ian

Young three-piece IAN hail from Boston, but the past couple of months they have been trying Los Angeles on for size, and why not? They make giddy, lo-fi power-pop that’s a perfect fit for the Burger/Lollipop Records scene, and then there’s that part about East Coast winters. Anyway, the trio of Jilian Medford, Tim Cheney and Damien Scalise released a self-titled EP in August, and to use a Beantown reference, it’s not hard to imagine some of these songs (like “I Don’t Care”) as Blake Babies demos. Enjoy your stay in L.A., guys.
- See more at: http://www.buzzbands.la/2015/01/09/stream-ian-youre-cryin-dont-care/#sthash.G3FTpDnA.dpuf - Buzzbands LA

When the Boston dreampop outfit IAN hops on bills around town, a bit of confusion sometimes ensues.

“I remember we played a show, and one of the guys in the band before us came up to me afterward and was like, ‘I thought you were going to be my friend Ian [of Guerilla Toss]! I was bummed, but now I’m really happy,’ ” vocalist-guitarist Jilian Medford recalls, laughing, over coffee at the Pavement near Avenue of the Arts. That sad-then-pleased reaction is appropriate to IAN’s music: The trio specializes in feedback-drenched, taut rock given a twist by Medford, whose girlish vocals manage to sound effervescent even when she’s singing of heartbreak.


Medford moved to Boston from the suburbs of Los Angeles, which was where she also picked up the name for her eventual musical project. “Everyone asks me, Where did you get the name? and I’m like, Jil-ian. When I was in high school, a friend of mine started calling me Ian and it caught on. I moved here and it didn’t, but I wanted to bring it back.”

She came here to study at Berklee, but Medford’s journey to Boston’s DIY scene took a little bit of time. “At Berklee there are a lot of singer-songwriters, and I was trying to force myself to write that way, but it wasn’t really working for me,” Medford says. “In my second year here, a friend of mine told me about a show that was happening [in Jamaica Plain]. Designer and Japanther were playing — it was a stacked lineup and I met so many people, and I knew that was where I was supposed to be. It took a year to find it, but it was worth the whole uncomfortable time to get there. I started phasing out the singer-songwriter stuff and transitioned to a realm that I had always been comfortable with.”

Medford, now in her final year at Berklee, released the solo EP “Have You Ever Loved Anything This Much?” on Blood Oath Slumber Party in March; some of the songs on that album also appear on “IAN,” which came out in August on Bufu. She met drummer Tim Cheney around the time she released “Loved,” then brought in bassist Damien Scalise and reworked the songs for a full band.

IAN
Cuisine En Locale, Somerville http://www.bostonhasslefest.com

Also performing:
Boston Hassle Fest VI
Ticket price:
Donations of $25 and higher
The differences between Medford’s solo versions and those played by the group are stark, but both provide rich listening experiences. Take “If You’re Cryin”: The earlier version is a warm blanket, with Medford’s distortion-shrouded voice murmuring promises of fealty while waves of guitar roll through. On “IAN,” though, the song is a sweetly rolling ballad that sounds rescued from a college radio station’s mid-’90s time capsule; Scalise’s bass line and Cheney’s precise drums recall A-sides from indie stalwarts like Tsunami and Velocity Girl. Medford’s singing is still veiled in reverb, but it soars as the song shuffles and stutters around her.

IAN is still a fairly new project, and Medford and her bandmates aren’t averse to adding new bits of flair to songs during shows. “It’s continually evolving, because every time we play, it’s different, and we realize things about ourselves,” Medford says. “Like, ‘You did that weird thing — do that forever.’ ”

Reworking existing songs is a bit different from songwriting, but Medford is pleased with the gradual manner in which the band members are getting to know each other. “We’re all figuring out if we can write together, because before it was like, Here are the chords! But it’s great that we can go through these phases,” she says.

