Exclusive Interview: Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek

forthebeat was ecstatic to be able to chat recently with Caroline Polachek of Chairlift about the new album, its inspiration, why Chairlift’s aura is multi-colored and some advice to up-and-comings. Full interview below and some special remixes Caroline shared with us that Chairlift mixed for Passion Pit and Telepathe:

How is the recording of your new album going? It’s intense. We’re really excited about the flavor that the new songs all have in common. I can’t quite describe it yet, but they’re more overt yet more mysterious at the same time.

What was behind the decision in choosing London as the location to record? It’s a secret!

What color best describes Chairlift’s vibe/aura? Either aqua or ultraviolet… But not matte, it has to be illuminated, like from a LCD screen or the sky at dawn. In general i think pairing two colors together is way more evocative than just seeing one on it’s own. it implies a scene.

What city has been most inspiring in influencing your next album? Since we’re on the move and don’t get to stay in one place for very long, “the city” becomes an amalgamation of all the places recently visited. Sort of a dream, where features of different acquaintances get smushed together to be dream-person, that you kinda know and you kind of don’t. So i suppose that feeling of shifting pieces comes through on the record, of transience, of being a ghost passing through.

What’s a small piece of advice you would give to bands starting out that you wish you had? Learn to record yourselves, and make your own music videos.

Can you share anything specific about your new album? i.e. title, any song titles, theme, etc. There’s a song from the point of view of two cannibals in love.

Your fashion style is iconic. What do you attribute your inspiration to? I like the idea of dressing functionally- getting geared up for an imaginary event. Even if it’s just to go to the corner store, i like to dress for where i wish i was going. Sometimes that’s enough to make it happen.

Caroline also gave us two really amazing tracks to share that Chairlift remixed for Passion Pit and Telepathe:

Passion Pit – To Kingdom Come (Chairlift Remix)

Telepathe – So Fine (Chairlift Remix)

forthebeat Interviews JUICEBOXXX

I wasn’t sure if JUICEBOXXX would even be around to answer an email but I crossed my fingers and pressed ’send’ asking for a short interview. Not only did JUICEBOXXX answer us within a few hours, his answers are more than we could have hoped for (and of course in all caps) Here you go:

Your 100 MPH video is pretty amazing. One of my favorite parts is towards the end at the diner. Why hamburgers?

HAMBURGERS ARE A GREAT TIMELESS AMERICAN FOOD AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FUN WITH THE DANCERS IN THE VIDEO. MUNCHING OUT ON BURGERS WAS THE PERFECT SOLUTION!

You have played with some unbelievable artists. What’s one of your favorite artists you have collaborated with either for a show or for a remix?

TOURING WITH PUBLIC ENEMY WAS A TRUE HONOR. TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH THEM WAS LIKE A DREAM. THESE THINGS COME TRUE SOMETIMES. KEEP RUNNING KIDS!

What band that you haven’t played with already would you love to perform or tour with?

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, ALAN VEGA, BONE THUGS, KOOL KEITH.

What color best describes JUICEBOXXX’s aura?

RED WHITE AND GOLD

Your tour schedule sounds ridiculous. What would you say is the most memorable city/country so far and what is the one thing that you will always think of from that spot?

I JUST LOVE THE ACT OF TOURING. GETTING A IN A CAR AND GOING. I DON’T CARE WHERE I PLAY, I JUST WANT TO REACH KIDS. I’VE BEEN ALL AROUND, AND I LOVE IT ALL. TOURING IN ALASKA IN THE WINTER OF 2009 WAS A TRUE PLEASURE, WE RAGED A LOG CABIN IN THE WOODS OUTSIDE OF FAIRBANKS THEN GOT INTO A HUGE FIGHT AND GOT KICKED OUT.

Other than your music and your new blog, what other stuff are you working on that you want the world to know about? (i.e. an extensive magnet collection; a tshirt line, etc.)

I’LL BE COLLABORATING WITH A LOT OF HEADS IN THE UPCOMING YEAR, GET READY. TRYING TO KICK EVERYTHING UP TO ANOTHER LEVEL. I’M 23 YEARS OLD, I’M NOT A KID ANYMORE, I’M TRYING TO GET REALLY REAL.

