2008 WRITING FOLIO AISHAH HAMZA WOODLANDS DR.16 #05-141 S(730538) [email protected] 81135984 interview text by aishah hamza brit- “Wow. We’re really happy to do an interview for Singapore! You’re not allowed to drop chewing gum in your rockers city are you? Is that right? Sorry if I’m a little ignorant,” says Edwin Congreave, keyboardist of the next big band, FOALS.

True to the Oxford-dropout tag he brandishes, Edwin answers my questions articulately and elaborately. He even cared enough to apologize for grammatical errors he might have made (there were virtually none!). Given their enthusiasm to speak to anyone who enquires about the band, it is no wonder then that these Brit-lads are enjoying a meteoric rise via word-of-mouth. . foals interview text by aishah hamza

“Wow. We’re really happy to do an interview for Singapore! You’re not allowed to drop chewing gum in your city are you? Is that right? Sorry if I’m a little ignorant,” says Edwin Congreave, keyboardist of the next big band, FOALS.

True to the Oxford-dropout tag he brandishes, Edwin answers my questions articulately and elaborately. He even cared enough to apologize for grammatical errors he might have made (there were virtually none!). Given their enthusiasm to speak to anyone who enquires “I don’t think the mainstream will get us like we’d about the band, it is no like to be gotten and I think if we do get big we’re wonder then that these Brit-lads are enjoying a going to inevitably make it harder for them to get us.” meteoric rise via word-of-mouth. Word has gotten around that so i’m looking forward to working on to. It’s just this dynamic that came FOALS is one of the upcoming another album and making more music. about unconsciously. bands to watch for, in 2008. Do what we’re trying to do is going to take you think the mainstream audi- more than one album to get across. we But, yeah, it’s not very math and it’s not have to tour hard as well. very techno. It’s certainly not new wave! ence will get what you’re trying I think in the future we’ll broaden out a to do with your debut album? I don’t think the mainstream will get us bit, and take in some new influences. None of us knows. We have some like we’d like to be gotten- and I think if We’re into writing pop music, you know, pretty short indie disco songs on the we do get big we’re going to inevitably and we’re always changing our minds album, so it’d be disingenuous of us to make it harder for them to get us. As and wanting to do new things. suggest that no-one’s going to get it. long as we get to play around the world But there’s some pretty weird shit as to receptive audiences, I’m happy. Do you consider your music well--instrumental, meandering, pretty more elitist than the now- psyched stuff. I really hope people are FOALS’ brand of music has been generic indie scene or is it the patient with it and take it on its own alluded to sub-genres such as polar opposite whereby you’re merits. The hype creates preconcep- math-rock, dance-punk, techno trying to make your music as tions and antagonisms and none of that and new wave. If you could use widely-accessible as possible? is going to benefit us. an analogy to describe your music, what would it be? Indie is a fairly redundant term now, I think it’s a great album--though it’s full as you say, but we are on an (sort of) of flaws as well. i would have liked to Dance-punk worked for a lot of our independent label, and we only want to have done a lot of things differently, and earlier stuff I think. We act like punks work with people with that sort of bullish and we make music that you can dance independent mindset, you know, working for yourself and not compromising. But also finding new stuff to do. Most press in this country at least is open to the indie scene being difficult and fractured, so it’s easy to stand aside from a lot of what’s going on. I sincerely hope that we’re not an elitist band. I don’t know how to avoid being described like that though, if we go around saying that we’re “we act better than other people. We don’t want to compromise in some ways but obviously we want as many people as possible to like us, so... whew, it’s a work in progress. At some point in our lives, we probably listened to music we don't like to own up to- like Ant and Dec, back when they were called PJ and Duncan! What sort of 'embarrassing' music did you guys enjoy listening to back then? Haha. My dad listens to Rachmaninov and my mum doesn't listen to anything much, so I just listened to my older sister's Beatles and R.E.M cassettes. And then Blur and Radiohead. Maybe not that embarrassing (I still like those bands!) though I bought some R&B singles when I was like eleven or twelve I think. I remember buying Brandy & Monica "The Boy Is Mine", which I loved. My parents were probably pretty concerned by that. Walter, Jimmy, and Jack used to listen to a lot of skater punk, I think. And Yannis was listening to Skinny Puppy at around the age of eight. Judging from all the hype and accolades, you're on your way to becoming richer than you are now. Do you think you'll make better music then, or are poverty-afflicted bands more inclined to produce better music? Oh god, I don't know about being rich, but it'd be nice to able to afford rent and some clothes. The poverty/creativity thing can work in different and strange ways. Obviously massive bands bloated with wealth like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers or whoever are just embarrassing themselves every time they write a new song. But then someone like Timbaland seems to know what he's doing, despite the millions. And then there's the Beatles.

