Q+A with Julian Koster of Orbiting Human Circus
- September 9, 2023 -
Orbiting Human Circus (duo) featuring Songs of The Music Tapes will perform at Citizen Vinyl on Thursday, Sept 14. Doors at 6 p.m. / show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $17 advance / $20 day of show.
Toybox Theatre will open!
Orbiting Human Circus is the continuing evolution of the imagination of Julian Koster (Neutral Milk Hotel, The Music Tapes, Elephant 6), whose music and storytelling under this moniker have encompassed immersive theater and a narrative fiction podcast released in partnership with Night Vale Presents and WNYC — with a new, epic musical fiction podcast coming soon — as well as more traditional EPs and singles.
The live show arm of Orbiting Human Circus is a performance art / concert event featuring the songs of The Music Tapes.
In advance of the September 14 event, Julian Koster offered some insight into the show:
Citizen Vinyl: How would you describe the Orbiting Human Circus live show to someone who has not yet experienced it?
Julian: It’s an evening of songs (OHC and The Music Tapes), stories, and some very fun, surprising, and unexpected events. Plus, we have a performing bird, a hallucinated Polar Bear, and live singing saws.
Is it important to listen to the Orbiting Human Circus podcast before coming to a live show?
You don’t have to know a thing.
The Elephant 6 Recording Co. documentary recently came out, which featured Neutral Milk Hotel and other bands you were involved with. What stood out to you about the documentary?
I liked the part where Neutral Milk was rehearsing, we all stopped and asked: “How was that?” And everybody said “I need earplugs!” and ran out of the room.
The debut Orbiting Human Circus album is coming out this fall — why is this the first collection of songs to be released under that name?
Creatively, it’s very much something that’s happening now and it just feels like a new fun era.
You’ve been to Asheville many times — anything you’re especially looking forward to doing/seeing/experiencing on this visit?
Seeing old friends who live near there, and honestly we just love doing this show, we’ve done it abroad a bunch, but this will be our first ever time doing it in America 
