Unique is one word I would use to describe indie/folk-pop band Bombadil. HEAVE got a chance to catch up with Bombadil member Bryan Rahija to talk about their latest album, A Buzz, A Buzz, as well as touring, entertainment and a few other mysteries.

HEAVE: A Buzz, A Buzz is quite a unique album. Did you guys have any concept or plan for what you wanted the album to turn out like?

Bryan Rahija: I think mostly we wanted to just make the best album we could. We recorded a total of 17 tracks and kept the ones that we thought were the best studio interpretations of themselves. Some of the songs that made the final cut were surprises - “One Two Three,” for example, was something that Daniel just sat down and tried in one take. It was one of the first songs he'd ever written and so was a little different from the others, but we all liked the delivery and decided to keep it. There were other songs that we were really rooting for but that in the end just didn't quite sound like we wanted them to.

HEAVE: Many of your songs feature story telling; are the characters in your music based on real people, or are they mainly fictional?

BR: All the songs are actually non-fiction – “Julian of Norwich” is an old mystic from the 1400s, “Johnny” is based off of the experience of one of Stuart's friends, “Cavaliers” is a Quixotian fight song of sorts for my old high school (go Cavs!) They say to write what you know, so we try and stick to that, or at least the faraway corners of what we know.

HEAVE: Your music is very eclectic; where did you find all the unique instruments you use, and was it hard integrating them into your music.

BR: The instruments come from all kinds of places - a most recent addition was a pair of kids maracas that someone sent us along with a box of cookies. We try to keep our eyes open wherever we go. Actually one of my top three regrets in my entire life was passing up the offer to buy a steel drum for $90 at a store in Gainesville. As for integrating the instruments, the most important thing for us is always the song itself. We try and add in things based on what the song itself calls for and how it makes us think or feel. Some of my favorite recordings are of just an old blind guy and a guitar and we try and keep that in mind - sometimes that's all it takes.

HEAVE: Are there any songs that you enjoy playing more than the rest?

BR: Lately I've really enjoyed playing this new tune, “Kuala Lumpur.” It might be the only song where I'm allowed to stomp, clap, hoot, holler, sing AND strum. Plus it has all of us singing in unison and a recorder / tenor recorder duet that I really enjoy.

HEAVE: Bombadil is an interesting name. How did you come up with that?

BR: An old friend actually came up with that name for us. Tom Bombadil is a character in the first Lord of the Rings book who basically is off in his own little world - he's totally immune to the temptation of the ring and just lives in the forest with his wife and sings songs and talks to animals. Our friend was reading LOTR while we were searching for a name and suggested “Bombadil.” We hadn't read the books, but after reading the brief passage with the character we felt we could identify with his personality and role in the books.

HEAVE: How did your stage attire come to be?

BR: The stage attire has been evolving over time. The goal has always been to wear clothes that match the music - maybe something that a character in a song would wear, maybe something that brings out the colors or tones in a song or that embodies a song entirely. In the beginning this meant things like suspenders and old man hats and later it was marching band outfits or colorful suits. These days we've taken to making our own modifications to clothes, since it's hard to find exactly what we're looking for.

HEAVE: Is there any particular place that you enjoy playing, or passing through the most while on tour?

BR: We're in Oregon right now for the first time and it has been quite lovely. Another place that comes to mind is a little bookstore in Baltimore called the Baltimore Chop. It's always an intimate show - the place is so small that we don’t need to use mics, which in my mind is great...there's something about a microphone that creates a barrier between audience and performer that I don't like. Anyways, the wood floors make for sweet acoustics, plus it's got a great collection of offbeat books and great danishes. You can't beat it.

HEAVE: You must come across crowds at some point during tours who haven't ever had a musical experience like your own. How do you think they react to it?

BR: It certainly can catch people off guard, but thus far, the response has been pretty positive. One of the neat things we've found is that people of all ages can usually find something to like. Somehow we've gotten a lot of moms in our crowds? Our music is mom-approved! I figure if they can like it, that's a good thing.

HEAVE: Have there been any bands that were a particular joy to tour with?

BR: There's a guy out of Concord, NC called Paleface that's sort of a good-luck charm for us. Every show we've had with the guy has gone just great...there's just something about having him around. The guy just has great tunes and great energy. We like playing with him so much that we're going for about a one-month stretch in August together--hopefully we can survive riding around in the same van for that long across this massive country.

HEAVE: Alright, now for a few quickies- newest CD?

BR: The last record I bought was a Victor Jara record - this Chilean guy that wound up getting put to death by the Pinochet regime. A friend recommended him highly and so I ordered the disc on a whim. It wound up being one of those rare, wonderful experiences where you really enjoy a new CD despite knowing next to nothing about the artist.

HEAVE: Reading anything?

BR: Yeah, we're sort of bookworms, especially with all the van time lately. Daniel usually rides around with a Spanish-English dictionary in one had and a book of Latin American short stories in another hand. Stuart's got his Forbes magazines and James is usually plowing through some book that appeals to his history-major sensibilities. One of my recent favorites was a Cormac McCarthy book - Blood Meridian. It really captures the bleakness of the old west and the antagonist is downright haunting. There's this great scene to start things out when he storms into one of those traveling evangelical tents and sets off a riot by saying the preacher is guilty of child molestation and all these other atrocities. Later in the pub when asked how he knew the dirt on the preacher, he proudly states that he has never seen the man, nor even heard of him for that matter, before that day. I heard they're making a movie of it and is has me sort of nervous.

HEAVE: Last movie you saw?

BR: I think the last movie I watched was Beowulf. It's truly amazing what they can do with animation these days.

HEAVE: Favorite fruit juice?

BR: As a band, probably grenadine. We have a habit of ordering Shirley Temples when we first walk into a bar or room.

HEAVE: And lastly, “Rock Band” or “Guitar Hero?”

BR: Oh man, I am a disaster at both games. Probably Rock Band since it comes with that sweet drum kit.