Interview :: Local Natives [1.28.13]

Local Natives seized us the first time we heard them on the eve of their performances at SXSW in 2009. This festival appearance, in addition to a stunning first record, Gorilla Manor, got the band signed to Frenchkiss and cemented them as the West Coast's version of Grizzly Bear, purveyors of a distinctive and worldly pop. The band should readily transcend all of this on sophomore release, Hummingbird. I traded some emails with singer Taylor Rice about the band's democratic nature, working with Aaron Dessner of the National, and tracing the band's roots to the living rooms of their teenage years. Our questions and his answers after the jump; Hummingbird is out tomorrow and can be found just about everywhere.

Interview :: Alt-J [10.2.12]

Hotly-tipped UK band Alt-J, currently out on tour supporting past 32ft/sec interviewee's GROUPLOVE, shot some emails back and forth with us about their love of trainers, what the hell is a "Breezeblock" and what happens when someone, or everyone, starts comparing your band to Radiohead in 2012. Our questions and their answers after the jump.

Interview :: Jinja Safari [6.8.12]

Jinja Safari, a Sydney, Australia outfit, are poised to make a serious impact on US soil in the next calendar year. The kind of band that makes A&Rs salivate about cross-over potential and licensing opportunities, to say things like "the next Vampire Weekend", the band remains unconcerned and undaunted. Band member Marcus Azon went back and forth with us about the band's favorite records, doses of straight-faced sarcasm and on being in a band with your best childhood friends, all after the jump.

Interview :: Dreamers of the Ghetto [12.8.11]

Storming out of Bloomington, Indiana spitting a brand of rock with more pathos than anything else you heard in 2011, Dreamers of the Ghetto arrived in New York last night for the first of two shows. Their record, Enemy/Lover rings as one of the finest debuts of the year, a mixture of gravel vocals, detached synths and slamming guitars. The band took a few minutes out to answer our questions about the things critics miss, the power of beer and Chinese food and if laughter counts as an enhanced interrogation technique. Our questions and their answers after the jump. Dreamers of the Ghetto play Mercury Lounge tonight with US Royalty. 

Interview :: Mikel Jollett of Airborne Toxic Event [5.3.11]

Mikel Jollett, writer and singer behind Airborne Toxic Event, charged into the crowd no less than three times last night at Piano's, possessed with all of the energy of the same guy, though then considerably less traveled and famous, who took the stage in the same place three years ago. As part of the band's "origins" shows, they've returned to all the small clubs they played when they were first touring as a band, you know, before KROQ added "Sometime Around Midnight" and before everyone had the same thought all at once: Is it possible he wrote this song for and about me? Earlier yesterday, Jollett reflected to us about life in his band, making his new and outstanding record, All At Once and what it means to make music. Our questions and his answers after the jump.

Interview :: The Radio Dept. [2.14.11]

Dream pop band Radio Dept. are only now getting their due, with a singles compilation disk, Passive Aggressive following an excellent 2010 LP, Clinging To A Scheme. Always critically acclaimed in their native Sweden, the band has more recently charmed so many US critics and fans to the tune of glowing reviews and sold out tours. We traded some emails with the band's Martin Larsson about a follow up record, whether they're into telling people off and how not to become an overly politicized idiot. His answers, after the jump.

Interview :: Lord Huron [1.31.11]

LA's Lord Huron released two of the finest EPs of 2010, one even called Mighty, the perfect name for such a strong grouping of songs. We shot some emails back and forth with singer and writer Ben Schneider, who reflects on taking his music to the stage and why engaged people don't deserve to drown. His words and some of his songs after the jump.

Interview :: Acid House Kings [11.21.10]

Acid House Kings are like a huge smile from Sweden. With their next LP on deck for release, a new single on the loose, we shot some emails back and forth with Johan. He reflected on small themes like fears of dying, how to we learn to love, and why people don't (but should) buy their records. Follow us and them.

