Cut Copy likes trying new things

They started their band as good friends. They enjoy playing in big crowds, but think that also small places can make a good show. They get excited about playing new songs to the audience. They hope to play in Latvia one day. They are from Melbourne (Australia) and they think that coffee is what one should get once there. I catch them at Flow festival in Finland in 2008 after they have recently released their second album In Ghost Colours. Who are they? Right! Cut Copy! This is an interview with Mitchell Scott, the drummer of the band.

M.S. Are you from Riga?

Not originally, but right now I am living there.

M.S.: Wow!

You have released a new album. How is it different from the last one?

It’s always kind of hard to describe your music, but in terms of how it’s different – it has been four years, there’s 4 year gap between the records. I guess your tastes change and your playing ability changes and after playing live so much we all have got a little bit better playing and a little bit better producing music. So the way we feel now – it’s a progression. We also have a lot more time in the studio to make record. So whereas the first one with a lot more of out of time and a little bit recording the record was made and mixed this time we had a lot of time in the studio – 6 weeks that we could do – so we had a lot more time for the record, a lot more complete ideas.

I got a feeling that you are braver in this album and dare to say more…

That’s probably true too. We sort of tried a few different things and different instruments. So, a lot more singing and a lot more lyrics, different styles as well and yeah – being more comfortable with trying new things and a sort of progression in getting the ability to try new things as well.

How do you divide the tasks? Is there a main guy?

Dan would be the main guy. He does the majority of song writing and he writes the lyrics too and then we sort of all work on things. So, I guess we all have our influence with Dan being the main one.

Now you are touring. Which has been your greatest show so far?

It’s really hard to say. We had some really good shows and we were really lucky. We played a show in Australia with Daft Punk and there were like 40 – 50 000 people. Just a really big show basically in a big stadium! So that was really fun! We played a show in Madison Square Garden in New York with Franz Ferdinand. That was really fun, but it’s always fun playing a small show too. Nothing that really stands out about it except for that it becomes really fun with really good energy from a crowd. Yeah, sometimes a small show where everything goes right can be one of the best shows.

Do you somehow make your shows different from region to region?

It’s definitely different when playing in different places because maybe people haven’t heard the music so much before and that makes a show different itself. When we start playing new songs it’s so interesting playing new songs which nobody has heard before and just seeing how they work because once the songs have been on the radio or people have heard them we sort of know how it works. So, it can be really fun playing new songs for the first time and seeing how the reaction is and often it’s true when you go to a new place and people haven’t heard the song it’s just like the music has to do the job on its own.

Have you played in Finland before?

This is our second time. We were here about 3 years ago and we played a show in a club. I remember that was awesome. Then we had no idea what to expect and the record wasn’t even released here that time, so it was really such a good show and it’s a shame to come so late back here.

So, you have expectations for today’s show…

Well, a little bit. We played really good last time and hopefully this one is good too. 

Have you thought about coming to Baltic States and Latvia?

That gets decided on a booking agent or whatever it is. It’s often the club or festival who gives you the offer to get you over to the place. So I don’t know whether we have an officer in Latvia or not, but could we have an audience?

Yeah!

Cool! We would love to come one day.

What are you yourself listening to right now? Have you discovered any new bands?

Right now I am listening to the new Sebastien Tellier record. It is really good!

How has the Internet changed your band’s life?

I think people can get the access to the music a lot easier. People can more find about it. It’s so much easier. So, it can be a really good way to find about the band. You put a remix and you notice that on a very next day people are talking about it. 

Do you get a lot of feedback?

Yeah, there’s a lot of feedback whether on MySpace or feedback from people on blogs.

Do you care about it?

Yeah, you read the reviews. You do care. It’s always difficult thing, the key thing is to make music you are happy with.

Before you started a band you were good friends and used to go to the gigs together. Are you still doing it?