Coming from a background where you had to work hard does help, but you can't really measure those things. You just keep your head down and make music for yourself. For us, speaking personally, when we can afford to buy a place to call a studio, and to buy more equipment, and we can afford to have time to live and sleep in it, then I think we're going to produce better music.

“I remember buying Brandy & Monica’s The Boy Is Mine which I loved. My parents were probably pretty concerned by that .”

Having already appeared in SPIN, NME, PITCHFORK and a whole slew of other online music websites, FOALS are set to take 2008 by storm. This bunch of university dropouts however, refuse to indulge in bragging rights opting instead to remain driven and grounded. Incidentally, the boys from FOALS are signed with Sub Pop Records. This legendary label has superb talent-spot- ting abilities- their most famous signing being grunge-band, Nirvana. Whether Foals can achieve a similar status remains to be seen but since they emanate such a positive attitude, you can’t help but root for them. “we act like punks.”

FOALS are: Jack [drummer], Edwin [keyboardist], Walter [bassist], Jimmy [guitarist], Yannis [vocalist] interview text by aishah hamza

Vagabonds turn rockstars, Rock Kills Kid, haven’t always had it easy. Their road to recognition did not materialize overnight. Yet they are creating all the right new waves in the American music industry.

I speak to bassist, Shawn Dailey and find out what

makes the band tick and how they deservedly got to where they are. ROCK f f KILLS KID interview text by aishah hamza

“jeff actually wrote the first record while he was illegally living at our rehearsal studio for a couple of years.”

n the wee hours of New Year’s Eve, Wondering if their collective name had And what a name it has turned out to I received an email that says “I anything to do with the band’s other be for them. First, they were signed on Ihaven’t forgotten about you nor the violent tendencies or acts of mischief, to one of the top music labels in the interview!!! Happy New Year!” I asked Shawn about the origins of the industry, Reprise Records- something name Rock Kills Kid. Shawn admits he has been dreaming This is not what you would expect from of since the third grade. Then, Rolling a felon who has been denied entry into “The name came from a friend of ours. Stone magazine named them as the Canada for the “use of explosives”. But We were sitting around trying to think band to watch for 2006. Shawn Dailey, bassist of the upcoming of a band name and he said we should L.A band, Rock Kills Kid, appears to be call it Rock Music Kills Kids and Jeff, our They have also been invited to play twice nothing more than mischievous and a lead-singer, shortened it to Rock Kills at the Last Call with Carson Daly show probe into the matter reveals that he Kid. Now it’s pretty much just RKK.” and at the Late Night Show with David merely blew up a mailbox as a prank. Letterman. Most importantly perhaps, they attained while he was illegally living at our rehearsal mainstream success after being featured in studio for a couple of years. Living in the studio the hit drama series, The O.C. for a while with Jeff is something I will keep in my mind forever. It made me a better person For a band that only has one full length debut and way better musician.” album to their name, isn’t all this too much hype? True to the struggling-artist form, Jeff composed more than 150 songs in total “I think any band that sets out to make a seclusion because he had little else to do in record and get a record deal feels they the empty recording studio. It is no surprise deserve the accolades that come with it so I then that the lyrics from their first record, Are feel like we deserve everything we have earned You Nervous?, are mainly about loneliness and and probably more,” insisted Shawn. isolation.

