There's a simple reason 11 members plus a producer make up the band Typhoon. "I wanted something everyone could be involved in," says front man Kyle Morton. "I've been that way since I was a kid."

Typhoon, based in Portland, Ore., are currently touring in support of their third full-length album, White Lighter. They stopped in to talk to Barb Abney and to play a few songs in The Current's studio before performing at the Cedar Cultural Center on Thursday night.

Morton has a difficult time pinpointing exactly when Typhoon began, noting he's been playing music with some of the band members since they were in their early teens, but the name was conceived during a trip to Japan in 2004, when a tropical storm was hitting the southern portion of the country.

Originally intended as a recording project, Typhoon played their first gig in 2005 — an experience Morton describes as "a hot mess." But things improved from there, and Typhoon continue to make records and to tour the U.S.

With 12 members, it's hard to make money, but Morton insists that's not the band's raison d'être. "Music is a meaning-making experience in my life," he says. "We're like a big extended family. And we have fun together."

Listen to the entire session to hear more about Typhoon's approach to splitting the driving tasks while on the road, their friendship and their thoughts about choral singing.

Songs Performed

"The Lake"
"Prosthetic Love"
"Dreams of Cannibalism"

All songs off White Lighter, out now on Roll Call Records.

Hosted by Barb Abney
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Produced by Derrick Stevens

Resources

Typhoon - official website

Gallery

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