Interview: The Naked and Famous
MYATS: Your use of fuzzy guitars, and playful synth push you within two different genres: electro and shoegaze – Which would you prefer to be associated with, and why?
N&F: Neither to be honest… I prefer to just consider us a rock band, creating alternative music. You wouldn’t call a band like NIN or Radiohead electro or shoegaze and they use both fuzz pedals and synthesizers. I guess longevity will tell though – if those descriptions still stick to us in a few years then I guess I’ll accept them lol. They’re both great terms though and I love bands that have those labels associated to them.
MYATS: I read that you found it frustrating to have your music read on a surface level, rather than investigated for its intricacies? What intricacies are you referring to exactly?
N&F: I don’t remember saying that but ok lol. I would think anyone who’d taken a few years to create an album/band/aesthetic would feel the same?… Then again I do this to satisfy my own creative desires, so I am more than happy to have completed an album. I don’t really want to explain the intricacies really… People who’re interested enough to find them will. It’s a more rewarding experience that way … I guess I could shed some light though… There are lyrical and musical links. To our EPs. And from song-to-song. Listen to Wild and No Way back to back. Listen to Punching In A Dream and Bells. Listen to… Ive already said too much. I’ve gone and contradicted myself. Brilliant.
MYATS: What’s important to get across when playing your songs in a live setting?
N&F: To re-create the album. We are one and the same thing right now. We are proud of our creative accomplishment and don’t see any reason to do something other than showcase it at every opportunity. I guess respect for an audience is also a concern though. We want to give people our best and most concise performance.
MYATS: What is something most people probably don’t know about the New Zealand (and or Auckland, specifically) music scene that we should know?
N&F: http://www.realgroovy.co.nz/Product/3287051/Soundtrack
MYATS: Are you working on a new record, and if so, what can we expect from it?
N&F: Probably just more of the same. A few more curse words… Maybe a few “hell-yeahs”. A lot more metal.
MYATS: If one more person compares you to MGMT and or Passion Pit you will:
a) take it as a compliment
b) ignore it
c) Both.
N&F: I mean on a surface level I’m sure there’s emotional musical similarities as far as some singles but I don’t think MGMT have much to do with house music, industrial, 90s alternative or the rest of our record. MGMT have some 60s, 70s, psychedelic & folk influences. No one has said anything about ‘The Mint Chicks’ influence on our first EP’s… or the ‘Suicide’ influence on MGMT’s ‘Time To Pretend’ EP. Probably because neither influences are currently on pop radio… But whatever, they’re a good band, we are a good band. I feel flattered to be seen as a part of the music of this decade. Life is too short and music is FAR too important to humans to bother trying to complain about it!
MYATS: Does it conjure up a different feeling to see The Naked and Famous on North American charts? If so, why?
N&F: Other than “holy shit!… Thank you – whoever was responsible for that?!”… No not really. It makes me excited about being able to reach more people from a different country. I feel privileged to be able to do this… But nothing’s changed. Same band, same values, hype is just a concept. I’m only interested in giving people something genuine they can cherish – like all the albums I grew up on. Any opportunity to do that is a privilege.
A big thanks to The Naked and Famous for taking the time to talk to us. Check them out this Wednesday at La Sala Rossa.
