Liars (27/06/2012)
Hi I’m Casey; Thanks for talking to the 59th Sound today!
Hi Casey, I’m calling from Los Angeles currently.
Liars recently got back from a European tour and are starting an American tour, how is everything for you guys?
It’s not bad, it’s quite good. We had some fun in Europe and we’ve got a little bit of time off before we head out into the great United States. We’re just getting ourselves re-calibrated really.
WIXIW was just released; how have you found fans reactions to these new songs?
Really good! It’s always nice to play to a crowd after you’ve been holed away for a year or so and to have them respond so well to the music. It’s really nice; I like the way that they’ve reacted and hopefully it continues all the way on to when we get to Australia.
I have read about the philosophy/ideas/concept behind WIXIW but could you describe abstractly the album in just five words. Sentence or not, whatever you would like.
Sure. Fear. Doubt. Anxiety. Uncertainty. Contradiction.
Ok so I’m going to ask a question you’ve probably heard a lot; why do you guys change the sound of every record? Is it a challenge kind of thing? Challenging yourself?
Yeah! I think it is challenging ourselves and keeping ourselves excited about what we are going into. At the same time I kind of wish we were a band that figured something out and stuck to it every record; it would make life a bit easier. In some ways it’s just something that just can’t happen in terms of trying to be interested in it. So it’s a pretty natural evolution of working on an idea and making a record about it and moving onto something new.
What directions or places does the band pull inspiration from? Individually or together?
It depends on each record. There are some records we’ve made it’s really important where we are living and trying to take our surroundings and use them as a way to make an interesting record. Then there are some albums, like the one we just did [WIXIW] where it was really important to kind of shut the world out as much as possible. And really make our own little world where we didn’t pay any attention to what was going on around us. So it depends; in the past we’ve used a place like Los Angeles as a really good inspiration and subject matter and then on other records, such as when I was living in Berlin, I really just had nothing. It was Berlin and we were making a record, you know.
Ok so would you say the albums have kind of progressed as your life has progressed? Different places, different ideas?
It’s not really the other way around. It’s not like ‘oh we want to make this kind of record so let’s move to Tanzania or wherever’. It’s more like ‘Oh I really would love to live somewhere like... you know’ and then we move there and then the result is the record.
You’ve been in the music industry for over eleven years now; what’s your motivation to keep on continuing in such a hard industry?
I don’t know; I suppose I just feel lucky that I can do it. To be able to spend my time making things that I like to make and having people appreciate them in some way is a really nice way to spend my time. But who knows, maybe next year I’ll want to become a lifeguard.
That would be an interesting life experiment.
[laughs]
You’ve released a lot of EPs; do you guys just keep on creating?
I mean there are a lot of types of music to be made I think. I could definitely go on and on and on with all the different things that would be interesting to have a go at. So as long as someone is willing to pay to make the record than I think I will have no problem in making it.
Ok, would you say the bands exploration of different sounds gives you guys more of an opening to make different things or make more?
Yeah, I mean we’re not the type of people who are only into, you know, death metal and that be all that we want to make. I think that with each record there’s a possibility that we could make an acoustic folk record and then on the next one, just as easily, make a hip-hop record. It keeps it interesting and keeps it fun.
So the band is coming to Australia for the upcoming Harvest festival, are there any acts that have been announced that you’re excited to see?
I know that Beck is playing. We’ve done some work with him in the past so it will be great to see him perform; I haven’t seen that in a little while. I think that should be good. There is another band that we’ve done a lot of touring with in the past that we’ve always loved; they are called the Chromatics. I’m not sure if they’ve ever been to Australia before and I think people are going to really like them.
What would you like the audience at Harvest to take away from your set?
Um... That things can go wrong and that’s what makes for an interesting show. I don’t know; I just don’t want them to feel like we’re just playing the record back to them like they’ve heard it in their homes. That things have an element of chaos and physicality to it.
Ok, so kind of not a perfect set but still something that’s enjoyable and pretty great?
Yeah, I just really want it to always be a good show. I don’t want it to become this sort of formula on how to play a show that’s always kind of the same. What is exciting to me about going to see a show is that I’ve seen something unique and special and it’s always important of me to kind of keep that spirit there and I think that one way you do that is by allowing for things to wrong. What happens in the moment when things go wrong is kind of unique.
So people can expect an individual set, something unique to you guys?
Yeah I would think so. I mean, I don’t know! Not exactly sure of all the people that are playing on the festival but when you see a Liars show I’m pretty sure you know it’s a Liars show.
Have you toured Australia before?