Over the coming weeks, IAN will play a handful of shows in Boston and New York; the itinerary includes a set at Boston Hassle Fest VI, a two-day underground rock celebration at Cuisine En Locale in Somerville on Nov. 7 and 8 (IAN plays on Nov. 7). In December, Medford, Scalise, and Cheney will head to the West Coast for six weeks of shows; Cheney, a freelance film editor, will stay in California, while Medford and Scalise will return to finish their studies at Berklee.

After that, the future of IAN — and its geographic location — is up in the air. But Medford treasures her time in Boston, particularly its cassette-and-house-show-filled DIY scene.

“There’s this crazy noise scene with the Guerilla Toss people, there’s an electronic scene with Couples Counseling, and then there’s this pop scene where we try to fit in,” she says. “I feel like I’m influenced by every single one. Everyone is so supportive, and it’s really unbelievable that I can be a part of it, and that I have been a part of it.” - Boston Globe

Local Trio IAN Makes Noise in Boston Before Heading West - BDC Wire

‘IAN’ is the self-titled release from a Boston musician in the middle of a prolific streak. What makes this new one from Jillian Medford stand out is its recruitment of a backing band. Suddenly emotive, already powerful songs gained a bigger charge. On ‘Don’t Call Me’, in particular, cries of “I’m sorry” sound so much more potent when they’re being thrashed out in a rhythmic sway. Marching drums clatter into the frame, and throughout, Medford’s vocals are actually enhanced in this kind of envrionment. New to IAN? Get to know everything on Bandcamp and stream the latest, greatest, release up above. - DIY magazine

Bedroom fuzz always makes me weak in the knees. Nathan Williams’ Wavves first record raged its way into my heart pretty much at its first atonal thrash. More recently, Casino Hearts‘ latest heartwarming buzzing made an impression on us. And of course, we can’t forget the wishy washy canon of Ariel Pink. When you fall in love with something in that solo state, there’s room for disappointment in the chasm a song must navigate in its journey from bedroom recording project to full band.

Boston’s IAN certainly didn’t fall off the path on that transition. Jillian Medford’s busy year of solitary recording has blossomed into the self-titled EP by IAN, featuring the backing power of drums, bass and guitar. The added members brought back old songs in new-and-improved sound. “yOu confuse me” deploys its original kinetic distortion and squealing from one guitar into a full band and the cymbal clanging smooths out the guitar and vocals like spreading wet cement on the floor of a new garage. “Big Dog” keeps the spotlight on Medford and a new respect for watery echo and smooth ascents to big sound bridges.

Stand out, though, is a new one; the EP’s opener. “Don’t Call Me” keeps Medford’s twee side at the fore while the subtle cymbal work lets the guitar strums soar in a sweet state of melancholy before the full band really gets to introduce themselves. - Impose Magazine

Genre: Alternative / Rock

Hometown: Boston, MA, America

Label: Bufu Records

Links: Facebook / Bandcamp

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IMN: Hello Jilian Medford aka IAN. What’s with the name? Are you a massive fan of Ian McKellen or something?

We love IAN McKellen, he’s a special guy. But in reality the name IAN has been a nickname since high school and I’ve been using it for my solo project since. The name stuck as it evolved into a 3-piece.

IMN: Interesting. You released your self-titled EP last month, what’s it about?

This album is a purging of everything this project has been in the past. Most of these songs existed in some form before we started playing together. We wanted to put down something solid to show how the project is progressing and where it could go in the future. It’s a kind of a jumping off point for the band. Some of the newer tracks like – ‘I Don’t Care’:

and – ‘Great Big Dog’:

are sort of steps in a new direction.

IMN: What was it like working with Mark Fede and Zach Weeks?

We were kind of crunched for time when we decided to record this EP. We were about a month and a half away from heading back on the road and wanted to have something solid to bring with us. Mark Fede is the “go to” guy around here (Boston). He’s done some incredible work with bands like Designer:

and Guerilla Toss:

so we immediately thought of him. He came to see us play and was into it, so we set up a few days in July and put it down. It worked out really well. Mark is a perfectionist for sure, but he was super patient with us as we were still tying up loose ends on some of the songs, and had only vague ideas for some of the things we wanted to add. We ate a lot of candy and drank a lot of high life, and after a week of recording and mixing we had something.