What’s your favorite juicebox, JUICEBOXXX?!

LISTEN: LIFE IS A MARATHON AND NOT A SPRINT. DON’T START A BULLSHIT BAND IF YOU DON’T WANNA. LET’S ALL BE MAGNIFICENT FAILURES TOGETHER!

JUICEBOXXX – Hype

JUICEBOXXX – Hype (DJ Manaia Remix)

The Hoof and The Heel

The Hoof and The Heel are Harris, Christine, Al and Farid.  And they are from Canada. The band just released their Fireworks EP, which you can download HERE.  They are also on a short tour on the East Coast, with stops at Pianos in NYC tonight and Bruar Falls in Brooklyn tomorrow.  If you are around, I recommend checking them out.  Here is the title track “Fireworks,” as well as the video, and a nice little chat with the band below.  Love, love, LOVE this song and video.

The Hoof and The Heel – Fireworks

The Hoof & The Heel – “Fireworks” (NSFW) from Bryan Schlam on Vimeo.

Who are The Hoof and The Heel and how did you all meet?
C:  I met Harris and Farid the week I first visited Montreal in 2008, apparently just a few weeks after they met, at the bar that Harris was working at. It wasn’t until a year later did we play together. I was  living in LA, and came to Montreal to pretty much join the band (I didn’t know it at the time until the first day we all got together). While we were recording our EP, I met Al at a rock lotto fundraiser (bands are formed by pulling names out of a hat and they have a week to write 3 songs and perform them). We needed a bass player, and Al and I got along great so he joined the team.

You just released your Fireworks EP on July 13 and embarked on a tour a few days ago.  What’s been the most exciting part of the process?
H: It’s all happened really fast so it’s hard to even take it in. Every day we do what we need to do without thinking too much about it. I have to say personally the most exciting thing is still to get up in front of a new audience and play. Each show is extremely unique right now, going from a 400 capacity venue in the city to a dive bar in a small town or a barn in the country. It’s all sort of equally fun so I think we’re just enjoying the whole thing.

What’s your favorite The Hoof and The Heel song / which do you love performing live and why?
C: Every time we have a new song I think it’s all of our favorite song at the time – so on this tour it’s exciting trying out the new songs in different places to work out the kinks and get the audiences response. Off our EP, I love performing King because it’s the most intimate and I love playing Tigers because it’s the opposite. We have a bi-polar set sometimes.

We’ve seen the video for “Fireworks” and really love the song and the visuals.  Tell us about the process of making the video.
H: We were really lucky, a friend of a friend used fireworks in an indie film called “So Long Lonesome”  and the cinematographer on that was Bryan Schlam. I got an e-mail from him maybe a few weeks after the movie was released asking if he could make a music video for the song. He’s in LA and none of us could get there so I told him to go for it if he wanted. Even though So Long Lonesome was really beautifully shot I was expecting a much lower production on our video, but then a couple months later he emailed me a rough cut and I was amazed at how great it looked and how much work he put into it. I gave him carte blanche on the storyline so it was really interesting to see his interpretation of the song come to life.

When or how did you first fall in love with music? (Your dad taught you banjo, you heard Dirty Diana in a bathroom, etc.)
F: My mother thought that I would become a punk rocker because as a baby whenever we would go past record stores playing loud music I would dance in my pram (stroller, as you guys call it). I’ve been dancing since!

If you could cover any song right now, what would it be and describe what it would sound like?
H: “The day they drove old dixie down” by The Band. I’m not sure how it would sound, but I hope to find out eventually.
C: “Wild Thing”
A: Loving old Whitney Houston right now. Especially “How Will I Know.” It would be fun to play that one (not sure Harris would be comfortable singing the lyrics).

New Artist: The Young Maths

This week punk must be pumpin in our veins, yesterday with Juiceboxxx and today with…

The Young Maths. The Young Maths are 4 guys from McAllen, TX. The Photon God likes them and we like The Photon God so we gave it a listen, liked it a lot, and then came the interview…

When did your EP come out and what song are you most excited about?

