Floater with Slow Children

by Cece Fuleki

On Friday, March 16, the WOW Hall is excited to welcome back Floater with special guests Slow Children. Now playing together for over eighteen years, this talented group of musicians is returning to their roots to play some rock and once again shake the WOW Hall floor.

A Eugene-born, Portland-based psychedelic pop-rock trio, Floater started selling out shows at the WOW Hall nearly twenty years ago. They are now recognized for their two preliminary Grammy nominations, USA and Canada tours, and eight album releases. Members are Pete Cornett (drums), Dave Amador (guitar), and Robert Wynia (lead bass and vocals).

Floater began in Eugene as a hard-rock/metal group and released their debut album Sink in 1994. Floater's latest release, 2010's Wake, displays how the band has evolved their musical dynamics -- moving from acoustic to electric while mixing elements of pop, rock and alternative. But for fans, it's about more than just the music. Floater's energy during live performances brings excitement and a rush that constantly leads to sold out shows packed with fans dancing, screaming and immersing themselves in the sound.

We all know that Floater has a legacy, but what is it about this band that sets it apart, making it one of the most successful bands to emerge from Eugene in the past two decades? Having an opportunity to interview Robert Wynia, I got to learn about what it takes to be a successful musician, songwriter, performer, and elements of album production. I found out that it takes more than just good looks.

One element of Floater's success is their ability to stay together as a band for more than eighteen years.

"It's as much of a surprise to us as anyone," writes Rob. "We don't have a strategy or anything like that. We like to improvise live, we like a lot of different styles of music and we play them all."

Having fun playing music and not getting too tied up from a business angle is what has enabled Floater to do what they love for so long. Not desperate to get on the radar of major record labels, Floater keeps their eyes on producing quality songs more than anything.

"We put our focus on what we're creating at the moment. We set our sights on a song, or if we're feeling more grand, we set them on a concept album."

The music of Floater is diverse. Throwing a curve ball with their album Acoustics in 2004, some fans were supportive of the changes while others questioned the direction of the band. Rob talked about how his writing is influenced by elements of his life which are constantly evolving.

"The biggest influence on me, and on us as a band, is what is going on in our lives at the time. That changes how you write, what instruments you focus on... My life is always changing, so why wouldn't my music?"

Life moves at a fast pace for Floater while on the road touring for months at a time. The setting is a crucial part of their writing process. When touring, their songs tend to be more electric, complicated and busy. At home, the writing changes to more mellow, acoustic sounds. As a songwriter, I agree with Rob in that it is inevitable that our experiences will find their way into the lyrics and melody; the two are interchangeable and both are an important part of the writing process.

The production of Wake was, "a breath of fresh air," for Floater, says Rob. Wake has an electric, pop/rock feel, while never quite going back to their older roots in hard rock. While recording the album, there was a lot of freedom to play with tones and experiment in the studio.

"There was a real feeling like we had turned some corner, like our lives and music and our whole approach might never be the same after it."

When it comes to the recording process, Rob is an overachiever. He is involved in every aspect -- writing, mixing, mastering, and even putting together the graphics and photography for the packaging. He dives into every element of the process and has fun with it.

Floater is thrilled to be coming back to the WOW Hall -- which is a special place for the band to play. Originally they were planning to do an all-acoustic set, nervous about the idea of pushing things too far; however, the band will be playing a mix of tunes, including electric, so be prepared for a rock show.

Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 8:00 pm and showtime is 9:00.

SHOWTIME: 9:00 PM, PRICE: $12 Advance, $15 Door. BUY TICKETS NOW http://www.floater.com http://www.myspace.com/floater