Interview :: The Jezabels [11.6.10]

Sometimes when you see a band live, you just know they are the real deal. Seeing the Jezabels at Fat Baby during CMJ was exactly this moment. With three enormous EPs in the can, a full length on the way in 2011 and certain label interest, they are one of our break out acts of the next year. Last week we traded some emails about fear of cruise ships, shooting pool and what the hell is next, you know, other than being the biggest little band in the world.

Interview :: Wolf Gang [10.13.10]

Max McElligot, front man and mastermind of Wolf Gang traded emails with us last week on the eve of his first two New York shows. With a string of fantastic singles and a stunning full length on the way, Wolf Gang take to Glasslands tonight for McElligot's last show in New York until his tickets are hard to come by and he's playing with a full string quartet. Don't say we didn't warn you.



32feet: Top 5 Desert Island Records?

Wolf Gang:

Paul Simon's 'Graceland'
Joni Mitchell 'Turbulent Indigo'
Jimi Hendrix 'Are You Experienced'
Kate Bush 'Hounds Of Love'
Miles Davis 'Kind Of Blue'

ps this answer would change on a daily basis...

From the beginning the Wolf Gang demos were incredibly ambitious, but "Lions In Cages" has clearly gone to another level after the recording here in the States. What was the journey like, working with Atlantic and moving toward this LP release?

Signing to Atlantic gave me the opportunity to record the album in America, which I could never have afforded to do otherwise, so it was really exciting to be given that chance. I was trying out recordings in London with a couple of producers but wasn't really finding the character and personality that I had sort of unwittingly captured in the bedroom demos. When I listened to the things Dave had produced I got pretty excited by the prospect of going out there and working with him, and by the time he was talking to me on the phone telling me to pack my snow boots I had a strong inkling it was going to sound interesting. Now a few months down the line with it all wrapped up, I'm very excited for people to hear the finished thing.

Was there ever a frustration at the pace from the Spring '09 to now?

There were definitely times when I wanted things to be moving quicker, but I think so many artists have their project rushed by their label, and get sort of spat out only half formed, so I count myself lucky that everyone was patient and willing to wait until I was completely ready.

Let us in your process a bit, how does a Wolf Gang song take shape?

I'll usually have an idea of a melody or chord progression in my head, then it's just a case of sitting down and recording the various parts in my bedroom, guitar, piano, then bass and drums, etc. I'll have some vague notion of what the lyrics might be, but these get refined constantly right up until when I'm laying down the vocals on the final recording. But the whole process is a very natural one, I'm never more happy than when I'm in the middle of writing a song.

What are the influences in your music that no one ever picks up on? (And consider I mixed you in with The Police, Kate Bush and Arcade Fire, so clearly I was grasping at straws)

I think I find quite a lot of influence in classical music actually, the layering up of instruments and chord progressions can be pretty incredible, and so charged with emotion, my mother is a violinist so I've always been exposed to the genre from a really young age. But then I think you can also hear a classical influence on the three artists you mention above too, it is a constant source of inspiration for a lot of musicians of all genres.

What is one thing people don't know about Wolf Gang that they should absolutely never forget?

I much prefer Winter to Summer and have a totally irrational fear that if I swim in a lake I might get eaten by a stray shark.

Wolf Gang - "Lions In Cages" by 32feet

Interview :: Computer Magic [10.6.10]

Computer Magic has been absolutely crushing the last few months and recently, she was kind of enough to shoot some emails back and forth.. Fresh-faced with an ear for melody that recalls the unremembered 1980s, her digitized anthems are the marching orders for a new generation of kids who don't need to be told which leather jacket to wear or which Molly Ringwald flick to identify with. Like Computer Magic, they'd rather do it themselves.

32feet: Top 5 Desert Island records?

Computer Magic: Not in any particular order: All Things Must Pass - George Harrison, Their Satanic Majesties Second Request - The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Tigermilk - Belle & Sebastian, Pink Moon - Nick Drake, Face to Face - The Kinks. Of course my mind would probably change once the situation arose.

Describe your music in three words.

