Extra Life

By Sean Maldjian, Contributor

Extra Life

A self-portrait by, Charlie of Extra Life

Would you rather…

bathe in nail polish or shower spoiled milk?

Idk, nail polish I suppose. It’s closer to smells that I actually enjoy.

Some questions with Charlie of Extra Life

How do you feel about bodega cats?

I can’t say I love cats, but I miss NY bodegas with all my heart. I’ve been living in LA for a

couple years, and I can’t wait to move back home next year.

What inspired a follow up album to your 2008 release “Secular Works”

COVID, middle age, amor fati

What is the best pizza in NYC?

I’m going to get assassinated for naming a Manhattan spot, but I think NY Pizza Suprema is as good as (better than???) Di Fara’s or Spumoni Gardens. I used to work two blocks away and I’d get the imported pepperoni Sicilian slice almost every day. It’s seriously unreal.

How did you approach this release versus the original? Were there any major changes in your creative process or techniques?

On the debut record, I wrote pretty much every single note, on every instrument, including drums. On the new one, Caley wrote nearly all his parts for all the songs; so the strings play more varied roles, and they’re all from the imagination of an actual violinist. And there are large sections where Gil wrote his parts as well. I still reserved the right to be a totalitarian Composer, but I didn’t use that prerogative at every moment.

Is there anyone who you bounce your ideas off of? Why?

My writing is done in a Hermetically sealed situation, my nose two inches from the staff paper or computer screen, and I don’t really solicit feedback on it from anyone. However, the parts I leave open for the band to come up with, you could consider that getting “feedback”. It’s additive, not subtractive, but it changes the nature of what I’ve written quite a bit, of course.

Your sound has a larger than life feeling and atmosphere. If it could be anywhere where would be your ideal place to perform a set involving “Secular Works, Vol. 2”?

Nothing exotic. Music this fast and detailed doesn’t work in churches and the like. And I don’t like playing outside. A straight up rock venue with great sound is really the best thing for Extra Life. And I would love to bring our own sound person on tour, but that’s probably not in the budget at the moment. Some of the best rooms I’ve ever played in, sound-wise, have actually been places in smaller cities in Europe, the names of which I can’t even remember. As for New York, Union Pool is quite good.

Where would you like to time travel: back to the past or to the future? Why?

I think the future is going to involve a redefinition of The Human that’s so extreme, that it wouldn’t even be comprehensible enough to be an enjoyable visit. I would go with the past, definitely. I would check out either Nazi Germany, or Russia under Stalin, if I were guaranteed not to get got.

How do you feel about the reception to your return to releasing new music so far?

The original fans are HYPED. And a few of my colleagues who I respect more than anyone on earth have used the word “masterpiece”. So I’m already good.

Who is your idol? Why?

I don’t have one idol, but a few people who have been artistic heroes of mine are John Coltrane, John Zorn, Justin Broadrick, and Morton Feldman. These men have been guiding lights throughout my journey.

What is next for Extra Life?

Touring is the next move, which should be happening in December and January. Most of the offers we have coming in are from Europe, so we may hit EU harder than the U.S. But we’ll definitely at least hit the coasts here. I am psyched beyond words to get back on stage. It’s the life I was born for. I’ve gotten pretty good at life as a terminally online pod person, but enough is enough.