Sure, the time we have. That’s one of the good things about us as a band. So, the base is that we all are just good friends and I think it makes touring better. You know, the time you need to spend on touring is crazy, yeah I think we really have a good base as friends.

What do you like to do apart from music?

All kinds of stuff – to go and see bands. When we are home we try to catch up with friends and eat nice food and have good coffee at home.

What should I do when I am in your home city Melbourne?

In Melbourne you should definitely go and get some coffee. That’s sort of big thing, we are big coffee drinkers. Melbourne does that really well. Melbourne is not one of the most beautiful places like for example Sydney. It’s amazing. Melbourne is kind of the weather is not nearly as nice and it’s maybe not as nice as Sydney in that way. But it’s really cultural place, so it got really good museums and galleries and really good music scene, so probably you can go to see some bands play and [enjoy] really good food. So that’s probably the best thing about Melbourne.

Pelnrušķīši: intervija ar Detektivbyrån

Diena, kad toreiz nezināmās zviedru grupas „Detektivbyrån” dalībnieks Anders Flanders gluži kā parasts ielu muzikants spēlēja savu akordeonu uz kādas ielas Gēteborgā, grupai izrādījās liktenīga. Jo garām gāja producents Jespers Kumbergs (Jesper Kumberg), kuram, neskatoties uz viņa līdzšinējo pieredzi rokmūzikā, akordeona spēle iepatikās. Tāpēc, uzzinājis, ka aiz viena akordeonista patiesībā slēpjas trīs cilvēku grupa, J. Kumbergs izrādīja interesi „Detektivbyrån” daiļradi paklausīties... Tagad grupa, kuras sastāvā ir Anders Flanders, Martins Molins (Martin Molin) un Jons Ekstroms (Jon Nils Emanuel Ekström) ir izaugusi līdz savam pirmajam septembra sākumā izdotajam albumam „Wermland”, bet uzmanību „Detektivbyrån” piesaistīja jau ar savu pirms diviem gadiem izdoto mazā izmēra plati „Hemvägen EP”.

„Detektivbyrån” koncertējuši daudzviet Eiropā, tai skaitā arī Ziemeļvalstu filmu dienās Rīgā pagājušā gada oktobrī. Šī gada vasarā pirms svaigā albuma izdošanas un tūres plānu kalšanas „Detektivbyrån” viesojās arī vairākos festivālos. Tā, piemēram, augusta vidū kopā ar tādiem Ziemeļvalstu mūzikas pārstāvjiem kā „Kings of Convenience”, „Mum”, Borko, Ane Brun un citiem viņus varēja manīt Somijas populārākajā indie un elektroniskās mūzikas festivālā – „Flow festival” Helsinkos. Savā kaimiņvalstī „Detektivbyrån” uzstājās pirmo reizi, bet ar to pietika, lai publikai iepatiktos – koncerta laikā mazā telts skatuve bija piepildīta pilna, un šķiet, neviens, kam patīk filma Amēlija (Amelie) ar Jana Tīrsena (Yann Tiersen) sacerēto mūziku, nevarēja pretoties „Detektivbyrån” instrumentālajām akordeona un glokenšpīla skaņām. Trīs puiši, kas spēlē grupā, uz skatuves liekas vienkārši, pozitīvi un nedaudz kautrīgi, bieži smaida un pretī saņem tādu pašu smaidu no auditorijas. Par franču piegaršu, jauno albumu un savu dzimto rajonu Vermlandi pēc nospēlētā koncerta Flow festivālā stāsta Martins Molins – cilvēks, kurš grupā ne tikai spēlē glokenšpīlu, bet labprāt mūzikas instrumentus izgatavo arī pats. Būvēt lietas – tas ir viņa hobijs, tāpēc reiz kādā festivālā, uzmeistarojot ledusskapi, pārējie grupas biedri viņu iesaukuši par Makgaiveru. 

Jūs izdodat jaunu albumu „Wermland”. Kā tas atšķirsies no jūsu mazā izmēra plates „Hemvägen EP”?

