Interview: Active Child
MYATS: Where are you guys at right now in your tour?
Active Child: We are somewhere in Eastern Washington, driving through a blizzard. We played Seattle last night, and we have the next few days off before our show in Minneapolis.
MYATS: Really? That’s crazy! It’s been ridiculously warm in Montreal, its been as warm as 16 degrees some days… I can still walk around barefoot. So we know that you were in a choir when you were younger – did you pursue it for a long time, and did it have a big influence on you?
Active Child: Yeah, definitely had a big influence! I was doing the choir when I was really young, from about when I was nine years old to around 13. It was really my first time performing and singing, and I was exposed to a lot of new styles of music, including a lot of classical compositions. It definitely had a big influence on me, especially on the way my voice developed, and the way I sing and record now.
MYATS: For sure! Did you find it difficult to incorporate your classical singing style into modern music?
Active Child: No, not really! It wasn’t really a conscious choice to sing that way, its just the way I feel like I’m the best singer. So when I started writing the music, it just worked or it didn’t work. (laughs) Oh god, I’ve got plenty of stuff that I wrote that ended up not working! But sometimes it works really well.
MYATS: It’s definitely an amazing original sound. When did you start playing the harp, was it around the same time that you were in the choir?
Active Child: No, it was when I was older, when I was going to school and living in Denver at the time, about eight years or so ago. I’ve just been incorporating it into my music ever since.
MYATS: Oh, sweet! Do you pickup instruments pretty quickly?
Active Child: Yeah, I feel pretty comfortable around instruments. I play the guitar as well.
MYATS: Well being classically trained from such a young age definitely helped you! Did having your dad work at Priority Records have a big influence on you?
Active Child: I think that listening to a lot of hip-hop growing up had a big influence on the way I write. Lots of the melodies and the rhythmic structure that I use, such as hip hop claps, snares and kicks and stuff like that. I listened to hip hop for a large portion of high-school and college, and I didn’t really explore a lot of other music until a little bit later.
MYATS: That’s so funny, you would never be able to tell that you listened to hip hop for the majority of your life from your music!
Active Child: Yeah, I don’t think anyone would really know that (laughs).
MYATS: Did you learn anything about the music industry from your dad? It didn’t scare you at all?
Active Child: No, I was pretty sheltered from really what was happening, as far as the reality of the music world, and I wasn’t really talking to my dad about work, or going to work with him. I got all the perks from his job, like free music and free tickets to shows and I got to meet some of the artists. It wasn’t until I got to writing my own music that he kind of became my confidant, and a very important person that I could go to and talk to about different contracts, or opportunities that came my way, and I realised that there’s a lot more to it than just fun and games.
MYATS: Well, that’s great that he was there to protect you in a way! What’s up with your casette-only release? Why did you choose to do that?
Active Child: I did it solely because someone wanted to put out my music (laughs). That was my first release, and I was just really excited that anyone was taking the time and interest, and spending their own money to produce the tape, and promote it a little. So, I mean it could have been put out on an 8-track for all I care, I was just really excited about the opportunity! And so, it happened to work out really nice! I think the songs that were on it sit really nicely into that sound that a cassette has when you play it.
MYATS: Yeah, I think it definitely would! It would add to the fantastical and fairy-tale feel of your songs. So you have recently added another person to your live line-up – are you planning to continue to expanding your sound orchestrally?
Active Child: That’s a good question! I think we’re constantly trying to find ways to make the show bigger and stronger, and if that means adding more members then maybe that’s what we’ll do! I’m not sure right now, I think we’re trying to focus on doing as much as we can with the three of us, but who knows we might be adding a fourth member soon!
MYATS: Some more strings perhaps, that’d be great!
Active Child: Yeah maybe a small choir, and some cellos or something (laughs).
MYATS: You can all your buddies from choir! (laughs) So what are your interests other than creating music? What are some of the things you like to do on a day off?
Active Child: When I go home, I like to get to the beach, and go outside. I love just hanging out at the beaches in L.A. and surfing a little bit. I like to do art – I studied art in college, and my mom was a painter as well. When I get home I try to do a little bit of creative something other than music, I think its great to have a little bit of balance of both.
MYATS: Aw, so jealous! Sounds like a dream life. What are you ultimate goals for your music?
Active Child: I mean right now when I’m on tour, it’s tough to think more than just the next day, and the next show and kind of live day-by-day. But long term, I really want to just focus on becoming a better musician, and writing better music. And hopefully put out better albums. It’s kind of a short term goal.
MYATS: One last question – who would be your top pick for a collaboration?
Active Child: I’m a big fan of female vocalists, and I’ve always wanted to maybe work with Bjork, it’d be pretty crazy! We played a show a month ago in Iceland about a month ago and I tried desperately to try to get into her show at the festival but it was completely sold out, everyone wanted to go. Or I’m a huge fan of The Knife, I love Karen Andersson, I would love to do something with her. Also, I think Owen Pallett would be great, I think we have a lot in common musically.
MYATS: Yeah, that would be great! He plays the violin usually, no?
Active Child: Yeah, he makes these really magical songs.
MYATS: Well, thanks for talking with us! We are really excited for your show this Saturday, we will see you there!
Interview conducted by Amelia Robitaille
Active Child – Playing House (feat. How To Dress Well)
We would like to thank Active Child for talking with us. If you’ve got your tickets, we will be seeing you this Saturday at the S.A.T. with M83!
