it We Will Build.’” The teamwork in We Will Build is by far one of the most impressive factors. “Through high school I was a huge electronic kid and I didn’t believe the guitar was a useful instrument…then I met Zach.” Dan laughs. “Breaking him out of straight IDM music was amazing!” Zach interjects but Dan quickly holds his ground by saying, “But I also shoved Zach towards the electronic scene.” The friends have a pet name for each other, “Shiz,” that they use interchangeably. It’s cute. For their next album being planned in January, We Will Build wants to make an album entirely without instruments. “What we want to do is take field recordings in certain environments, put that in the computer, then slice it up and do crazy things with it. We won’t use samples or any real instruments,” Zach says. They both expressed curiosity as to how people will take to their new ideas and a side conversation between the two breaks out. Dan: “I think we have some catchy melodies, Shiz.” Zach: “You think so?”