Tur būs visa kā vairāk - skaņu, skaņu avotu, dažādu instrumentu, dažādu stilu, bet noteikti varēs atpazīt EP noskaņu. Esam arī sākuši izmantot jaunu instrumentu - vibrofonu. Tāpat arī tur būs šķēres, elektriskās šķēres, pildspalva, ir vairāk basa skaņu, kuru EP albumā nebija vispār.

Tikko klausoties jūsu koncertu, man bija sajūta, ka jaunās dziesmas ir smagākas.

Jā, tā varētu būt, ka tās izklausās smagāk. Tur ir nedaudz vairāk bungu, vairāk agresivitātes, bet tai pašā laikā ir arī mierīgas daļas.

Jaunais albums saucas „Wermland”– tāpat kā jūsu dzimtais reģions Zviedrijā. Kāpēc tā?

Man šķiet, tas ir tāpēc, ka mums vispār ir daudz vietu nosaukumu dziesmu virsrakstos, piemēram, „Granmon” ir vieta, „E18” ir ceļš. Jā, mēs nākam no Vermlandes, un mēs ar to lepojamies, bet man personīgi tas nav pats svarīgākais. Vermlande ir vieta, un tas kļūst par tādu kā slavinājumu mūzikai. Un, tā kā mēs vairs nedzīvojam Vermlandē, bet gan Gēteburgā, kas ir pavisam citā rajonā, mums vajag par kaut ko runāt, un mēs daudz runājam par Vermlandi. Tas ir jauks vārds, un vēl man patīk arī vārds „land”, jo tas nedaudz izklausās kā pasaku zeme vai nekurzeme.

Vai jūs bieži apciemojat šo vietu tagad?

Jā, mūsu ģimenes tur dzīvo. Piemēram, Jons tur pavadīja visu šo vasaru.

Savā EP platē jums ir izdevies radīt tādu franču piegaršu, kur var saklausīt ietekmi no Jana Tīrsena mūzikas. Vai kaut kas tāds saglabāsies arī šajā albumā? 

Mēs ceram. Man šķiet, jā. Tur ir 14 dziesmas, bet EP bija 7, kur tās visas labi saderas kopā. Ar 14 dziesmām radīt šo sajūtu ir grūtāk, bet es domāju, ka jā – tur valdīs tā pati noskaņa.

Un kā jums vispār sanāca tā ietekmēties no Jana Tīrsena?

Pirms 3-4 gadiem es visu vasaru katru dienu klausījos Jana Tīrsena dziesmu celiņus filmai „Amēlija”, un man personīgi tas deva lielu iedvesmu – tur ir daudz akordeona un glokenšpīla. Bet man patīk arī Džimijs Heindriks (Jimi Heindrix) un „Roxette”. Un tā kā tu teici, ka jaunās dziesmas ir nedaudz smagākas, tad tur būs vairāk ietekmes arī no šādas mūzikas. 

Jūsu dziesmām nav tekstu. Vai jūs nebaidāties, ka cilvēki jūs tādējādi varētu nesaprast vai saprast citādi?

Jā, labs jautājums. Bet patiesībā ir pavisam pretēji. Ja es saceru dziesmai vārdus, drīzāk tad man ir jābaidās, kā cilvēki sapratīs. Bet, ja ir tikai instrumentāla mūzika, tad tā ir tikai mūzika un nekas cits - mēs neesam politiski, bet mums ir savs viedoklis. Un tam nav nozīmes, no kuras valsts ir klausītājs – Latvijas, Zviedrijas, Japānas vai ASV – visi saprot produktu.

Bet vai nav grūtāk koncertos, jo skatītāji nevar dziedāt līdzi?

