[10.27.10 – Antipode, Rennes]
After seeing them this summer at the French festival La Route du Rock, we were dying to discover what a Liars’ concert sounded like. Before the gig started we interviewed Angus Andrew, the band’s front man.
1. Many people over here in Rennes have seen you at La Route du Rock. Did you enjoy the festival? Do you think it was a good one?
Angus: Hum, I am trying to remember, was it the one where Gang of Four played?
100%: No, it wasn’t.
A: Was it out door, in an old Napoleon style building? Yeah, that was really fun, I liked it. We’ve played there before, many years ago. I had a good time playing at that festival. I remember we had a lot of technical problems- many things went wrong. You know we always go through hell getting ready for a gig. But yeah, it was fun; I like big stages like this one. And The Flaming Lips played too, didn’t they?
100%: Yes!
A: Were they good?
100%: Yes, really awesome. Even if you don’t like that kind of music, you’ve got to be impressed by what they do on stage.
2. Concerning your last album Sisterworld, can you tell us more about the artwork? Where does the photo come from?
A: What happened basically is that we’d been working on the record in Los Angeles for a long time, and we were talking about this idea of trying to separate oneself from the influence of society, thinking about those places that you need to find to be able to connect with yourself again. And those were very theoretical ideas until we decided that we would take a trip to California without listening to any music. We just walked in the forest, took photos and shot videos. It is the idea that we were trying to convey in this record. That's where the artwork comes from; putting ourselves in a position where we kind of physically felt what we were talking about in the record.
3. Do you think that the artwork have an important part to play in music?
A: Lately it hasn’t because of the end of the CDs era. But I think it’s actually now becoming more important because people want to own more than just a piece of paper and a CD. I think it’s important in this day and age not just to point out the finger at people who do not buy records, but also that we, as artists, make a product that is actually worth buying. Something that is attractive, that you can hold and really like. Most of the time, people don’t want CDs; they’d rather download files on their I-Pod or computer. But I think there is room for creating things that people enjoys buying. That’s why we wanted the cover to be a kind of 3D picture.
4. Liars have been playing for ten years in various line-ups, and Sisterworld is album number five. Do you ever think about what Liars will be doing in ten years?
A: I don’t know, I don’t think about it too much. It’s weird to even think we’ve been making music for ten years. But to answer this question, I’ll just cross my fingers and hope that we’ll make another five records and that I’ll be as happy as I am now with the latest one.
100%: In ten years you’ve become a big influence for many bands.
A: Yeah, it’s really amazing to see how everything works. Because there are so many bands; and every day new bands are formed. Sometimes I forget that they actually know about us and listen to us. Whether it’s important or not, it’s interesting to know that our music affects other people’s music. I think I’m pretty proud of that. Because the influence we have is more spiritual than musical. It’s all about being faithful to your beliefs and doing what you think is right.
5. Some people say this album is dark. Do you think it’s a good thing?
A: I agree with them, I wanted to make a dark record. Sometimes when I think about the lyrics and some other things I said, I get a bit chocked by these dark aspects I found in myself. I wanted to reveal the darkest part in me.
6. Others say it deals with the “loss of self in society”. What does that mean?
A: It means that I often find it difficult to see where I fit in society. It’s particularly difficult in Los Angeles because everyone is really beautiful and smiling and wealthy and all, and sometimes you just wonder why you’re not a part of it! It’s the same feeling when you’re watching TV or else. Sometimes it feels like you can’t really understand who they’re making all this for. It’s not for you. Sometimes I feel like I’m left out of the world, I believe that there are other people who feel this way too. So I make a record to help those people find a way to discover themselves again and not to be worried about what society is saying they should be.
7. Do you consider yourself as optimistic or pessimistic?
A: Oh, that’s an interesting question! I think I’m an optimist, I look forward to things, I don’t dread much. I also like to think that I’m a realist; it’s like cutting it in the middle, because I think there is a problem with being either too optimistic or too pessimistic.
8. What bands should we be listening to?
A: There is this hip hop band from Los Angeles called Odd Future. They‘re pretty interesting; they actually covered one of our songs; that’s how we heard of them. They’re really young, they‘re skateboarders and I really like what they’re doing.
9. What is your favourite book and why? You don’t have to pick only one.
A: There‘s a book called Remainder by Tom McCarthy. He’s an English writer and it was actually his first book. It was released a couple of years ago. I really, really enjoyed that book; it calls into question the role of art in life. And throughout the book there is this interesting idea of trying to recreate art in life and how problematic that can be.
10. Could you give me a cooking recipe?
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