They’ve been teasing us for a while now, releasing singles here and there – as far back as a year ago, with “Let Loose,” and “Leagues.” Minneapolis-based five-piece Bora York (Rebekah Bartels [vocals], Chris Bartels [vocals, guitars, keys], Brian Seidel [guitars], Bjorn Nilsen [drums], Jamie Kauppi [bass]) has finally released their second full-length album, Secret Youth, following their 2013 release of Dreaming Free. Collaborating with talented names such as Matthew Call, Josiah Kosier, Charlie Wirth, and Cory Wong, this brainchild project of Chris Bartels radiates the energy of many. It’s unabashedly a pop album, with the heart of an indie rock geek; which makes for a stellar party-playlist pick, road trip mix, or live performance. Although Secret Youth is already out in the world (released July 21, 2015), this Friday, Bora York takes to the stage for a real-time debut of their best material yet.
It’s kind of a funny story, but I met Bora York at their first show. I had just moved to Minneapolis in 2012, and was at 7th Street Entry for possibly the third or fourth time ever. (I’ve since lost count. Fifty, sixty, maybe?) Forever remembered for the moment’s combined novelty, I gushed to Chris and Rebekah about how wonderful they were live, how I planned to work in the Minneapolis music scene, and promised to keep in touch. Sometimes it’s fun how things turn out.
A few weeks ago, I got to catch up with Chris and Rebekah Bartels of Bora York, over beef and lamb gyros, quinoa salad, and garlic mashed potatoes, and hummus and pita at Zakia Deli in NE. Besides the food, we discussed everything from where Secret Youth got its inspiration, and the pros and cons of playing lots of lives shows, to managing a musician’s life with a young kid at home (their son Elliott now just around one year old).
These two juggle much in their lives, but seem no worse for the wear. In fact, Bora York’s second full length was produced and released independently on Chris’ own Anthem Falls Music. Rebekah herself is on the cover, making the most of what they thought was a bad series of photos at a press shoot. And she won’t admit it outright, but her fantastic voice isn’t her only talent – she also plays drums (although not on this album). They’re a pair, and five-piece, overflowing with skill and creative ideas, but a humble bunch at that. So since they won’t come out and proclaim how fantastic their new record is, I’ll hail back to that excited young woman of 2012 to help them do it.
KS: When did Secret Youth start happening? Was there a lot of left over material from Dreaming Free or was there some kind of break in between before something new?
CB: It was such a fun process with Dreaming Free, I don’t think we ever considered not making another album, so it was just a matter of what kind of style. We wanted to grow, but also have that same essence to it.
RB: After we released Dreaming Free, we played a bunch live. After a while, we were like, we need a couple new ones. Once we started brainstorming, and getting creative with where we felt like we were moving to, we’d add a couple of those in. There was a single we’d play live, and thought ‘we should put that on the album!’ Because it didn’t fit with the other one.
CB: “Midnight Glow” was a song for fun, that was before any of the Dreaming Free stuff. It matched the new style more… thought ‘that’s a fun one to do… let’s do that one.’ But playing live definitely influenced where we went with the album.
KS: “It sounds like the 80’s” isn’t an insult in my book unless it’s the only descriptor you have for a band. But Dreaming Free does have the shoegazey side of the 80’s, and Secret Youth is more the dancey side of the 80’s. There’s more of a mellow sound in the previous release, and now it’s more of a peppy feel.
CB: The first one is more ambient… but the few dance elements we had, are so fun live, and we get the most reaction out of that, and we were listening to more of that. Dreaming Free was more exploration, was supposed to be a folk album. I knew Rebekah would sing on it, but then was like ‘no, you need to sing this chorus’ and then… we needed another front person. The new album, you know, let’s make some heavy hitting pop songs, intentionally from the start. “Secret Youth” and “Forever Ocean” come to mind.
RB: The second album has a lot more power behind my vocals. This one is groovy, funky, powerful songs, for me especially.
KS: What other bands were you listening to while making Secret Youth?
CB: Daft Punk… [laughs] for the disco element to it. And even, Toro Y Moi, he’s all over the board. But I liked that, whereas him and Washed Out always get coupled together as chillwave pioneers.
KS: To me they’re in different camps…
CB: Yeah they get pegged as that together, but Washed Out has a definitive ‘ambient dreamy’… was a really big influence for the first album. And then Toro, I started listening to a little more after.
KS: The newest album [Toro Y Moi] is much more modern indie rock than Washed Out, because each song is different, it actually has singles, whereas you always could listen to Washed Out in one big go.
RB: More bounce, yeah? [laughs]
KS: This time around, the focus seems to be all different types of collaborations. How did those come about?
CB: We wanted to, as much as we could. With schedules, even within the band, it’s tough. It’s not like in bands when you’re a teenager… now if we can even get a practice in once a month, we’re good! It’s what we can do. So as far as writing and recording, it’s just really fun to collaborate, have the guys come in as much as we can with the band, and musician friends that we have. First and foremost, bring in the people that are better than me – at that specific instrument, it spices it up. Or they think of different things, or a route we wouldn’t necessarily go. And then B, just to have more people feel like they’re a part of this, is really exciting, more people feel like they can have ownership on this project. It’s more satisfying than if you did everything in your bedroom by yourself, and then were like ‘hey everyone look at this!’ – it would still be cool, but it wouldn’t be as exciting.
RB: I think it reflects the whole Minneapolis music scene and community, always playing with each other. It’s like yeah, we want other people involved in it. We support them, they support us.
CB: I mean, why not.
KS: Where was it recorded?
CB: A few different places. A lot of it was at home, our apartment. We did some at Humans Win Studio. And a little bit at Echoboys, where I work. And a couple people’s houses. Gotta be mobile, just took my laptop.
KS: What was a favorite part of the process?
RB: Some of the songs, I wrote the melodies for, and it’s just fun when you’re writing the song… I’m sitting in the kitchen, he’s watching the baby, and I can put the headphones on, I’m like, “okay I think I got something!” and I’ll sing it and he’s like, “yes!” Or I’ll think of something completely different than he would have imagined, and, “oh, that really goes well.” Those moments, for me, since he does most other writing, it’s like “I contributed!” It’s cool that what he wrote, and I can come up with, jell. “Secret Youth” was one of those ones.
CB: Collaboration in different places, with people, seeing what they come up with. How we work, it’s bits and pieces at a time. I think it’d be fun to do an album sometime, where you have the songs written and go into the studio hardcore for two weeks, but that’s not what we do. Working with other people on the album, seeing what they come up with. Most of the time of the recording process, it’s me, myself, and I, which is fine, but it’s more fun…
RB: …when the other guys get excited! The more passion each of us puts into it, the more we’re all going to feel it.
KS: Summarize Secret Youth in one phrase.
CB: “It will make you feel young and carefree again.”
RB: “When they’re done with a day of work, it’s the first thing they want to listen to.”
Bora York Secret Youth Album Release Show
with guests Verskotzi and Graveyard Club
Varsity Theater
Friday, August 21
7pm doors | 8pm music
$8 | 18+
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