Protams, cilvēki ir pieraduši, ka grupā ir solists. Bet šajā gadījumā ir svarīgi runāt starp dziesmām. Un skatītāji var arī plaudēt. Ir pat tādas vietas dziesmās, kad mēs gribam, lai auditorija aplaudē. Piemēram, Zviedrijā, kur publika labi atpazīst mūsu dziesmas, skatītāji nodzied visu dziesmu ar la-la-la-la. 

Kādi jums ir plāni ar jauno albumu?

Mums ir koncerti Zviedrijā, septembra beigās brauksim koncertēt arī uz Ameriku. Nesen satikām grupu no Lietuvas, un viņi mūs uzaicināja uzspēlēt Viļņā.

Vai ir iespējamība jūs atkal redzēt Rīgā?

Tas nav vēl ieplānots, bet mēs gribētu. Tev vajadzētu mūs papromotēt Rīgas klubos.

Es dzirdēju, ka esat pieredzējuši tādu kā „Pelnrušķītes stāstu” – spēlējāt uz ielas, un tad kāds producents jūs pamanīja...

M.M.: Jā, tas kāds ir Jespers [producents Jespers Kumbergs, kurš, izdzirdot savu vārdu, uz brīdi pievienojas sarunai – A.K.]. Anders spēlēja uz ielas, lai nopelnītu naudu. Un kādā saulainā dienā Jespers gāja garām, un viņam iepatikās mūzika.

J.K.: Es vispirms iemetu naudu. Un tad es gāju atpakaļ un teicu: „paklau, es parasti nestrādāju ar tādu mūziku, jo lielākoties strādāju ar rokgrupām, bet vai tu tā nopietni spēlē?” Un Anders atbildēja: „Jā, man ir grupa ar manu brāli un vēl vienu puisi”. „Es gribētu jūs dzirdēt,” es teicu. Tad es iedevu savu vizītkarti un paņēmu arī Andersa telefona numuru.

M.M.: Un tas bija labi, jo Anders man pēc tam teica: kāds džeks iedeva man savu vizītkarti, bet tad mēs par to vairs nedomājām, un Jespers piezvanīja pats. Tagad mēs ar Jesperu kopā strādājam pie visa – galvenokārt grupas rezervēšanas koncertiem, arī menedžmenta un visas grupas koncepcijas. Mēs esam pieraduši viņu saukt par grupas ceturto dalībnieku.

Un tagad jūs nenožēlojat savu izvēli?

J.K.: Tas ir labākais, kas noticis manā profesionālajā karjerā!

M.M.: Bet jā, šis tiešām ir Pelnrušķītes stāsts tādā ziņā, ka tas izmainīja mūsu dzīvi – mēs varējām sākt ar savu mūziku nodarboties katru dienu.

J.K. Es noorganizēju viņiem pirmo koncertu – viņi iesildīja vienu no zināmākajām zviedru rokgrupām – „The Soundtrack of Our Lives”, kas spēlēja akustisku setu koncertzālē Gēteborgā. 

Vai esat vēlējušies vēl kādreiz uzspēlēt uz ielas?

Jā, noteikti. Tas būtu tiešām jautri īpaši tagad, kad daudzi cilvēki mūs jau zina, un mēs pēkšņi spēlējam uz ielas, kur nav nekādu ieejas biļešu. Patiesībā vislabākais veids, kā mūsdienās pārdot diskus, ir spēlēt uz ielas. Mēs pārdevām 100 mūsu EP plates kādas pusstundas laikā. Jā, varbūt mēs varētu pirms kāda sava koncerta uzspēlēt vispirms uz ielas. 

Vai esot par mūziķi Zviedrijā, kur pēdējā laikā parādās daudz jaunu labu grupu, nav jāsaskaras ar zināma veida konkurenci mūzikā?

Nē, nekādā ziņā. Ja mani draugi, kas ir mūziķi, pēkšņi kļūst slaveni un bagāti, es apzinos, ka tas nāk tikai par labu man un mūsu grupai. Un, ja daudzām grupām no Zviedrijas būs veiksmīga karjera, viņas mums arī palīdzēs, un mēs - viņām. Ja mēs spēlētu ģitāras un kaut ko starp „Coldplay” un „U2”, tad, domājams, konkurence būtu lielāka, bet tādu grupu, kas izklausās kā mēs, nav daudz.