Well we’ve done a couple of tours of Australia; the last festival thing we did was Livid. I don’t know if that is still around. We did that when the White Stripes played it and that was fun. And then the very last time we were there; I don’t know, it was a couple of years ago. It wasn’t a festival; just club shows. I don’t know if we played in Brisbane though.
Is there any place or experience you are particularly excited for?
Well my family lives in Sydney so I’m pretty excited to see them; I don’t get to see then that much. That’ll be the place that gets me the most nervous probably. I’m hearing, a part from the festival, we are going to go play in Perth and Adelaide so I’m really excited to go to those places because I’ve never been to Perth.
Would you happen to have any short but amusing or crazy band stories you could share with us; could be fans, travelling, performing, anything?
I don’t really know. We’ve been weird stuff in the mail, which is always kind of fun but frightening. I think one of the last weird things that we got was a dead bird and that was really scary. But at the same time I guess someone had a thought and popped that in the mail for us. So yen, that’s a pretty interesting weird situation.
In touring worldwide is there any city or place that you just really enjoy going to for any number of reasons.
I think if I was forced to tour one country for the rest of my life I think I would choose Japan because it is awesome there. The people are super nice, the food is great and they often they give you these tiny little cute presents when you play. So I really like playing Japan but also we’ve played quite a few times in Istanbul, Turkey. That’s a really kind of fascinating place on the whole other side of the scene. I like to get a good Turkish hot bath there where you get slapped around by big white men.
I’ve heard different bands say that Japanese audiences react differently, like it’s polite to not cheer. Is that something that’s happened there?
Not really. I haven’t heard that but of course the Japanese are extremely polite and also everything is super clean, which is really nice. When you’re on tour it is one of the best things to be able to enjoy that everything is really clean, but in general it’s a great reception there and I’ve seen kids go crazy.
Ok, on the idea of different crowds, is there different ways that different areas react at a concert?
It seems like in smaller towns, wether it’s in America or around Europe, the people are a bit more reserved. Then when you get into the bigger cities people are, you know, willing to take their pants off kind of idea. I don’t know if that’s just in relation to our band or just in general but that’s my experience.
Ok we’re coming to the end of our time, I’ll just ask you is there anything you’d like to say fans or any thoughts for the upcoming year.
Keep it real, make a record, do some stuff that you’re excited about and keep on living in Australia because it’s a great place.
Everyone seems to say that!
But it’s really expensive now, which is a bummer. It’s more expensive than living in New York right now.
Casey Cunningham
Hi Casey, I’m calling from Los Angeles currently.
Liars recently got back from a European tour and are starting an American tour, how is everything for you guys?
It’s not bad, it’s quite good. We had some fun in Europe and we’ve got a little bit of time off before we head out into the great United States. We’re just getting ourselves re-calibrated really.
WIXIW was just released; how have you found fans reactions to these new songs?
Really good! It’s always nice to play to a crowd after you’ve been holed away for a year or so and to have them respond so well to the music. It’s really nice; I like the way that they’ve reacted and hopefully it continues all the way on to when we get to Australia.
I have read about the philosophy/ideas/concept behind WIXIW but could you describe abstractly the album in just five words. Sentence or not, whatever you would like.
Sure. Fear. Doubt. Anxiety. Uncertainty. Contradiction.
Ok so I’m going to ask a question you’ve probably heard a lot; why do you guys change the sound of every record? Is it a challenge kind of thing? Challenging yourself?
Yeah! I think it is challenging ourselves and keeping ourselves excited about what we are going into. At the same time I kind of wish we were a band that figured something out and stuck to it every record; it would make life a bit easier. In some ways it’s just something that just can’t happen in terms of trying to be interested in it. So it’s a pretty natural evolution of working on an idea and making a record about it and moving onto something new.
What directions or places does the band pull inspiration from? Individually or together?
It depends on each record. There are some records we’ve made it’s really important where we are living and trying to take our surroundings and use them as a way to make an interesting record. Then there are some albums, like the one we just did [WIXIW] where it was really important to kind of shut the world out as much as possible. And really make our own little world where we didn’t pay any attention to what was going on around us. So it depends; in the past we’ve used a place like Los Angeles as a really good inspiration and subject matter and then on other records, such as when I was living in Berlin, I really just had nothing. It was Berlin and we were making a record, you know.
Ok so would you say the albums have kind of progressed as your life has progressed? Different places, different ideas?
It’s not really the other way around. It’s not like ‘oh we want to make this kind of record so let’s move to Tanzania or wherever’. It’s more like ‘Oh I really would love to live somewhere like... you know’ and then we move there and then the result is the record.
You’ve been in the music industry for over eleven years now; what’s your motivation to keep on continuing in such a hard industry?