The EP was released on May 15th but we’re currently in the studio working on our next EP, hoping to release it late August. We’re most excited about the reaction that “fingered on the dance floor” will receive. *(Fingered on the Dancefloor!!! WOW)

What was the best show The Young Maths ever played and why?

Our EP release show was amazing.  We played on the floor of an art studio owned by a sculptor. There was no A/C and the floor was spotted with dried  clumps of clay and dust.  It also helped that fans filled the entire floor, crowding around bronze sculptures of god-like figures and animals made of stone.

What color would describe your band’s aura?

Each song / EP has a different mood.  I’ve always felt the EP, Thank you, Goodnight! sounds like night-club spot light lights smothered by a the smoke of a cheap fog machine.

What’s the most shameful song on your ipod?

The most ’shameful’ song on my ipod is probably “the boy is mine” by Brandy & Monica. Except i’m kidding; I love that song.

Stream the entire high energy EP here. The Young Maths will also be touring throughout Texas + Louisiana this August with Dignan, an indie band also based out of McAllen, TX.

Make sure to check out Sheets, and The Science...Body Bags here:

The Young Maths – Body Bags

forthebeat interview: Family of the Year

Let’s get something straight: Family of the Year is not a reference to my own family in 1999, when my brother broke my tailbone and I got immediately sent to my room for saying the F word.

Family of the Year is an adorable Los Angeles group who makes folk-inspired indie rock/pop perfect for anyone who likes wuss rock, tambourines, harmonies, skinny boys, girls on keyboards, and drummers in muscle shirts.

I had the pleasure of catching them at Minneapolis’ famed 7th Street Entry on a gray March day, where their sunny California sound and sweet, hopeful lyrics left me in anticipation of their EP release and happy, summer days ahead. They may not be a family (okay two of them are brothers), but their genuine affection for each other is apparent and infectious (translation: Nora’s got a crush!).

Bonus: Prince himself stopped to check out the show. I believe that awards you an instant 100 cool points, but I’m not sure about the current Prince conversion rate.

Double Bonus: Their new EP, Through The Trees, is just $4.

Triple Bonus: You can get your own little piece of the family with a $5 donation that gets you a personal postcard from the road.

Quadruple Bonus: The sweet, melodic lament of summer love, Summer Girl

Family of the Year – Summer Girl

What’s your favorite FOTY song / which do you love performing live and why?
Currently, I’d say that Chugjug is my favorite song to play live and dance around to in general. During shows, some of us switch instruments for this song, which I feel keeps us excited and on our toes. I rarely play bass so its fun for me to have a Cassandra moment (you know, the babe bass player from Wayne’s World) even if it’s just in my head. Its got a big family feel to it, with the whole band singing together, which I think is a good representation of our present direction and what is making us excited and inspired right now.

What color would best describe your band’s aura/vibe?
We think of it like the color of the Golden Hour…that moment when the sun is just going down and everything looks awash with that bright gold light…

When or how did you first fall in love with music?
It’s so hard to remember where it started. When I was a tiny kid, I think I remember standing on my head in the living room, staring at some babysitters long fake fingernails while listening to Michael Jackson on cassette tape and thinking it was pretty awesome… but maybe it was earlier. Who doesn’t fall in love with a lullaby?

What is the most shameful song on your iPod?
“If Loving You is Wrong” by Faithless… I really have no idea how I came to like this, and no knowledge of any other songs, but it’s maybe the dirtiest song I’ve ever heard and for some strange reason I think it’s sort of brilliant.

