Ratboys have just released their fourth album, The Window, on Topshelf (order yours). It’s their second album since the founding duo of vocalist/guitarist Julia Steiner and guitarist Dave Sagan solidified their lineup with bassist Sean Neumann (Jupiter Styles, Single Player) and drummer Marcus Nuccio (Dowsing, Pet Symmetry, The Please & Thank Yous, Mountains For Clouds), but first written collaboratively as a four-piece, and it was also their first album recorded outside of their hometown of Chicago. They made it in Seattle with producer Chris Walla, formerly of Death Cab For Cutie, who they met because of Walla’s work with Ratboys’ past tourmates Foxing.
Julia made us a list of things that inspired the new album, with commentary on each pick, including Maps & Atlases (who also get musically and lyrically referenced on the album), Land of Talk, Nile Rodgers, Chris Walla himself, a cat named Moose, and more. Read on for what she had to say…
Our Damn Basement
From March 2020 through February of 2022 (when we drove out to Seattle to make the new record), we spent so much time in our basement practicing and writing new songs. It’s the place where we came together to start hashing out the songs on The Window, where we practiced twice a week to get ready to record the songs, and where we goofed off in front of a green screen for a year straight, just to stay sane. It became a sacred place for us.
Petoskey, MI
In August 2020, the four of us took a truly lovely trip up to the top of Michigan’s lower peninsula to keep hashing out the songs and record some demos. We drove through the tunnel of trees to the Legs Inn, watched the Oasis doc and Spinal Tap back-to-back, and began crafting many ideas that wound up on The Window.
Land of Talk
A lot of the drum and guitar tone choices on the album were informed by this band that we all love. The band became a north star point of reference for the four of us, and a new discovery for Chris. Land of Talk was definitely a notable entry in our musical exchange that took place throughout the recording session.
Moose, the Cat
While we were staying in Seattle, we house-sat for our friend Tom Fitzgibbon while he was on tour and also took care of his cat, Moose. Although it was really the other way around, looking back. Each morning after I ate breakfast, I would sit on the couch, and she would climb onto my chest, knead her paws, and make unblinking, sustained eye contact, which seemed to tell me, “You will do well today.” We love you forever, little Miss Moosey.
Nile Rodgers
There are a lot of fun little bits and bobs that live in the studio and feel really magical. One of these was a bright red, extremely thin guitar pick that had long ago fallen out of Nile Rodgers’ pocket in an elevator (an elevator a Mr. Chris Walla happened to be riding). The Nile Rodgers pick became my secret weapon. I used it to track all of the acoustic guitars on the record.
Maps & Atlases
This was one of the first bands that Dave showed me when we met as lil’ music nerd 18-year-olds in the Fall of 2010. That whole time was filled with so much profound wonder and joy and discovery for all of us, and it was really fun to try to encapsulate that era (and call back to it musically!) in the song “I Want You (Fall 2010).”
The Toyota Sequoia
It feels slightly silly to memorialize a car, but our beloved Toyota Sequoia SUV really does feel like something of a fifth band member. It’s been by our sides (or under them I guess…) for seven-plus years of touring, and it carried us forth on the six-day round trip journey to and from Seattle. The speakers are lovably blown, but they’re honestly a great tool to have. If a mix sounds good in the Sequoia, it’s probably good to go.
Chris Walla
Our trusted collaborator, friend, sunset enthusiast, tinkerer, deep diver, tone philosopher, etc., etc., etc. I remember within the first five minutes of meeting Chris, we bonded over loving the bands Yes and ABBA. We made pleasant small talk in the pouring rain. We watched deranged Steve Miller Band ’80s music videos to unwind. We wore leather gloves and a headlamp to track tambourine. We had so much fun recording The Window and it was all because of this guy.
Taco Time
One of the first venerable Seattle institutions that Chris encouraged us to try was Taco Time, a local fast food chain, which serves Mexican-esque cuisine. Maybe? I don’t know how to describe it. We all went to Taco Time together after Abby Gundersen recorded the violin in “Morning Zoo,” and it was a deeply satisfying experience.
Wordle
Wordle was really poppin’ off while we were in the studio. The four of us and Chris would share our little squares each morning via text before we headed in. We even got Chris’ parents into it when they stopped by the studio one day! A wholesome and enriching activity. E-N-J-O-Y.