Vai tu pats daudz klausies zviedru mūziku?

Es klausos „Roxette”. No 8 līdz 12 gadu vecumam es klausījos četrus „Roxette” diskus dienā, un visas manas istabas sienas bija ar Marijas (Marie Fredriksson) un Pēra (Per Gessle) plakātiem. Klausos arī tādas grupas kā „The Touch” - manu draugu deju mūzikas grupa. Man patīk arī Robina (Robyn), kas tagad aktīvi darbojas Amerikā. Es ļoti daudz ar mūziku strādāju studijā, tāpēc īstenībā man nav daudz laika, lai to klausītos. Man pat nav iPoda, bet plānoju to iegādāties, jo man patīk klausīties mūziku, kad braucu tramvajā.

Vai jūsu mērķos ir kļūt par lielu grupu?

Man patīk braukt koncerttūrēs. Jā, es teiktu, ka gribam būt tik lieli, cik vien iespējams.

Šī intervija tika publicēta arī žurnālā VETO 2009. gada sākumā.

Borko is Celebrating Life

Borko is a band from Iceland fronted with Björn Kristiansson. The interview with the musician takes place at Flow festival in Helsinki, Finland in August, 2008. This is the time when Borko has a reason to celebrate – his long awaited debut album “Celebrating Life” has finally been released in March of that year. Apart from the album, Mr.Kristiansson seems to be a busy and interesting personality: he has studied Finnish, written music for theatre, teaches music and plays football. 

How did you get the idea to release an album? Because so far you were writing songs for theatre and dance, right?

Of course, it was a plan for many years to do this album. And that’s why some of the songs are very old.

How was the song writing process? How long did it take?

It took very long. The oldest songs are 6 years old. First, I was writing alone and it was electronic equipment, then more people got involved in the project and then I kind of started recording all the songs again last summer. And then the recording process took time.

How many people are involved in the project?

Today we will perform six on a stage. We are usually six when we play live. 

Do you have certain plans with your new album?

We are having a tour around Europe. In the middle of September we will go around all Europe with another band called Seabear. It is 25 gigs in 26 days.

You have also collaborated with Mum. Will you continue this collaboration?

Yeah, there are 3 guys from Mum who play in Borko band. So that collaboration will probably go on. We also went to tour with Mum earlier this year. I don’t know if we are going to do that again, but we are good friends, so we kind of get involved in each other’s projects.

Have you thought about coming to Baltic Sates?

I would love to come, but we haven’t had the opportunity yet. But when the opportunity comes, I would like to go. I haven’t been there.

Why is the album called “Celebrating Life”?

You just write something to celebrate. It’s a good thing. And then the album was finally finished it was even bigger reason to celebrate.

Does it require a different approach when you write music for dance and theatre and your album?

Yeah, it requires quite different approach because when you are writing for theatre and dance in certain context you have to work with it. The focus is not supposed to be on the music, but music is supposed to support the other things going on and interact with it. So, it has a different approach in that manner. 

Do you like to go to theatres and movies?

I don’t go so much to theatres as I would like to, because it’s so expensive, but I used to go to theatre a lot.

Are you still writing songs for the theatre?

It’s nothing that I have done lately, but I enjoy doing it, so I hope I will get opportunity to do it again.

Are you still a music teacher at elementary school?

Yeah. 

So you are quite busy…

You don’t earn a lot of money as a musician, so you have to start a job as well.

Do you have something special for today’s show?

I have Hondo – it’s an old friend, so we will be seven members on the stage and I will try to speak Finnish as well.

Have you been to Finland before?

Yeah, I used to live here. Like 8 years ago I lived for half a year in Helsinki and after that I have been to Finland twice to play.