Good, I hope.

Loneliness and isolation seem to be running lyrical and sonic themes in your music so far. What are you after?

Whenever I compose a song, the lyrics come last. They're all made up after I've completed a track, so no song is ever intentionally created to be about something specific; the isolation themes are somewhat on accident. Also, I always feel better listening to songs I can relate to, so I just try and make songs that someone else could.

What is the one thing people don't know but should absolutely remember about your music?

They should remember that I've only just started making music less than half a year ago, so there will be a lot more of it.

Listen :: Computer Magic - "Victory Gin"

Interview :: French Films [8.9.10]

Finland's French Films, a certifiable hit-in-hand with single "Golden Sea," shot us some emails about the fate of their future record, where they got their name and how they would rather die together than live apart.

32feet: Top 5 Desert Island Records?

It's so unfair to pick just five but maybe we could survive for some time with these classics:

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Arcade Fire - Funeral
The Jesus & Mary Chain - Psycho Candy

We know "Golden Sea" is a perfect summer single, but when can we expect a full length LP?

Our debut LP will be out (hopefully) early in 2011. We're releasing an EP soon, though.

If your band was stranded on a sinking ship and there were only two life-jackets, who gets them and why?

We would sink proudly with the ship.

Explain the name for us: lovers of French cinema? Lovers of alliteration? Lovers of subtitles?

Joni is a fan of French cinema, but it ain't the reason. We just thought French Films would make a decent name for the band. Simple as that.

What is the one thing people should absolutely remember about your band?

All the good times they had while listening to our music.

Listen :: French Films - "Golden Sea"

Interview :: Math and Physics Club [8.1.10]

One of our favorite records of the year is Math And Physics Club's I Shouldn't Look As Good As I Do. We talked to singer Charles Bert about the band's size, their sound and whether or not Barry Manilow can make you miserable for a lifetime.


32feet: Top 5 Desert Island Records?

In no particular order…
-Stone Roses Stone Roses (favorite track: Elephant Stone)
-REM Life’s Rich Pageant (favorite track: Fall on Me)
-The Smiths The Queen is Dead (favorite track: Cemetery Gates)
-The Housemartins London 0 Hull 4 (favorite track: Happy Hour)
-The Softies Holiday in Rhode Island (favorite track: Write It Down)

Describe the recording process for I Shouldn't Look As Good As I Do? Was it different than the EPs or the first full-length?

We recorded our first two EPs ourselves in James’ basement, and we didn’t really have a clue what we were doing. For the first full-length we recorded the basic tracks at a proper studio, but we had a really small budget so most of the overdubs were done at our engineer’s house. For the new record we had more time and a bit more money so we did everything in the studio, which was nice. We also worked with Martin Feveyear for the first time, and he was great. He really helped us dial in the sound we were aiming for. The writing process was also different. We had less time to practice together because we’re all so busy with our personal lives, so a lot of the songs were arranged by trading files over email. We only played the songs together as a full band a few times before we recorded them.

To badly paraphrase Hornby, do people listen to pop music because they're miserable or are they miserable because they listen to pop music?

I don’t think I’m miserable because I listened to too much Barry Manilow as a kid, but then again…

What is one influence on your song writing that people never pick up on?

REM was a huge influence growing up. James and I both play Rickenbackers because of Peter Buck. I hear a lot of that influence in our music, especially in James’ guitar playing, but we rarely get accused of sounding like REM.

This is our one staple question: Let's say Math and Physics Club are on a sinking boat in the middle of the ocean and there's only one life preserver. Who gets it and why?

Rock-paper-scissors

I called you an "intentionally small band." I meant it as a compliment. What is the aspirational vision for the band?

When James and I were starting the band, we really just wanted to release a 7” and play a few shows. When we were in college, our friend Ken was in a band that got played on John Peel’s show, so that seemed like the coolest thing in the world. I don’t think we’ve ever had a grand plan. We’ve had the opportunity to do way more than we ever expected, even though we’re not a household name by any means. We just keep adding modest goals as we go along, but it’s still just a glorified hobby. Next year it looks like we might get to play in the UK, which would be a dream.

