The multi-talented Postcards are really starting to make a name for themselves, especially since the release of their EP, Lakehouse.  Mondanité met with the quatuor right before their concert at beautiful Garden State, to talk about its influences and its role on Lebanon’s current music scene.

 

 

Who are the Postcards ?

 

In simple words, they are friends with a passion for music. Postcards is made up of Julia Sabra on guitar, ukulele, and lead vocals; Marwan Tohme on guitar, accordion, and lead vocals; Pascal Semerdjian on drums, harmonica, and back vocals; and Rany Bechara on bass and back vocals.

 

On how it all started

 

Marwan and Pascal are cousins, and used to play music together as kids. They started off by experimenting with heavy metal, a genre they particularly dug at the time. The two of them met Julia at a camp during summer 2012. They liked her voice a lot, and offered her to jam with them. Incidentally, Julia grew up in a musical family, and has always been into it. Rany, the bassist, was the last to join, and had no difficulty finding his place amidst the rest of the band.

 

How they came up with the name “Postcards” ?

 

It’s actually a bit by chance… They couldn’t really find a name that everyone liked, and one day, just decided on Postcards, which they got from the song Postcards from Italy by Beirut. The name is catchy and they feel it fits their style of music.

 

On their musical background, and influences.

 

They find their inspiration everywhere, in nature, in music they like. Apart from their own pieces, the band occasionally covers artists such as Beirut, Mumford and Sons, Angus & Julia Stone and Fleet Foxes.

If you’re into indie-folk style, you’ll love this band that’s made of amazing musicians and vocalists, and their mix of talents (how many artists do you know who can play the ukulele, the accordion, the harmonica, and the cello?!).

 

What about the music scene in Lebanon? How rewarding or motivating is it?

 

The music scene is growing fast in Beirut, and possibilities are numerous.

Indeed, they have performed at numerous shows since their early beginnings less than a year ago (including opening for The Royal Concept) and have been growing ever since.

 

However, it can be very discouraging at times, especially when you realize how hard it is for Lebanese artists to make a name for themselves outside of Lebanon…

 

On their newly-released EP,  “Lakehouse”.

 

This 5-track EP – which is quite an accomplishment for such a young band – is a fairly immersive experience:  it builds its own little world of mountains, trees, lakes, seas, and passionate lovers using nature as a playground around the listener, taking him on a beautiful journey.  The quatuor entirely financed and produced the album, and even more amazing, they were able to write and record the songs over the course of the summer. Speak about talent…

On how Lebanon, one of the world’s most improbable places, may reflect on their music.

 

Somehow, those young people have managed to escape the tentacles of their country. In their own very sane way, they do not feel at all that they are the mirror of this country. They have their own preoccupations, that are more related to their age and the issues it incurs. They are completely insensitive to politics and battles of power.

 

On the challenges they have to face today.

 

All they want is to live and breathe the music – make it their full time job. And that is the main challenge for them today: be able to make a living out of it.

 

P.S.