“The name came from a friend of ours. We were sitting around trying to think of a band name and he said we should call it Rock Music Kills Kids and Jeff shortened it to Rock Kills Kid. Now it’s pretty much just RKK.”

He also remained refreshingly unabashed Ironically, these dark lyrics are set to highly about Rock Kills Kid’s involvement with popular danceable, new-wave tunes inspired by early teenage drama, The O.C. U2 and The Cure.

“The O.C was a huge part of us getting more Their particular music style has been so well- well-known. They are great people and were received that Rock Kills Kid are now in the really good to us. I still have the episodes that process of recording a second studio album. I feature our music, Tivo’d!” took the opportunity to ask Shawn how the new material sounds like. Without giving away too With so much going on for them now, it is much but being ever-accommodating he said, hard to believe that they were directionless and homeless musicians not too long ago. At “The new record is great. I’m so proud of it. one point, it got so bad that lead-singer Jeff We worked with Michael Beinhorn who has Tucker, was often called The Hermit because worked with bands like the Red Hot Chili of his socially withdrawn nature and his barely Peppers, Social Distortion, Soundgarden, Soul employed status. Asylum, Marilyn Manson, Hole, Aerosmith and many more. He has brought a more mature In his biography, Jeff admitted that after sound to the music. Jeff will be finishing his graduating from high-school he was not vocals in January. I hope everyone loves it as interested in anything or being anything and much as we do.” that writing songs saved him. Shawn confirmed these initial tribulations they faced At least this time around, they will not have when first starting out. to resort to illegal squatting in the recording studio anymore.

“The O.C was a huge part of us getting more well-known. They are great people and were really good to us. I still have the episodes that feature our music, Tivo’d!” “i feel we deserve

“Jeff and I have been in the core band for over *Note: At the time of the interview, everything we earn four years now so there was a lot of cheap fast keyboardist, Reed has left the band on food, living on friends’ couches and sleeping in good terms to pursue his own music the studio. Jeff actually wrote the first record and probably more.” RKK are: Mike [drummer], Reed [keyboardist], Shawn [bassist], Stopnick [guitarist], Jeff [vocalist]

“i feel we deserve everything we earn and probably more.” what is indie?

Everyone’s talking about indie music these days. But do they even know what they are talking about?

THE KILLERS

FRANZ FERDINAND

ARCTIC MONKEYS

Think they’re indie? Think again.

was on the bus the other day when I material (by that I mean flyers and zines) So, to keep to the pattern, the term, overheard a college girl tell her friend and sell your own merchandise. The indie, was coined to describe music I “I love indie music…you know like Franz Killers and Franz Ferdinand aren’t indie… that is produced independent of major Ferdinand, The Killers and The Arctic they wear three piece suits for their record labels. Monkeys?” Umm…right. shows! Some people do not get the rationale I’ll let you in on a secret. The only real Broadly speaking, indie is the antidote for behind the pattern but it is actually a very indie band that exists is Fugazi. Haven’t mainstream music. It all started out when understandable concept. Imagine that you heard them on the radio? Well, good. bands like U2 discover a pristine Because if you’ve heard of them, then and R.E.M The downside for indie musicians beach tucked away they’re probably not indie. became the is that they have no financial backing. in a secret corner. fodder for In fact, being well-to-do is almost Then, word gets out The true essence of the word indie college kids antithetical to the definition of indie. and soon your secret basically means DIY. You do it ALL who were sick As a rule, you can’t be rich. beach gets yourself and you have complete control of mainstream inundated by over all aspects of your music. There are music. undeserving people who are there only no interferences from corporate big-wags because they want to be seen at the or major record labels trying to thrust Much to their horror however, what they newest hotspot. It gets so unbearably you into the mainstream limelight. Bands lovingly referred to as college rock, soon crowded with teeny-boppers and exult in the artistic integrity and fans revel got extreme airplay and became pretentious twats that you inevitably in the bands’ obscurity. mainstream music. Others like Nirvana have to move on. and Sonic Youth then came into the The downside for scene to provide something At this stage, indie is akin to the Siloso indie musicians The true essence of the word different from what was beach with a full-on New Year’s Eve foam however, is that indie basically means DIY. You already available. Their party. People are already moving on to they have no do it ALL yourself and you brand of music was aptly other sub-genres and it won’t be long financial backing. have complete control over all categorized as alternative. before a new term comes up to replace In fact, being indie. But for now, at least get the well-to-do is aspects of your music. When Nirvana exploded definition right. The next time you see almost into the mainstream with a band in skinny jeans and with floppy antithetical to the definition of indie. As a their album, Nevermind, alternative fringe, don’t jump to premature rule, you can’t be rich. You have to live out music suddenly wasn’t all that conclusions. They aren’t indie, they of your tour van, design your own publicity alternative anymore. could just be The Click Five. MUSICREVIEWS