What is one thing people don't know about your band that they should never forget?

We can kick your ass at croquet.

Listen :: Math And Physics Club - "Jimmy Had A Polaroid"
Listen :: Math And Physics Club - "Love Or Lonliness"

Interview :: Blair [6.16.10]

We heard Blair for the first time back in March amidst an email chain regarding Liz Phair and the critical impact of Exile In Guyville. It all seemed too fortunate. Blair, originally from Louisiana and now part of the Brooklyn Illuminati, made us manage to squeak out that we thought it was her year. Well, it still is, exiled or not. She was nice enough to trade emails with us and color us pink and blue and completely charmed.

32feet: Top 5 Desert Island records?

Blair:

One Foot in the Grave - Beck
Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
Harvest - Neil Young
The White Album - The Beatles
Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon


Has Liz Phair been about as good and bad for girls as Nick Hornby has been for boys?

Liz Phair spoke her mind without any hesitance. She didn't stop to wonder if this is how a girl is supposed to talk. Hornby's characters seem to explore their romantic obsessions with a similar kind of honesty, that doesn't stop to consider if this is how they are supposed to be feeling. They just feel that way without self reflection. So, yes Liz Phair and Nick Hornby are equally good and bad. I'm assuming "bad" means good "bad" though.

If you could describe your music in two sentences, what would they be?

Kittens. Rainbows.

Usually, I ask bands if they were on a sinking ocean liner and there were only two life jackets, who would get them? It can be revealing. Since it's only you, let's assume there's 40% of a life jacket. Do you take it or say, "fuck it, that's a broken life jacket" and swim for it?


I'd float for as long as possible.

Stylistically, who is the one influence, from whom you borrow, that no one ever picks up on?

I listened to Blood Sugar Sex Magic by Red Hot Chili Peppers endlessly as a teenager. I am very influenced by John Frusciante's melodic palate. I don't play funk, and I can't tear it up like him, but there are a decent amount of similarities in our guitar playing. I went on to listen to listen to his solo records endlessly also, especially the first one, How to Record Water for 10 Days.

What is the one thing people don't know about you that they should absolutely, always remember?

Sometimes, I wish animals were different colors than what they are. You know, like pink deers, or blue bears. That would be amazing.

Listen :: Blair - "Hello Halo"
Listen :: Blair - "Heart"

Interview :: Red Wire Black Wire [5.28.10]

Red Wire Black Wire hit our radar last summer and haven't left since. From the same synth-finishing school, Wesleyan, as MGMT, Boy Crisis and Amazing Baby, Red Wire Black Wire traded some emails with us about insecurity, 1990s action flicks and their commitment to honesty, even in moments of amorality. You can enter to win a copy of the band's debut LP by sending us an email until 5pm today with "RWBW" in the subject.

32feet: Top five Desert Island Records?

5. The Cure – Disintegration
4. Sparklehorse – It’s A Wonderful Life
3. Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
2. Modest Mouse – The Moon And Antartica
1. The National – Boxer

For people who don't know your music, how would you describe it in two sentences or less?

Lots of synths, guitars, up-front vocals, and other random shit layered over syncopated drum grooves and hard bass lines. Some of it is really poppy, other songs are slower, darker, and weirder.

Do you have a threshold for Wesleyan references in write-ups or interviews, where at some point you're going to flip out and scream, "We are not MGMT, okay!"? If this helps get us all closer to that moment, glad to help.

I really like Wesleyan and I really like MGMT, so it doesn’t bother me. Both of those things probably had an impact on the music we’re making. I assume 4 years of life experience and really famous contemporary bands impact most musicians making pop music. I do think we differ from a lot of the Wesleyan bands and specifically MGMT through our general avoidance of irony in our music and lyrics. Our version of "Time To Pretend" is more like, "Time To Be Disconcertingly Sincere, But First Please Poor Me A Drink So I Can Calm My Nerves."