Cymbals Eat Guitars Interview

Earlier this month, Cymbals Eat Guitars released a 7” featuring a re-recorded version of the track “Wind Phoenix” from their debut album Why There Are Mountains as well as a cover of the Elliott Smith song “Ballad of Big Nothing” as the B-Side.  You can download the cover, which I love, for free here and listen on forthebeat below.  Cymbals Eat Guitars will be on tour with Freelance Whales March 5^th through April 8^th, and then an NYC date at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 9^th (sans Freelance Whales though).  We caught up with bassist and newest member of the band Matt Whipple (that’s Joe, Brian and Matt Miller in the first pic and Matt Whipple solo above)…

You just joined Cymbals Eat Guitars – how are the guys treating you?
I had a mutual friend with the band who worked on their ‘Tunguska’ single who tipped me off that they were looking for a bassist while they were still out on tour with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.  I auditioned and joined the band in October 2009, and since then it has felt like one of those magical, once in a lifetime moments where the stars align and everything works out more perfectly than you could possibly imagine.   I felt very welcome right away, and I really like the guys as friends.  It’s been wonderful.

You’ve been on the road right from the start of joining the band – how has touring been treating you?  Any fun stories from the road, playing with the Flaming Lips, etc?
It was pretty crazy at first, because there was this feeling of “We should probably get to know each other…”, but we had so much work to do right away.  Once CMJ was over, we realized we had only rehearsed together twice, and then only a few days later had to go on tour in Europe, which was a trip.  That was the first real tour of any kind that I had done, and it included two huge shows with the Flaming Lips in London, who are wonderful, gracious, welcoming people, band and crew alike, and have a really strong family vibe.  After the second show, we were backstage and someone mentioned that John Cusack was there and was on his way back to say hi to the Lips, and our drummer Matt said something like “No way, he’s in that ridiculously terrible movie 2012…” about half a second before Mr. Cusack came around the corner towards the Lips’ dressing room.  If he overheard the comment, I’m sure he’s feeling bad about it all the way to the bank.

What’s your favorite CEG song / which do you love performing live and why?
I want to say one of our newer songs, either “Definite Darkness”, which will likely open our next record, or our newest “Wavelengths”, both of which we just started playing live, but I think “Indiana” is still my favorite, because it features me hamming it up on background vocals, which I am trying to do a lot more of.  The bass part is really difficult to play and sing over and keep it all together, but I practiced it over and over watching “A Hard Day’s Night” with the sound off one evening like “What Would Paul McCartney Do” until I got it.

What color would best describe your band’s aura/vibe?
That’s a good one.  I think it might go song-by-song.  Most of the record seems like a pale yellow to me, like a bright morning in spring.  The newer songs seem more midnight blue or deep purple, like dusk colors.

When or how did you first fall in love with music? (Your dad taught you banjo, you heard Dirty Diana in a bathroom, etc.)
My parents are big music fans, so there was always music playing in the house or their cars when I was really little…Springsteen, Talking Heads, the Police, stuff like that.  And I always listened to the radio like getting dressed for school growing up, like Z100 morning shows and whatever they were playing at the time.  When I was about 10, my dad joined one of those CD clubs and ordered all the the alt-rock hits of the moment…Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, etc, then decided he didn’t really like it and gave that stuff to me, so that sort of started my rock obsession.  Shortly after that, when I was 12 or 13 I got a guitar for Christmas, and the rest is history.

Who do you see in the industry as really doing something different and exciting?
Grizzly Bear.  Beach House.  Really excited for a new Broken Social Scene record.  Also, I saw Titus Andronicus live for the first time a few weeks ago and they are really excellent too.  Their new record is going to be amazing judging from the newer songs they played.

What one song must everyone download RIGHT NOW?
Magnet Magazine’s site has a blog section where they keep tabs on what the Wrens are up to, and people would be well-advised to go there and download some of the recent Wrens demos they have posted.  There’s a song called “The Thousand Dos” that I can’t wait to hear a proper version of, as well as a couple others that make me think they are working on some sort of White Album-level shit.  That is, if you like The Wrens.  Which you should.  Joe turning me on to what I’d been missing there was one of the best by-products of joining CEG.

What is the most shameful song on your iPod?
I have a pretty extensive 90s dance playlist, but I’m not ashamed.  Robin S – “Show Me Love” maybe?

Cymbals Eat Guitars – Ballad of Big Nothing

Cymbals Eat Guitars – And The Hazy Sea…