What were you doing when you were in Helsinki?

I was learning Finnish. But I think it needs more than half a year to learn Finnish, it’s a difficult language.

What else do you like to do apart from music? Do you follow the Olympic Games?

Yeah! I also like to follow football and I support a certain football team. I also like just hanging out with good friends, drinking and having fun.

Do you like to play football?

Yeah, we have a football team. We just never get a chance to practice, but we play like once a week. 

What should I do when I am in Reykjavik?

You should go swimming in a swimming pool. There are many swimming pools in the city. You should also go to support a football game.

Ane Brun: busy musician, typical person

Ane Brun (real name Ane Brunvoll) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, currently based in Stockholm, Sweden. When I get to talk to her in the August of 2008 at Flow festival, she has recently released her 5th album “Changing of the Seasons”. She is occupied with writing music, touring, running her own record company, but apart from that Ane Brun is a typical person who likes to read books, go for movies, meet friends.

You have released your new album recently. How is it different from the previous ones?

I don’t know. I feel it has a very nice overall feeling. The whole album has a sound that we worked on a lot to find the right sound. And I think I have become a better singer myself. It just took more steps. It’s maybe more of everything, but still it’s not too much. I am happy with it.

Did you enjoy the song writing process?

Yeah, it was really good. I was writing last summer. I just have been touring for so long, so I didn’t have time to write.

Now in your show you have a friend that helps you.

Nina [Nina Kinert – A.K.]. She is Swedish and she has released three albums also on her own label. We are good friends and she has been touring with me a lot last years. We are helping each other.

Now you have been touring a lot. What plans do you have?

This fall I am going to release my album in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. And then I will release it in the USA.

You have been touring in many countries in Europe and the USA. Are there any changes you notice from region to region?

It’s more like from place to place and club to club. I don’t feel that Swedes are like that and Danish are like that. But often in big cities they are a bit snobbish. You never know if you come to a certain country, like tonight I was so happy [about the show in Flow festival, Helsinki – A.K.]. So you never know what happens.

Have you thought about coming to Baltic States?

I think we have talked about it a lot. We just have to find a good moment for it. We have been touring so much in the states and other places. I would like to come. Is it fun there?

Yeah, you should come!

How did you start the cooperation with Valgur Sigurdsson?

He did an album with an artist called Bonnie Prince Billy. And I really loved that album. I didn’t know his name and when I started googling, I figured he had worked with other big stars. So, I was interested and I went to Iceland to meet him. And he wanted to do it. I didn’t know him before, so we got to know each other through the record.

You are yourself running a record company. Can you tell a bit more about it? How many artists are you there?

We are three artists. None of us will release anything else, so we will be three of us for a while.

You are originally from Norway, but now you live in Sweden. How do you feel – as a Swedish or Norwegian?

I never was a musician in Norway, because I started in Sweden where I have been living for 8 years. The difference is that Sweden is double the size which you can feel in a way – Stockholm is bigger one Oslo. It’s more like it is bigger, but very much the same kind of people.

Do you still visit your home country?

A lot. I play there a lot.

You have also got some awards there.

Yeah, it’s good in Norway. My second album was a big success and also the Duets album. I made a duet with Madrugada [the song“Lift Me” – A.K.] and that’s how I got to be known.

Nowadays, Internet has a big role in music production and promotion. How has it changed your musical life?

Well, the music comes out to a lot of people. I notice it when I come here. There are not so many records in Finland, but there are a lot of people who know my music. And I also go to Internet to find some music, so it’s enormous now.

What do you enjoy to do apart from music?

I try to read books. I am a typical person: I go to movies, meet my friends, have a beer, very normal stuff.

Can you recommend three places which everybody should see in your hometown Molde in Norway?

You should go to the top of the mountain behind the city. You can go up by car – you can see the panorama and then you should take a car and drive to the ocean. It’s really beautiful!