Let's say Red Wire, Black Wire is on a sinking cruise ship and there are only two life jackets; who gets them and why?

I guess I’d throw the jackets to Zac and Dave (guitar and drums) who have been with me through the different line-ups this project has had. They are also probably the most likely ones to read this interview so that’s a factor. I’m definitely going down with the ship in this band, though.

Clear up the name for us; in my mind it's a reference to awesomely bad 1990s action-movies with explosives and disarmed bombs.

Actually, that’s pretty much it. I’m sort of a nervous wreck much of the time so I resonate with the sweat-dripping, bomb’s-gonna-blow, evacuate-the-building, vibe of those scenes.

What is one thing people don't know but should absolutely remember about your band?

We might do wrong by you, darling, but at least we won't lie about it.

Listen :: Red Wire Black Wire - "Breathing Fire

Interview :: GROUPLOVE [5.4.10]

A few weeks back we ran across the stunning comers GROUP, now GROUPLOVE. With a debut EP on the way and a killer first single, "Colours", the band seems more than poised to travel from town to town, destroying North America, far beyond the confines of Los Angeles. The band answered some questions over the weekend, none regarding member Hannah Hooper, who did the art on the Morning Benders record and is the artist behind the sketch of GROUPLOVE practice above.

32feet: Top 5 Desert Island records?

Sean: The Freewheelin' -Bob Dylan
Hannah: Punk in Drublic- NOFX
Christian: Les Preludes - Liszt
Ryan: Rubber Soul- the Beatles
Andrew: Fattie Fattie- the Heptones

32feet: You seem to exhibit the old attributes of a "music collective." Is this the goal, to create something big and democratic, with a lot of moving parts? Or is this a total misread on the GROUPLOVE narrative?

GROUPLOVE: Not a misread. We all bring it.

32feet: What is something you hope people never say about your band?

GROUPLOVE: "Your second album SUCKS."

32feet: Imagine GROUPLOVE is on a sinking ocean liner and there are only two life jackets left. Who gets them and why?

GROUPLOVE: We'd throw the life jackets overboard and go down with the ship.

32feet: At gunpoint, in total mutual exclusivity, fame or credibility?

GROUPLOVE: Fifty Cent got shot nine times.

32feet: What is the one thing people don't know (or never might know) about your band that they should absolutely remember?

GROUPLOVE: We all have the same birth mark.

Listen :: GROUPLOVE - "Colours" [mediafire]

Interview :: Free Energy [3.11.10]

Free Energy have their debut record, Stuck On Nothing, out this week and play two shows in New York on Thursday and Friday. We exchanged some emails about my friend from college, working with James Murphy and riding on the wings of dolphins.

32ft: My friend brought you guys to Kenyon College back when you were touring as Hockey Night. He says you crashed on his couch. I mentioned Free Energy the other day and he insisted I say hello and that, well, he still thinks you rock.

Free Energy: I totally remember Phil!! He told me about Spank Rock. Totally awesome guy. Tell him hi! And Thanks!

Down to business, Free Energy has a flair for the classic rock influences. What are your Top Five Desert Island Albums?

Right now I've been listening to these tapes in the van:

Born in the U.S.A. - Springsteen
World Clique - Dee Lite
Kick - INXS
Graceland - Paul Simon
Men With Broken Hearts - Mississippi Records Tape Series

Describe the experience of working with James Murphy. He gave an interview where he described falling more and more in love with your record as the process unfolded. Fair assessment?

Amazing, life changing experience. I think we all fell in love with the record as it went on. We didn't know each other and didn't know how it would turn out at the beginning, so it was really exciting as it went on and kept sounding better and better.

Your band is stranded on a sinking ocean liner and there are only enough life-preservers to save two of you. Who lives and why?

I take BOTH life preservers, and try to somehow harness them to a couple dolphins who will pull me quickly to shore.

