Charged Up: Detroit’s Electric Six

Hour Detroit talked with vocalist Tyler “Dick Valentine” Spencer about the new album, fan gifts, and the industry
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Photograph by Alicia Gbur

• SINCE FINDING SUCCESS in 2003 with the single “Danger! High Voltage,” Electric Six has issued an album annually. In October, the local sextet released Heartbeats and Brainwaves.

Hour Detroit talked with vocalist Tyler “Dick Valentine” Spencer about Heartbeats, fan gifts, and the industry.

How does Heartbeats and Brainwaves differ from your previous releases?

It’s the first album that our guitar player, John Nash, produced. It’s a tad synth-ier … and the vocals were recorded in various bathrooms that belong to band members.

How is it similar?

We’ve done home recording for the last several albums. We’re not really big on going into a big, fancy studio … when we could do it much more efficiently and at our own pace. If you want to record at 1 in the morning, you just … do it.

What’s the most interesting thing a fan has done for you?

Lately, people bring things. You might meet a person who makes canoes that’ll bring a canoe to the show for you [that] they hand-crafted [from] a tree ….  Then you realize you don’t have a place for a canoe.

How do you feel about the state of the music industry?

It’s vibrant and exciting. There’s so much more room for do-it-yourself. When we started … the idea was you had to be on a major label. None of that matters anymore — nobody cares. … I think it’s better.

Electric Six headline St. Andrew’s Hall Dec. 23; electricsix.com.

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