One of my friends’ girlfriends at the time was from Chicago and was listening to them. At the same time, I was acting with Joe Keery. Joe showed me a bunch of Twin Peaks’ music, then I got hooked up with [Twin Peaks’] Cadien [Lake James] through Joe, who’s the guitarist in Twin Peaks. He’s a mentor figure of mine. I was unbelievably inspired by them – I think Clay Frankel is one of the greatest frontmen in rock history.

I have so many memories of recording the first Calpurnia EP with Ciaden. I remember just being annoying, fucking with him a lot, prodding him and poking him. I remember how much I learned as an engineer, I learned a ton. And I remember thinking that Chicago was the coolest city on the planet. Cadien’s 31 now, but at the time he was mid-20s and had already been on tour a bunch and had all these amazing stories. So just being able to ask him: “Cadien, tell me this story, tell me this story.” It was really like a sweet relationship that I’m lucky to still have to this day. 

Do you have any of your favorite stories that you’re able to share? 

Ones that he wouldn’t kill me for sharing? I hope you can interview Cadien one day. I’ll lay the seed now – ask him about a really funny story where they’re crossing the border…