New York crowds are notorious for their lack of enthusiasm but, truthfully, it's happening everywhere. You guys are a fun band: Are crowds getting worse or are bands getting less fun?

The truth is, New York crowds are awesome. We get good New York crowds. People come to our shows ready to have a good time. I love playing New York.

In my social circle, your lyric, "We are young and still alive/now the time is on our side" has gained something of a cult following. Is this the anthem for a new youth movement? Should we be burning down the Bastille?

Might as well.

Best potential for an old-school rock feud or, put another way, what band do you love hating?

I love to hate on: Clapton, Steppenwolf, George Thorogood, maybe The Guess Who, the song "Mony Mony."

What is the one thing people should absolutely remember about your band?

We love music completely.

Listen :: Free Energy - "Free Energy"

Interview :: Oberhofer [3.3.10]

One of our favorite new New York acts is the poverbial young gun, originally from Tacoma, Washington; Bradley Oberhofer. Playing under simply his last name, Oberhofer, we shot some emails back and forth about monikers, sonics and how his band didn't end up being called Quick Tit.

32feet: Last five songs played on your iTunes? Only lie if
they're super awful or incriminating.

Bradley Oberhofer:

1. “Stillness of the Mind”- Abel Korzeniowski
2. “Flytrap”- Ace Tone Fuzz Master
3. “Black Rice”- Women
4. “You Have My Eyes Now”- Clues
5. “Cold Wind”- Arcade Fire


Describe the thought process behind naming a band after your last name. If this trend had taken off in the early 1990s, we all we could have loved and then boycotted, simply, Matthews' "Ants Marching." Subquestion: Was it tempting to ironically name yourself The Bradley Oberhofer Band? (I recognize you address this in dramatic succinctness on your myspace.)

I could really just never come up with anything else I felt enthusiastic about. There were a lot of things I considered, but I didn't find anything else as interesting. “Teeth” was taken, and I was contemplating a few others. Someone nearly convinced me to change the name to “Quick Tit”. Part of me regrets not taking their advice. I would never call it my band mostly because the live show is way better than the recordings thanks to the other people in the band. (Mike, Andrew, Pete). I kind of just like the meter of my last name.

I called your songs post-apocalyptic, orchestral pop. How far off is that?

I mean, as of now it's not as orchestral as I can afford, but it's definitely post-apocalyptic. I think I aspire more toward “apocalyptic”, than “post-apocalyptic”.

If Oberhofer was stranded on a sinking ship and help wasn't going to arrive in time, who gets the only life preserver you find?

Well Andrew's beard is pretty buoyant, and Mike can swim like a fish. So, Pete gets the life preserver, plus he's the cutest.

What is the biggest secret plan for the band in 2010 that you can tell us right now?
Well I mean, if it were secret, I wouldn’t tell you. Let’s leave this part mysterious.

Ok, fair. What is one thing people should absolutely remember about Oberhofer that they don't know or consistantly get wrong?

That I wouldn’t be able to achieve much at all without the band I play with (Andrew, Mike and Pete), but I also really want people to pay more attention to the musical talent that exists in Tacoma, WA. It’s there. Sorry, that’s two things.

Listen :: Oberhofer - "I Could Go"

Interview :: Twin Sister [2.9.10]

Twin Sister are one of these cold medicine lo-fi bands from New York but, they're also the best, with a flair for bombast. The music is dripping in reverb and calls out from far away and they're about to be written up all over the place. We'd love to say we told you so. Their new EP comes out in March and here, they wax philosophical about Pitchfork, in-band-debt, and what the hell "Ginger" was about anyways.

32feet: Top 5 Desert Island records?

Twin Sister: We each did one:

Andrea: T-Rex - The Slider
Bryan: Can - Future Days - "Never gets old"
Eric: Björk - Vespertine
Gabel: Van Dyke Parks - Discover America - "It'd make things pleasant on an average afternoon on the island."
Udbhav: Tom Zé - Todos os Olhos - "I feel like it'd be pretty good beach music"

You guys recently got written up favorably by Pitchfork. Talk about the "Pfork Effect." Did things change? Were you irritated they discovered Vampires With Dreaming Kids so late? Are you allowed to say anything negative about them or will they blacklist you like indie-rock's Joe McCarthy? This question is 75% serious.

