Carter Tanton‘s Freeclouds out on Western Vinyl, is the long overdue follow-up to his former band Tulsa’s 2007 EP I Was Submerged. Tulsa spent two years writing and recording their follow-up to the EP, but it was never released due to label and legal struggles. That didn’t stop the singer/songwriter though. He soldiered on by playing guitar for Marissa Nadler and helping her with her record. Inspired by the one and only David Bowie, Tanton emerged with Freeclouds, which were originally intended to be simple, but grew along with Tanton’s vision for what the songs should sound like.  Fresh off a tour with The War On Drugs and Purling Hiss, Tanton took a few minutes to answer some questions from BestNewBands.com, some mundane, some humorous, it’s up to you decide which was which.

DK: What’s the most exciting part of finishing an album? What makes the completion of this record different than any of the others?

CT: I’d say it’s the ability to think about and move onto the next project. I’m often getting ideas for new songs or recordings by the time I’m mixing a record. Freeclouds was different in that it took a few years to truly be complete. In the process, I changed bands, band names, recording studios and record labels.

DK: Did you do anything different during the recording sessions this time as opposed to some of your earlier material?

CT: Yes, I bought a computer and recorded  the record that way. Before, I lugged tape machines the size of refrigerators up flights of stairs into apartments. I miss tape but computers allow me to record anywhere which is convenient while I’m on tour.

DK: What were some of the things, either musically or anything else, that inspired your writing?

CT: Well, I’ve mentioned the David Bowie song “The Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud” before. One band I really have been into for the last year is Durutti Column. He’s one of my favorite guitar players.

DK: How was the tour with The War On Drugs and Purling Hiss? What was your favorite show and city?

CT: Favorite show was San Francisco, but my favorite town was Arcata, CA, where we spent a day off and did some hardcore relaxing.  Both the hiss and drugs became good friends and two of my favorite current bands during tour.

DK: What about that particular city made it memorable?

CT: We cooked dinner and ate out by the ocean.

DK: What’s your typical post-show routine? Partying? Winding down? Eating? Laundry?

CT: Hmm, it varies. Towards the end of a tour I’m partying more. You just get into the habit during the course of things. But ideally, I’d have dinner or something.

DK: Who did most of the driving? Do you like doing the driving or is it annoying?

CT: I do not like driving 8 hours a day for a month straight, nope. But with podcasts and these goddamn addictive iPhones, being cooped up in a car is a lot less boring then it used to be!

DK: So what’s next to top off your busy 2011?

CT: A haircut.