I have read a lot of stories out there that this was an emotionally inspired record. Can you elaborate on that?
Music is always an emotional experience. I think we wanted to use the songs we wrote to express what we were feeling. We are always being told our music is therapeutic by people. If we can lift people out of their doldrums, then we provide a great service.
Where does the title Dive Deep come from?
It is a metaphor of voyaging to the deep ocean. You can dive into yourself and battle your personal sea monsters.
What are your favorite tracks on the album?
I love “Au Dela” and “The Ledge Beyond The Edge,” which is a Bill Hicks quote about Keith Richards going over the edge and finding himself alive and well, sitting on a ledge.
I read that you found your singers through MySpace and the Internet. Can you tell me how you went about finding the right people? And in having worked with these new vocalists, do you think one of them will become the new front person for the band?
We listened to a lot of people on MySpace. It is good because you can follow it through the friends of bands you like and hopefully discover treasures. It is really easy to get in touch with people, too, no record companies or shirty managers to deal with.
What would you say were the biggest musical influences for this new record?
We are always influenced by our favorites like Jimi Hendrix, Nick Drake, A Tribe Called Quest, Fairport Convention, and Aphex Twin, but I think the people we collaborated with on this record were a big influence too. Thomas Dybdahl's ability to play every instrument in our studio was pretty amazing.
How long did it take you to do this album in the studio? Can you tell us a little about where this was recorded and some of your challenges during the recording process?
We recorded this album the same way as we made all our other albums, in our studio in south London. It took about a year and a half, which is a long time, but it was important to get it right.
I think history repeats itself every couple of decades. Do you guys think there will be a trip hop revival?
I never really liked that term, but it was a good time in music because you could pretty much do whatever you like, mixing country sounds and electronica or folky songs with hip hop beats.
It would be good if there was a revival of that spirit. Ten years of American Idol is enough to make anyone lose faith in humanity.
Do you own an iPod? If so, what is the most-played song on yours?
“The Swimming Song” by Loudon Wainwright.
The biggest music biz story from last year was Radiohead's pay-what-you-want-to album release. What are your thoughts on that type of model?
Yeah, it is interesting. I think it’s great to keep the rights to your record and license it for distribution. There was a brilliant article in Wired by our friend, David Byrne, on the subject. Bands have a lot of options now, and different types of deals can be tailored to their needs. But at the end of the day, you still need someone to invest in you to break you. It is still very difficult to get started.
Are you going to be touring for the new album? Where are you most excited to play? And in which countries are you best received?
We start touring in USA in March; it is my favorite place to tour. We will go round the world by Christmas. I have heard we might do some gigs in India, which would be pretty cool.
What is the strangest thing that has ever happened to you guys while performing?
I took my mum to see Bruce Springsteen a couple of years ago; it was a great gig. A few days later, we were playing at the Hollywood Bowl, and in the box right in front of me sat half of the E Street Band. It made it very hard to play, but they seemed to like the music. At one point, they were all on their feet, clapping and singing along.
When you are not performing or recording, what do you guys do for fun?
I travel a lot. I love reading. And any chance I get to swim, I take it.
Who is going to win the FA Cup?
Chelsea are my team, so I would suggest them. Although I know deep down that Man United will probably clinch it.
Any closing comments, recipes, and/or favorite eateries of London?
We are involved with Marine Conservation Society to raise awareness of the systematic destruction of marine environments by industrial fishing techniques. Marine Conservation Society. It is very important to develop more sustainable resources and realize how important the sub-aquatic ecosystems are to the world. |