We really loved that they used the picture of Luna, Andrea's cat strutting around in the backyard. It brought a lot of people to our website and music for the first time, so there's definitely nothing negative to say about it. We don't mind that Pitchfork was late to the party, they have to cover a lot of bands, all of whom have something we've never had, publicists. We're still broke, trying to figure out how to quit our day jobs and do this music thing for real. We've been contacted by a handful of labels we've always thought were pretty cool but it's a little early in the game for things like that right now. They probably know that too. We're just trying to get this new EP out, pronto.

Your band is being ship-wrecked and help will not arrive in time. There is one life jacket. Who gets it and why?

Eric says: "Dev's computer, we could still somewhat perform if that computer survives."
Udbhav says: "First off, Andrea hates boats, so I don't think she'd even be on the ship, which leaves 4 of us. Second, we'd probably give the lifejacket to Eric's Silvertone guitar and Gabe's bass, they're irreplaceable!"
Bryan says: "I say we'd all let Dev live because we owe him some money. It would only be fair. Although Andrea is deathly afraid of water, so who knows. Wouldn't be me, that's for sure."
Gabel says: "Bryan"
Dre didn't say anything cause she knows better than to be on that boat.

Can you let us in on your plans for 2010?

First and foremost, release Color Your Life. We've been working so hard on it for so long and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. After that we should be touring quite a bit, trying to get out there and see the world and learning how to sing together. Maybe even a summer 7" if all goes well. Also, we want to conceive of and release a song that becomes popular among infants.

What is the one thing people should absolutely remember about Twin Sister that they have no clue about?

Two equally important things. Ginger is a song about baby ginger roots, not redheads. Andrea's dog Amelia (a puggle) has a rhinestone cowboy hat.

Listen :: Twin Sister - "Ginger"
Bonus :: Twin Sister - "Ribbon Bow"

Interview :: The Ghost Is Dancing [2.3.10]

The Ghost Is Dancing blasted on to our radar late but undeniably this past fall. Their latest record, Battles On is a stunning, approachable cry for youth and rock and roll amidst a world of failing signifers. Last week we shot some emails back and forth with Jamie and Kevin from the band about their favorite records and if they really can swim to shore from anywhere.

32feet: What are your top 5 desert island records?

-White Album (because there's more songs)
-Moon and Antarctica by Modest Mouse
-In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
-Feels by Animal Collective
-Abbey Road

You strike me as a band on the verge of something very big. What should be people expect from you all in 2010?

Well, we're currently working on some new songs that are hopefully going to sound quite a bit different but keep all the things you'd expect from us, and we're hoping to play more shows across Canada and the US.

Imagine the following scenario: Your band takes a cruise way out on the harbor and the boat starts sinking. Help will not arrive in time and there are only two life-jackets. Who gets them?

Easy answer. Lesley and Eric would get the life-jackets. Not because they're special or anything (they are though), but because Odie, Jamie and myself are extremely competitive and would try to see who could make it back to shore first.

Do you have a dream tour partner? Is there one band you all admire and would love to take 3-4 months on the road?

While it might not make the most sense musically, I think it would be amazing to tour with Animal Collective. They're definitely one of our favourite bands right now and it would be awesome to get to see them perform every night. For a bill that we might fit better on, I'm thinking maybe Wolf Parade? Or Spoon would be a lot of fun.

What is the most important thing about The Ghost Is Dancing that people don't know?

We love to meet people and make friends. After every show we always try to talk to the other bands or the audience members. And not just to find a place to sleep! (Although that's useful too). We like to hear about the fun things to do in a city, the best places to play a show or grab a bite to eat, and it's always nice to associate a place with friends that we look forward to seeing again.

Listen :: The Ghost Is Dancing - "Battles On"