While spending time living in North Dakota, I must say that my top local musical discovery was definitely Secret Cities. They are a three-piece psych-pop project that contains some of the most mind-blowing harmonies that my ears have ever heard. It was not long after I first heard them that Western Vinyl also noticed them and signed them to their label. With the power of the Internet, I was recently able to learn a bit more about this band as Charlie Gokey (Guitar/Vocals) answered a few questions for us.

Dan Cordie: Can you give credit to a single experience or artist for your choosing to create music?

Charlie Gokey: Not really, the urge probably dates back to adolescent rockstar fantasies for me.  However, Elephant 6 played a major role in shaping how Marie, Alex and I approach making music.  A shared love of that stuff is more or less what brought us together in the first place.

DC: When did each of you meet and how would describe the experience of creating new music?

CG: Marie and I go way back; we met at music camp when we were maybe 14.  We met Alex a few years later on the internet.  Because we’ve never really lived in the same place (with the exception of this past year), we’ve always written and recorded long distance.  It’s a great, laid back kind of process that can just be part of our lives rather than a big, discrete event.

DC: Who are some past/current artists who inspire you?

CG: For the past year I’ve found myself gravitating toward girl groups, Brill Building type stuff, Dusty Springfield, and Orange Juice.  I guess I’ve got a thing for self-aware innocence and humor in music.   Also, I think all three of us have been pretty inspired by some of the bands we’ve been fortunate enough to share a stage with over the last few months of touring, bands like the Luyas, Ava Luna, Abe Vigoda and Pujol. 

DC: What was the highlight of your SXWS experience?

CG: Definitely the Western Vinyl (our label) showcase on the last night.  We got a chance to see our label mates in action and they were all so, so good.  We felt really proud to be a part of something so special.  It was a great night.

DC: Is there a story behind the name Secret Cities?

CG: I wanted to suggest Invisible Cities (a wonderful book by Italo Calvino) but that was taken.  Secret Cities seemed was close with bonus alliteration points.

DC: What is the craziest thing you have seen while touring?

CG: That’s tough! There were some venues we played in Europe that were pretty crazy: an unbelievably stunning opera house, a tiny storefront that opened into a massive room carved into the side of a mountain, etc.  Pretty much everything we saw at SXSW seemed insane, particularly the guy DJing an empty parking lot and rapping at the kids about how Sparks is the coolest thing to drink, with one lonely spokeswoman dancer. I guess that’s just how that festival is.

DC: Are there any other bands who you feel our readers should check out?

CG: Alex has a side project called Tut Tut that just recorded an awesome record; watch out for that sometime in the next year.  Everyone should check out Ava Luna too, a crazy art-soul band from New York that we’re all obsessed with.  Our Southern-fried punk friends Pujol and Minneapolis shoe-gazers Gospel Gossip are other favorites.  We also spent hours listening to the Luyas on tour after catching their mind-blowing show in Tilberg.

DC: Being based out of North Dakota, when you have free time in Fargo what is your go to spot?

CG: Marie and I have both been moving around a bit lately, but when we’re back in Fargo we spend our time at the Aquarium (a really, really cool venue).  That place is amazing, great sound and wonderful bands coming through all the time.

DC: Have you always created psych-pop music? If not, what other genres have you dabbled in?

CG: I tried my hand at hip hop production for a while.  We also recorded a disco version of Pink Graffiti.  MJ has a classical background, and Alex and I have both played in hardcore bands.  We’re all over the map musically but we always tend to come back to psych-pop.

DC: Where do you hope to be as a band in the upcoming year?

CG: I imagine that we’ll keep writing and recording from home, with some touring here and there.  We’re all moving to separate cities (again), but that’s never stopped us before.

DC: Do you have any final thoughts for our readers?

CG: Thanks for caring enough about us to read an entire interview!

You can pick up the sophomore release from Secret Cities – Strange Hearts – today on Amazon.

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