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The Daily Tar Heel
Diversions

The Dead Tongues come to life

Maybe it’s because he grew up in the mountains. But the Triangle’s own Ryan Gustafson makes music that mimics the pleasantly light feel of morning dew on the face — only in the ears.
His parents think so too.

When the Gustafsons moved here from western Massachusetts with his college-aged sister, there were no grumbles, groans or disappointments upon discovering he wouldn’t follow in her footsteps. Though some parents would have tried alternative methods of coercion, Gustafson’s were all the way on board.

Since then Gustafson has gone around surprising a number of people, namely, his bandmate from The Human Eyes, Thomas Costello. Costello and Gustafson met through a mutual friend and knew each other for years before connecting musically.

“When I first heard (the record), I was just kind of floored that it was this guy that I was just kind of hanging out with,” Costello said.

Gustafson has been playing in the Triangle area for years, prosperously surviving the demise of several bands, such as The Light Pines and Boxbomb. Costello and Gustafson both play in each other’s bands’, which, according to Costello has both its pros and cons.

“The best thing about it is that I get to hang out with one of my good friends all the time, while still being productive — not just being at the bar,” he said. “The worst thing is scheduling and trying not to get in each other’s way.”

Gustafson’s most recent record, Desert, was recorded with The Dead Tongues. Band member James Wallace said the recording went smoothly.
“We argue a lot, but we know how to push each other,” he said.

From the new record, Gustafson holds tracks like “No Intentions” and “The Harbor” in high esteem.
“I’ve intentionally come up with a more conceptual sound since 2009’s Donkey,” Gustafson said. “That’s just been a product of being involved in different genres where I’ve been able to slightly pinpoint which one I am writing for, as well trying to get better at writing songs in general.”
Costello referred to Desert as the a perfect follow-up album to Donkey, as it represents the way his bandmate looks at the world.

And after all the hard work, a taste of the world is just what Gustafson needs.
After every big project, he likes to travel and clear his mind.
“That’s one of the only things that can really rank up there with music,” he said. “After the Donkey record I went to Sweden,” Gustafson said.
This time he is not sure where he’s headed, but plans to use the time to work on his next project “The Bus.”

Ultimately, Gustafson is continuing to follow his musical journey through various avenues. But whether from the mountains, to the hill and to Desert, he’s ready to get on the next bus and see where it takes him.

Contact the desk editor at
diversions@dailytarheel.com

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