None of us have met Zach Weeks. Ben from Bufu Records gave us his name and when we contacted him we said we needed it mastered and fast! He responded with tons of feedback and options literally the next day and after a few emails back and forth it was done. We would love to meet him and we definitely owe him dinner.

IMN: What’s your favourite track off the album?

Depends who you ask, they’re all fun to play. For me – ‘Born Good’ – has a lot of importance:

It’s the oldest song on the EP and has evolved so much. It’s kind of a definitive IAN song. ‘Great Big Dog’ – is the first song that we wrote completely as a band, so I feel like the boys have an affinity for that one.

IMN: I cried listening to – ‘Don’t Call Me’:

IMN: Was that intentional or an unfortunate consequence?

It ain’t easy being lonely.

IMN: You can say that again. You recently embarked on a tour around America. How was it?

It was really special. We learned a lot about performing this time. We had just acquired some new gear and were having some issues with sounds and effects for the first few shows. After an emergency trip to a music shop in Manhattan and some experimenting on stage it all came together. We had a lot of fun and we all lost our minds at different points. I think that’s the way it has to be, you have to let go of your everyday home life and I think your mind has to snap at some point to allow change.

IMN: Did you meet any weird people or fans?

Yes, definitely. The good kind though.

IMN: I’m intrigued by this picture you took while on tour in Philadelphia.

10644836 741145262611664 7093582034490636004 n Interview / Jilian Medford Of IAN

IMN: What’s happening here?

Remember what I said about your mind snapping?

IMN: It’s snapped. Do you have any other plans for 2014?

We’re going to play some more shows and write for the next few months, then we’re heading to the west coast of America for a few weeks into January.

IMN: Cool. How’s the Boston music scene holding up? I’m a massive fan of Paige Chaplin.

I used to go to school with Paige. We used to play in singer-songwriter showcases together. She is a gem and a really special girl, I adore her still. But the scene we run in is a bit different. The music scene here has always been pretty noisey. Lately it’s been really frenetic and I think that’s pushed us to keep our shows really energetic.

IMN: I like. Finally – what do you think of these guys?

We’ve heard a lot about Sunflower Bean, we’d love to play with them. Good vibes, cool hair.

IMN: Sorry, I have really bad OCD. I can’t leave without asking one more question to take us up to 12. I’ll ask something random. Beans on toast or toast on beans?

I don’t like beans, it’s the texture.

IMN: Ditto! I hate beans. Anyway – have a nice day and see you around some time.

See you around. - Independent Music News

When local band IAN releases a new tape of their legendary sad-girl anthems, there is a whole lot to be happy about. Thanks to the magic of BUFU Records, the band’s quiet bedroom pop is taken out of the bedroom and moved into the garage. Equipped with the full band, the songs are filled out with fuzzier, grungier sound. By embracing a bit more noisiness, IAN creates determined energy and the songs deliver the emotions behind them with confidence. Yet they are more than just garage-set rock, and the tracks utilize little tricks to give them unique dreamy qualities . There are songs with erratic rhythms and jangly bridges. Some have whirly distortion and feedback. With deliberately struck chords, the melancholy mood is set even on the most upbeat tracks.

Then there is the unmistakable voice of singer Jillian Medford, which is a force that stands all on its own. Intertwined with the music and often accented with echoing effects, there is a special synergy. On tracks like “If You’re Cryin”, it meets the instruments as they crash together at the perfect moments. On others like “I Don’t Care” it takes center stage, reaching a high squeak or soaring along earnestly. With the distinct tone of her voice, no emotions could possibly get lost in the mix. The lyrics are just as poignant, using simple poem-like rhymes to express complicated emotions. The songs stare you down with wide eyes, sad and sweet all at once, and it would be impossible not to listen.

BUFU Records proves again that they will never stop bringing the world the some of the best Boston jams, and you can get IAN now as a tape or digital version. Try and catch the band on their tour with Littlefoot, or be keeping an eye out for when they get back. - Boston Hassle