MUSIC MONDAY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with the band PHOENIX
- Author: Faith-Ann Young
- Posted on: Monday October 12, 2009 at 11:00 AM
- Filed under: exlcusive, music, phoenix, rock and roll, classical music
Rather than rise out of the ashes as the myth goes, the French band Phoenix has risen steady and strong, since playing guitars as teenagers in their parents' basement in Versailles, France, almost a decade ago. Their last album Wolfgang Amadeus has gained international acclaim. In fact, their hits "Lisztomania" or "1901" are most likely playing on a radio somewhere near you right now.
Backstage at their September concert in San Francisco, we grabbed a chat with two members of the band, Laurent Brancowitz (guitar) and Deck D'Arcy (Bass & Keyboards.) For an added kick, we had them both sketch each other while talking. What we learned? The talented musicians also have a good sense of humor.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF THE BAND PHOENIX
JT.com: Was one of the implied goals of the album Wolfgang Amadeus to sort of reinvigorate classical music through rock and roll?
Laurent: It was perhaps not to reinvigorate the rock music - but to try to find a new angle and new things.
JT.com: So why pick the name Wolfgang Amadeus and sing about Franz Liszt?
Laurent: Because we come from Europe....From France. A lot bands come from America and the UK and they talk about their culture. We cannot talk about Cadillacs because there are no Cadillacs in France! So we talk about the things we have that are surrounding us. We have a lot of statues, statues of dead people......
JT.com: Yes, I remember when I was in Paris for Bastille Day, they had classical music blaring as the fireworks were going off and everyone was celebrating. Interesting contast to my American 4th of July where my family tends to play Bruce Springsteen on repeat rather than Mozart.
Laurent: Yeah, when we were kids, we used to live in Versailles just nearby a very famous fountain where they do shows with horses and fireworks. So when were playing soccer in our garden, there was always soundchecks and very loud music coming from the PA.
JT.com: Hahaha.
Laurent: You kick and goal and suddenly there's a string ensemble going “ruuuuh!” so it was perfect. (laugh)
JT.com: You all started playing together growing up. Did Phoenix start in a garage setting or your bedrooms?
Laurent: We were in the basement that we still are. We always rehearse in the same place. Thomas and Deck started the band when they were like 12 and they had their chipmunk voices.
JT.com: Chipmunk voice…..(laugh)...you mean before their voice had adjusted?
Laurent: Yeah, we have tapes of ourselves.
(Thomas, lead singer, walks in dressing room)
Very precious.
(Talks in French; laughs.)
JT.com: You also used to do Prince covers when you were starting out. What Prince covers were your go-to songs?
Deck: The one we used to play the most was "Forever In My Life."
Laurent: His song "Sign of the Times." It's the song that was based on one chord so it was pretty easy to play. But it was very hard to play because it's so so minimal. That's what we loved about the song - that it's so stripped down that it is nothing but it works. It's hard to make. Like in architecture, a very thin structure is hard to make stand.
JT.com: Any chance of you guys doing a Prince cover tonight?
Laurent: No we don't do covers anymore.
JT.com: Why?
Deck: (Laugh) Because we have enough songs now.
JT.com: What about remixes by fans or other musicians? Has there been a favorite remix that you've loved in particular?
Deck: We listen to reggae a little bit. This one reggae-style remix was really great.
Laurent: He did that on Youtube, like a reggae introduction of 1901. We love the most unexpected combinations.
Reggae-style version of 1901 by Felipemusica
Laurent: In fact, one of our best videos ever was done on Youtube by some kid, who was taking footage from movies in 80s and editing it to one of our tracks, Lizstomania.
JT.com: For the director who passed away, John Hughes, right? I saw that.
Laurent: Yes except it was made before he passed away. Must have been a coincidence. That was another unexpected thing. Unexpected things produce greatness.
JT.com: Where is the weirdest place in the US you've heard your songs thus far while touring?
Laurent: The weirdest?
JT.com: The most bizarre. Like 7 eleven on highway 66.
Laurent: Pretty much every time we hear our songs it's very very bizarre. But I remember there was this very grey van and this big guy trucker and i could hear he listening to one of our tracks. (laugh)
Deck's Portrait of Laurent (in which Glasses are key evidently):
Deck posing next to Laurent's Portrait of Deck. (Nice imitation, huh?)
Interview & Photos : Faith-Ann Young
Transcription: Katrina Yulo
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COMMENTS
“ i was trying to figure out where i read about them - or saw them - haha - they are on delta flights - the music on board delta flights - i think i added them to my playlist - cuz of the name - i am positive they are on in flight music on delta - rock me amadeus - amadeus spa at the fairmont - cool - coincidence??? - i like the video - made me smile - jon cryer - pretty in pink - wasnt his nickname duck?? ”
