Treasure Fleet just released its third full-length LP, entitled The Sun Machine, via Recess Records. We talked with bassist/singer Neil Hennessy about how the album was written, its recording process and more. The record also serves as the soundtrack to a sci-fi film of the same name, which the band created as well. We discussed with Hennessy about the inspiration for these projects and how they managed to combine the two to form a unified vision. Without question, The Sun Machine is Treasure Fleet’s most ambitious and accomplished project to date. Its influences range from power pop and progressive rock to old Twilight Zone episodes and beyond, resulting in a truly unique endeavor. Check out a song from The Sun Machine after the interview, called “The View from Mt. Olympus.”

Bill – With the band’s previous two albums being released in 2012, when did you guys begin writing for this record and what were some of your initial goals when you started out?

Neil – We started unknowingly writing The Sun Machine during the fall of 2012. Originally we were going to have our friend Preston come to Chicago to engineer a couple of songs for some split seven-inches and compilations, but it ended up being a little more involved than that. Isaac, (singer/guitarist Isaac Thotz) built a studio in his attic and Preston lived up there for a good three months.

Bill – Compared to your earlier material, how would you describe this album?

Neil – This album is an original soundtrack to a movie that we made. We had the ability to spend more time tracking and exploring ideas in our attic studio, and that led to some songs having upwards of 90 tracks. There’s a lot happening on this record.

Bill – At what point did you guys realize that you wanted to include a book and a film along with the album?

Neil – That was an interesting moment, because it happened in the middle of the recording process. We had already begun recording vocals to what we thought were going to be standalone songs when we started to assess the recordings, and wondered if we maybe had something more. Isaac spent the next couple days in outer space putting together the story arc that would eventually become The Sun Machine. The lyrics changed on a bunch of the songs we had already tracked and Isaac wrote two new ones. It was a pretty incredible thing to witness. Every day there would be countless new ideas and discussions on how to get the recordings to reflect the ultimate moods of the story. Isaac completed writing a 50+ page novella and began talking about filming a movie to go along with The Sun Machine.

Bill – What was it like working with producer Preston Bryant of Andrew Jackson Jihad and what sort of influence did he have on the record?

Neil – It was a great experience. We were able to co-produce with him as he engineered. As the session took on different forms with new songs being written and other songs re-imagined, Preston’s collection of synths, guitar scales and tones helped us round out some of the most recognizable parts of the album. I like his work on “Sirens of Titan” especially. Once tracked, Matt Allison over at Atlas Studios balanced it all. We wouldn’t have made the album sound half as good as he did. We made a very intimidating album to mix. Big shout out to Matt for helping us bring the songs to life.

Bill – How would you best summarize the general plot that runs throughout these three separate works?

Neil – One burnout’s quest to start a band derails as his bandmates are abducted by aliens and are reprogrammed to capture him. Band camaraderie and falling in love with an alien is their only hope to escape their uncertain future.

Bill – What was most challenging in regards to getting the record, book and film to blend together and tell a cohesive story?

Neil – Filming and editing the movie was by far the most challenging. It was a new arena for us. Isaac did all of the editing and most of the filming. Sue, Isaac’s wife, helped film a bunch. It was up to the movie to blend the story and the record together.

Bill – You guys spent about a year filming The Sun Machine in various locations. What was that process like and what aspects of the film were you most satisfied with once it was completed?

Neil – I knew the movie was going to happen when, about two weeks after we finished tracking The Sun Machine, I was on tour with another band and Isaac texted me a picture of what appeared to be him in a spaceship. His attic was now a movie set. Once I got home from tour, we ended up filming sporadically for six to eight months. At first, Isaac filmed a lot on his own, or with his family. We’d get together to watch footage and discuss how our characters needed to be filmed. Then we’d fill in the gaps to complete the story. I’m personally satisfied with every aspect of The Sun Machine.

Bill – What transpired that led to the film premiering last fall at the Raindance Film Festival in London?

Neil – Getting The Sun Machine into a film festival seemed like a good way to get people to notice. Isaac submitted it to a few festivals, Raindance being one of them. They got in touch with us and were really supportive as they helped us through a process that was extremely foreign to us. Isaac and Sue flew out to witness the premiere in London this past September. Isaac then came home and did a final edit of the movie based on his experience watching the movie in a theater with other people around.

Bill – After the release of The Sun Machine LP, what sort of set plans does the band have?

Neil – February 20^th and 21^st we have shows in Los Angeles, and we’re looking to book tours this spring.