The Traditional And The Modern: Our Interview With Crystal Fighters' Sebastian Pringle
Music. It's ages old. It's ever new.
Who among us doesn't get all aflutter when encountering something different? Well, I know I sure as hell do and I'm going to go ahead and assume you can rise to the occasion, muster some enthusiasm, and open your ears for something delightfully original.
More often than not a band will rely on gimmicky nonsense to catch a break and appeal to the masses for a shot at the big time; there is no such danger with Crystal Fighters. One of the most wildly original and appealing bands I've heard in a long time, they bridge the gap and close the distance with their fans cheering them all the way. We recently had the chance to ask singer Sebastian Pringle a few questions about their unique sound during their US tour and this is what we found out.
How are you doing today?
We're doing well. We've got a couple of days off between shows in Minneapolis and Vancouver, so were catching up on a little sleep, getting some laundry done for the next part of the tour. Fresh.
Your music is like nothing I've heard before and that's saying something as I've heard a lot of bands over the years. Was the very distinct sound something you strove for before you even began working together or was it something that popped up, like catching lightning in a bottle?
Kind of you to say. We did try to mix different [types] of music that we didn't think had been put together before, that is to say elements of traditional Basque folk music with many different genres and sub-genres of dance music. But you are right, a lot of things do just "pop up" when you're mixing strange things together. You just got to spot them when they do, and expand!
Who are your musical influences?
In terms of artists, anything from Ame to Zappa helps us really, but some big influences on Star Of Love were Os Mutantes, Ricardo Villalobos, Skream, Gilberto Gil, J Dilla, etc.
Your sound makes it easy to understand how you would be huge internationally as it seems timeless and without cultural boundaries. The use of traditional and non-traditional instruments is a big part of that. When you go on the road and unload your gear, do you ever get funny looks when the roadies carry in the txalaparta along with the guitars?
We have learnt to conceal the large beams of wood we carry around on tour when anywhere except the stage, so I think the funny looks must just be at what we are wearing. But on stage yes, we do try to combine the traditional and the modern; we have various synths, pedals, and samplers providing the modern element, but also classical guitars, the txalaparta and some old rope-tuned drums that bring a more earthy, natural sound. The vocals sit somewhere in between, I suppose, somewhere between folk melody, tribal chant, and rap.
Robotic Thriller
You know, if they can teach robots to dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," at the very least I should have one that can fetch me a beer from the fridge.
Sprung Monkey, "Get 'Em Outta Here"
From 1998, here's Sprung Monkey with "Get 'Em Outta Here."
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Seven Questions In Heaven With Catch Wild
Today we're spending Seven Questions In Heaven with Catch Wild:
Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
We are female-fronted rock with a pop edge. Generally, we don't like to compare ourselves to other bands, but we are told we are in the vein of Paramore and such. Take a listen and formulate your own opinion!
Who are your musical influences and idols?
Doug: Eric Clapton and Cream, Soundgarden, Bush, Mutemath, Incubus, Shades Apart, Pete Yorn, Stone Temple Pilots, and Rx Bandits.
Jess: Stevie Nicks for her undeniable uniqueness and strength; Chrissie Hynde for her badass; Sheryl Crow for her songwriting and simplicity; '80s Madonna for her resilience, creativity, and understanding of how to brand herself; Alicia Keys in her first few albums for her chilling passion, Songs In A minor I literally had in my car CD player for an entire year, one of my all time favorite albums; Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 for his perfectionism and attention to detail, it took something like eleven years to record that album (don't quote me on that number); Carole King; and Fiona Apple. These are really the artists I go to so I can breathe and feel normal. Oh yeah, I think I have to give it up to early Mariah Carey. Emotions, I'm pretty sure that album taught me how to sing.
Swinny: Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, and Mutemath.
What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Doug: Bush's Sixteen Stone and Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise.
Jess: Green Day's Dookie.
Swinny: Inner Circle's Bad To The Bone. The song "Bad Boys" from Cops has a killer bassline.
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