ACL Interview: Downtime With Stars
How did you first become interested in music and how did that lead you to form a band?
Chris: We all went to the same junior high and high schools. Our music teachers were pedophiles but geniuses and that kind of rubbed off on us (err, the genius, not the pedophilia).
Torquil: We were in the symphony and grew up playing classical music- trumpet, trombone and French horn. So that was a big part of it and I don't know, what else- drugs? It's the same shit as everybody: a high school band followed by drugs.
How do you guys feel about playing at ACL? What's more fun, large or small stages?
Evan: Great, we were here a few years ago and its great to be back. This is a great city and ACL is our favorite festival. It's a huge festival but feels like a small one. We're playing a mix of large and small venues on this tour.
Torquil: It just depends on the crowd really. If the audience is there its good and if they're not it doesn't matter how good the venue is.
a high school band followed by drugs.
Torquil: I guess if anything it's that your weaknesses can be your strengths. Soft things can be very deadly and powerful if you believe in yourself. I think in the fragility of our music we try to give people a sense of power through their weakness. But to say there's a message, that's saying someone else's interpretation is wrong and to me that's the problem of ever saying what your message is. I believe in love and the expression of it, not just romantic love. That's what makes a band. There's something people who think it's about having a message and some who don't.
Evan: My message is not to have a message.
How do you translate your music style into a live performance?
Torquil: You just do it. You can't think about it and you have to go with your instincts. If we talk about things like this, it might go away.
Advice for aspiring musicians?
All: Keep playing the music you love. And play as much as you can. Never stop. If you hang around, eventually you're the only one left. People have to listen to something.
