Christian Gallé of Earphunk

If you like funk music, you are missing out if you have not seen the band Earphunk live. Earphunk has exploded in the past couple years as they capture the ideal mix of rock and roll, electronic and funk music with over 200 shows under their belt, multiple tours across the United States and an epic 2014 of music festivals like Electric Forest and Bear Creek. The quintet, comprised of Paul Provosty, Mark Hempe, Christian Gallé, Michael Comeaux and Michael Matthews, have a huge step-up when it comes to jazz and funk having come from a city where horns and keyboards have prospered and influenced this country. There is no doubt the down-to-earth New Orleans band possesses a unique sound of their own having evolved new-age funk for grooving and getting down to.

With their third studio album release of Sweet Nasty in August 2014, Earphunk brings a worldly, electronic twist to funk with the song “Sweet Nasty” stealing the crowd at Bear Creek 2014’s SOS Music Hall and “Phine,” my favorite song from the album, at DC’s Forest Stage. As the band has so-called retired from playing their popular DaftPhunk sets (a cover set of Daft Punk songs), Earphunk keeps their edge with one-of-a-kind originals and funky Bear Creek covers of songs like “Fly Like an Eagle” by Steve Miller Band and “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine. I got to sit down with keyboardist Christian Gallé at Bear Creek, sporting a crazy cat shirt titled “YOLO,” about the band’s past and future.

Earphunk again headlines Exit/In in Nashville on Jan. 31, 2015, with with ProbCause, Flow Tribe and CBDB.

Murfreesboro Pulse: You guys are coming to Exit/In in Nashville, what do you like about Nashville?
Christian Gallé: The music industry. Nashville has grown a lot.

Are there certain things coming from New Orleans that inspired funk in you all?
Absolutely. Funk is all you hear growing up; it is just there in New Orleans. We also pull from outside sources . . . strongly from New Orleans. The Meters, Dr. John and James Booker are some of them.

Are there any current artists or any here (at Bear Creek) that have inspired you?
Most of the bands here, bigger and smaller, that have been on the scene are inspiring. Umphrey’s McGee is always fun, as well as TAUK.

What do you guys do that keeps you saying ahead of the curve and paying attention to what is going on?
We try to take ourselves out of our comfort zones sometimes and try something new. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. You just always have to be thinking about it.

When you were making “Sweet Nasty,” was there anything that pushed you through it?
I think a lot of it came from the writing the arrangement. Some of it was just more of a general philosophy of trying new things and doing something that maybe you’re not comfortable with. [We were] trying to push it forward at the same time.

What is your biggest goal playing music in this genre and drawing people in?
Just to keep growing. We want people to dance and have fun. That’s what it’s all about.

When is the vinyl for Sweet Nasty coming out?
The vinyl is coming out very soon. We are working on that as we speak.

What can people expect hear now and at upcoming shows?
New and old stuff. We have a couple stand-ins and surprises planned. Some fit in into what we are doing at the time.

If you could have a dream show, where would it be.
Jam Cruise would be something we would love to do.

What were your goals when you all started playing and how have they changed?
When we first started we were very New Orleans funk oriented, classic retro-style. As we started writing our own material we brought some rock elements, some more modern elements, and tried to be somewhat unique.

Are there any other artists that inspired you from your childhood?
Things like being in New Orleans and hearing it from an early age and going to things like Mardis Gras. The Meters have definitely inspired me.

Are you guys excited about being here?
I am very excited. It is the only festival I will still actually camp at. (laughs).

What was your favorite festival you guys have played at this year?
Electric Forest was really cool. String Cheese Incident knows how to party. All Good and Summer Camp would be fun festivals.

For more information, visit facebook.com/EarPhunk or earphunk.com.