I don’t know; I suppose I just feel lucky that I can do it. To be able to spend my time making things that I like to make and having people appreciate them in some way is a really nice way to spend my time. But who knows, maybe next year I’ll want to become a lifeguard.
That would be an interesting life experiment.
[laughs]
You’ve released a lot of EPs; do you guys just keep on creating?
I mean there are a lot of types of music to be made I think. I could definitely go on and on and on with all the different things that would be interesting to have a go at. So as long as someone is willing to pay to make the record than I think I will have no problem in making it.
Ok, would you say the bands exploration of different sounds gives you guys more of an opening to make different things or make more?
Yeah, I mean we’re not the type of people who are only into, you know, death metal and that be all that we want to make. I think that with each record there’s a possibility that we could make an acoustic folk record and then on the next one, just as easily, make a hip-hop record. It keeps it interesting and keeps it fun.
So the band is coming to Australia for the upcoming Harvest festival, are there any acts that have been announced that you’re excited to see?
I know that Beck is playing. We’ve done some work with him in the past so it will be great to see him perform; I haven’t seen that in a little while. I think that should be good. There is another band that we’ve done a lot of touring with in the past that we’ve always loved; they are called the Chromatics. I’m not sure if they’ve ever been to Australia before and I think people are going to really like them.
What would you like the audience at Harvest to take away from your set?
Um... That things can go wrong and that’s what makes for an interesting show. I don’t know; I just don’t want them to feel like we’re just playing the record back to them like they’ve heard it in their homes. That things have an element of chaos and physicality to it.
Ok, so kind of not a perfect set but still something that’s enjoyable and pretty great?
Yeah, I just really want it to always be a good show. I don’t want it to become this sort of formula on how to play a show that’s always kind of the same. What is exciting to me about going to see a show is that I’ve seen something unique and special and it’s always important of me to kind of keep that spirit there and I think that one way you do that is by allowing for things to wrong. What happens in the moment when things go wrong is kind of unique.
So people can expect an individual set, something unique to you guys?
Yeah I would think so. I mean, I don’t know! Not exactly sure of all the people that are playing on the festival but when you see a Liars show I’m pretty sure you know it’s a Liars show.
Have you toured Australia before?
Well we’ve done a couple of tours of Australia; the last festival thing we did was Livid. I don’t know if that is still around. We did that when the White Stripes played it and that was fun. And then the very last time we were there; I don’t know, it was a couple of years ago. It wasn’t a festival; just club shows. I don’t know if we played in Brisbane though.
Is there any place or experience you are particularly excited for?
Well my family lives in Sydney so I’m pretty excited to see them; I don’t get to see then that much. That’ll be the place that gets me the most nervous probably. I’m hearing, a part from the festival, we are going to go play in Perth and Adelaide so I’m really excited to go to those places because I’ve never been to Perth.
Would you happen to have any short but amusing or crazy band stories you could share with us; could be fans, travelling, performing, anything?
I don’t really know. We’ve been weird stuff in the mail, which is always kind of fun but frightening. I think one of the last weird things that we got was a dead bird and that was really scary. But at the same time I guess someone had a thought and popped that in the mail for us. So yen, that’s a pretty interesting weird situation.
In touring worldwide is there any city or place that you just really enjoy going to for any number of reasons.
I think if I was forced to tour one country for the rest of my life I think I would choose Japan because it is awesome there. The people are super nice, the food is great and they often they give you these tiny little cute presents when you play. So I really like playing Japan but also we’ve played quite a few times in Istanbul, Turkey. That’s a really kind of fascinating place on the whole other side of the scene. I like to get a good Turkish hot bath there where you get slapped around by big white men.
I’ve heard different bands say that Japanese audiences react differently, like it’s polite to not cheer. Is that something that’s happened there?
Not really. I haven’t heard that but of course the Japanese are extremely polite and also everything is super clean, which is really nice. When you’re on tour it is one of the best things to be able to enjoy that everything is really clean, but in general it’s a great reception there and I’ve seen kids go crazy.
Ok, on the idea of different crowds, is there different ways that different areas react at a concert?
It seems like in smaller towns, wether it’s in America or around Europe, the people are a bit more reserved. Then when you get into the bigger cities people are, you know, willing to take their pants off kind of idea. I don’t know if that’s just in relation to our band or just in general but that’s my experience.
Ok we’re coming to the end of our time, I’ll just ask you is there anything you’d like to say fans or any thoughts for the upcoming year.
Keep it real, make a record, do some stuff that you’re excited about and keep on living in Australia because it’s a great place.
Everyone seems to say that!
But it’s really expensive now, which is a bummer. It’s more expensive than living in New York right now.
Casey Cunningham