Interview with Figurines Interviewed By: Amy Wagner Biography Read Full Page Digg Interview Add del.icio.us Danish rockers Figurines are charging their way into America's musical subconscious with their new LP "When The Deer Wore Blue".  The disc is a perfect blend of sweet American pop sounds complete with crystalline harmonies. We sat down with Christian Hjelm (vocals/guitars) and Claus S. Johansen (guitars/backing vocals) for a quick chat about their new album and why they would like to pack NYC up in their suitcases and spirit us all away back to Copenhagen.

What have you guys been doing during your time in New York? Claus:  We went to Rockefeller Center.  We went up the tower there and it was amazing.   Christian:  I did a radio session and after that, we were very tired and went back to the hotel.  We were both on the internet for four hours watching a channel that was playing concerts. How did you first meet and form Figurines? Christian:  We met each other in the mid-90s in junior high.  We connected over music. Claus: We liked Nirvana. Christian:  We liked grunge when we were kids.  We dug it. Tell us about the first gig you played together? Christian: I remember some pretty early ones.  Do you remember that one at the birthday party with the bar? Claus: Oh, yeah! Christian: They let us play three songs. It was unannounced but I think that was the first time we played our own stuff in front of people.  That was 1997.  We only had a couple of songs. Is any one in the band superstitious?   Is there something you always do before you play a gig or does anyone have a lucky shirt or anything like that? Claus: Not really.  Not exactly superstitions . . . Christian: I think some of us have some particular concert shirts.  Cause when you're on the road, it's not really a good idea to have a new shirt on every night because you run out too quickly.  You can use the same shirt for like five gigs. After you play a show in Denmark, how do your fans show their appreciation?  Do they buy you beers? Claus: They might buy us a drink or something like that.  Maybe ask for an autograph. Christian: A lot of people will come over and tell us how much they appreciate the music.  Claus: Once this girl tossed underwear.  And you know, you put it on the microphone stand.  Someone took a picture of it. Did that become your official press photo? Christian: It was on the internet.  The biggest music magazine in Denmark reviewed that particular show.  Actually everything went wrong at the show and they had the picture in their review. Did they notice that everything went wrong? Christian:   Oh, yeah!  We only played four songs and we couldn't play any more because of all the technical problems.  It was fun though. Your new album "When The Deer Wore Blue" is like a walk through music history.  What were you listening to prior to recording the album? Christian:   We've always been interested in a lot of different things.  If you listen to our albums you can hear a lot of different time periods.  I guess "When The Deer Wore Blue" is probably the most weird psychedelic piece that we've made but also just because everything is much slower on the album.   We kind of reduced the speed a little bit.   If you could go back and change anything on the album would you? Claus: Hmmm . . . I don't think so. Christian:   I don't think it's a good idea to think that way because when you make an album, it's a very "now" experience.   I think the best thing is not to think to much and just kind of do what feels right.  Tell us about your song "The Air We Breathe".   Did it take a long time to catch that perfect Beach Boys sound? Christian: The song was made over the course of half a year.  The harmony part was the first thing that was done and then it was kind of put on the shelf.   We liked the demo but we knew the song needed more.  The last half was created a half a year later and then the two units were fitted together.  If you could pick up any American city and take it home with you, which one would you pick? Claus: Probably New York.  It's very European in a way.  You sort of have New York and then you have the rest of America.   It's something totally different. Christian:  There's just so much variety in the people here and I think that's really important.   Claus: It's kind of harmonic. Christian:  Everything and everybody is accepted and that's kind of cool.

Biography:  Figurines

Reviews Figurines - When the Deer Wore Blue (9 out of 10) Amy Wagner Releases Figurines - When the Deer Wore Blue The Control Group - 2007 - Album Artist Website Figurines - Official Website