 E-mail intervju koji smo radili sa kanadskim sastavom Hot Hot Heat
The following set of questions are of the “longer answer” kind. Not everyone has to answer them - each band member can pick whatever question most appeals to him. Also, you can choose not to answer whichever questions you do not like. Thanks. You guys were all in prior bands of varying styles. How did you meet up? How did you decide on the sound you were going for with Hot Hot Heat?
Steve Bays: We were in dozens of bands together before HHH started; all sorts of genres: hardcore, metal, indy rock, etc. We started HHH because we wanted to be in a party band that would place dance songs and get people excited. We stuck with it because people responded really well to our sound and it was such a unique sound that we knew we were on to something worth continuing. Also, at the time (early 1999), no other bands were using synthesizers and keyboards in a modern context and we wanted to try something crazy.
How do you think being from Canada, and specifically Victoria, has impacted your sound and your ability to get exposure?
S: It was hard to get exposure because we were so isolated and distant from any labels; however, word of mouth spread our music really fast and we knew it was just a matter of time before the right label could distribute it. It helped us develop creatively though because it allowed us to incubate without any negative outside influence.
Tell us one surprising fact about your home town?
S: Victoria is known as “Little England” and the main industry is tourism. There are ancient buildings and double-decker buses just like England. Victoria even has a Madame Tusaud’s Wax Museum that mimics the English version.
How big of a celebrity are you over there?
S: There aren’t a lot of musical exports from Victoria, so it’s kind of a big deal for our city to have a band that’s noticed. So, they treat us quite nice. However, Nelly Furtado is also from Victoria and she’s a way bigger celebrity!
You have moved labels from Sub Pop to Warner. Do you feel any new pressures or changes being on a major label now?
S: Not at all. They let us make our music the way we want to do it and they’re supportive, just like Sub Pop.
Do you have plans to go into the studio anytime soon? Any ideas on what direction you might be taking the sound next? How do you guys approach the songwriting process?
S: Our sound is definitely changing and growing. The aesthetic may continue to grow, but we’ll always keep the songs catchy. We usually bring a riff or two in to our practice space and then we plug away at it for four or five hours. There’s really no formula; the main thing is that we always have to surprise each other and write music that we’d like to hear… we don’t care about what other people want to hear; it has to be sincere.
You seem to be touring non-stop. Do you prefer the studio or playing live?
S: Yeah, we’ve been on tour since last June –which it makes it almost a year. Live and the studio are 2 completely different things… both are amazing for different reasons. Live is a weird experience that comes from instincts and adrenaline; the studio is way more logical and calculated.
Do you have any memorable tour stories to share?
S: Yes! But not with the world!
Which show in the recent American tour did you find to be most bizarre?
S: At a few of our shows, one in LA in particular, dozens of people came on stage during Bandages and everyone was dancing and singing with us. It made it so fun… I wish people came on stage every show.
How was it opening for No Doubt? How did the audience react?
S: No Doubt is a really cool band but at shows that big it’s really hard to tell what the crowd is thinking because the stage is so big and the band is so far away from the crowd.
What are your favorite activities to pass the time while on the road?
S: We love to play pool. Sleeping is great too; sometimes talking with each other helps. At the shows we saw, the crowds seemed to be responding very positively. How have you handled this new attention?
S: We’ve all gone completely mad!
Has the response differed in Europe versus the US?
S: The response has been amazing everywhere. Almost every show has been sold out since last fall; however, attendance doesn’t determine whether or not we like a city… It’s more important that the crowd is happy and having a good time. We love cities where people are friendly and want to hang out after the show.
Which part of the US surprised you the most (i.e. which town/state did not meet your expectations in both good and bad way)?
How does it feel to be the author of banned music in the age of “democracy” and “openness” (referring to Radio 1 ban on “Bandages”)?
S: We all think it’s silly; but it’s kind of cool because it makes a good story.
In Serbia, all rock bands have in some way expressed their political opinions during the Milosevic rule, and in fact helped raise the public consciousness about his cruelty. That was an extreme time during which everyone was painfully aware of happenings in politics because everyday survival depended on it. Do you feel that in this type of society (where politics does not have as much of a direct effect on people’s everyday life), rock bands have a responsibility to raise awareness of what they consider to be government’s wrong doings or should they just stick to making music? S: We make a point of not being too serious with our lyrics; however, we all grew up in the local punk scene that taught us to question authority and be aware of what’s going on –which was very important in our development. It makes me sad that so many people don’t even think to question their government more.
What is your opinion on freedom of artistic expression in Canada vs. USA vs. Europe?
S: I can’t speak for Europe or the USA; but, in Canada, we have absolutely no freedom of expression and all our songs were written by government officials who have a strict 100% new wave policy on all musical exports.
You guys are pretty fashionable and, um, wear really tight jeans. Is it something you put effort into? And, what about those jeans?
S: We used to have tight jeans because they were hand-me-downs from our younger brothers; however, then we went on tour and lost a lot of weight and now they are really baggy. As far as fashion goes, I don’t think we look very presentable.
The following set of questions are of a “short answer” kind. We would greatly appreciate it if all band members gave answers to all of them (one word is enough for most of them). Some are silly and some not – again it’s up to you to decide on questions you want or not want to answer. Thanks.
What’s in your CD player right now?
The Platters Greatest Hits
What song is your guilty pleasure?
Justin Timberlake “Cry Me a River”
What was the first record you bought?
Bangles “Hazy Shade of Winter”
What are your favorite current bands?
The Walkmen and Moving Units
Who would be your dream band to share a bill with?
The Beatles
What would you be doing if you weren’t in Hot Hot Heat?
Directing documentaries
Do you prefer to play festivals or clubs?
Clubs
Who was your favorite opening band?
Either the Walkmen or Moving Units
How surprised were you to find out that your single was #3 in Serbia (on scale from 1 – not surprised at all to 10 – very surprised)?
10!
Do you feel that you’ve “made it” or do you feel that there is a lot more work ahead?
This is just the tip of the iceberg… we have a lot left in us.
Which one of you would you say is the hardest one to deal with on the tour van (since we’ve seen it and it’s awfully small)?
Paul… he’s the most unpredictable
How would you describe your sound in two words?
Catchy, weird
Where do you see HHH tomorrow, in a month and in five years?
Holland, Japan, recording a concept album
What was the craziest thing you’ve ever done as a band?
We all got in a fight with each other and injured each other quite badly.
Name one person living or dead you would like to have lunch + conversation with?
John Lennon
N*Sync or Backstreet Boys? N sync
Christina or Britney?
Christina
What was the longest time you’ve stayed awake?
56 hours
What can you fix around the house?
Stereo equipment
Are your parents happy with your career choice?
Not originally, but now Yes
What would you change in the way humans operate?
Eliminate the need for bowel movements
What do you spend cash on every day?
Food
Have you ever stolen something?
Of course!
How important is money to you? I don’t think about it much; I don’t have time to spend it anyway.
Is there anything that you wanted a whole lot but never managed to obtain?
Satisfaction with love
Do you always know what you want?
Usually yes
Do you have any phobias?
No
What was your favorite childhood toy?
Lego
Are you going to do a lot of festivals in Europe this summer?
Definitely Redding and Leeds; maybe more
Any plans for a wider European tour (which would potentially include Serbia)?
We’d love to; probably yes;
Any messages for your Serbian fans?
In all honesty, we’ve all talked about how cool it is that people know about us in Serbia, let alone like us!
Thank you very much for your time and effort. We hope you had fun in Coachella and hope to see you in Boston again soon.
Ashley and Jelena
Thank you! |