The Killers have the uncanny knack of his latest effort by The Killers T making tracks sound rehashed to death epitomized why they are regarded as with All The Pretty Faces, Glamorous an overrated band that started off as a Indie Rock and Roll as well as Show You promising indie quartet, and ended up as How as foremost perpetrators. predictable as their drummer’s My Name Is Earl wannabe moustache (someone Thankfully, amidst the generic show please tell him it’s not funny anymore). tunes, there are two gems worth listening to on repeat. The first is the ol- The CD kicks off with Tranquilize, skool sounding Who Let You Go? which is featuring Velvet Underground’s Lou Reed guaranteed to get you singing along. And and let’s just say the collaboration looks the second is the somewhat cheesy but better on paper. THE KILLERS very catchy, synth-influenced Sweet Talk. SAWDUST

“The Killers have the uncanny knack of making tracks sound rehashed to death”

Blake Lewis is much more capable than he American Idol contestant touted T being a poor imitation of Zac Efron which as the most unique candidate to grace is exactly why Audio Day Dream is such a the event, flops in his debut album. Even disappointment. his collaboration with Ryan Tedder (lead singer of One Republic) and his beat- Judging from his pre-fame, underground boxing can’t save him this time around. music performances, he should be producing more tracks like the short intro It seems that his commercial success to the CD- Silence is Golden. The rest of has culminated into a faceless brand the album is really not worth mentioning. of music focused on trying too hard to please the High School Musical fans. BLAKE LEWIS AUDIO DAY “His commercial success has culminated into a DREAM faceless brand of music focused on trying too hard to please the High School Musical tween fans”

Rhythm-in-chaos tracks like Vessel, rent Reznor IS God. Albums like these T Survivalism and Zero Sum make for great don’t come around often. Not only does running/workout songs, sure to keep Year Zero broach themes like racism, hearts and metabolism rates pumping totalitarianism, global warming, war and away furiously. religious fundamentalism, Reznor also manages to make it sound like a Whereas dark, hypnotic tracks like piece of apocalyptic art while doing so. The Greater Good, Me I’m Not and The Warning, exude enough dystopian grit to Granted this might be one of the make you feel like an increasingly isolated, noisiest albums by Nine Inch Nails to anonymous inhabitant. date, it is also ironically, one of the most ‘poppy’ albums inspired by Reznor- think NINE INCH catchy hooks, thumping bass riffs and NAILS head-bobbing drum beats, combined with YEAR ZERO seemingly haphazard electronic tricks. “Albums like these don’t come around often. Trent Reznor manages to make it sound like a piece of apocalyptic art” 2008 WRITING FOLIO AISHAH HAMZA WOODLANDS DR.16 #05-141 S(730538) [email protected] 81135984