Before the release of Champ on the 19th of July, Tokyo Police Club’s follow up to 2008′s Elephant Shell, I caught up with keyboardist Graham Wright to talk about festivals, recording a new album and the women of Wisteria Lane.
Starting from the very beginning… how did you form and how did you decide on your name?
We were friends in high school, and played in other bands together, and eventually it coalesced into the form we all know and love today. The band name just came out of the song Cheer It On when we were stuck for a name. Seemed like a good idea at the time…
We were friends in high school, and played in other bands together, and eventually it coalesced into the form we all know and love today. The band name just came out of the song Cheer It On when we were stuck for a name. Seemed like a good idea at the time…
Within two years of forming and before releasing your first record you were playing some of the biggest festivals in the world — Glastonbury, Coachella, Reading/Leeds. Was this massively intimidating for you or did you simply treat them all as fun learning experiences?Fun learning experiences, definitely. When you play as many shows as we have, its hard to get intimidated by any of them. At the end of the day, you’re doing the same thing you do every night, except in front of way more people. It’s a really exciting opportunity to play any festival, especially the big, legendary UK ones. It’s been too long and I want to do it again!
It’s been just over two years since you released your debut LP. What have you all been up to in this period?
Touring and making a new record! It takes a lot of time to write songs and then record them, so we got the record out pretty much as quickly as possible. We tried to take a little vacation but we ended up just writing songs instead.
Touring and making a new record! It takes a lot of time to write songs and then record them, so we got the record out pretty much as quickly as possible. We tried to take a little vacation but we ended up just writing songs instead.
How has the band developed between this record and the last?
We had a busy two years so I’m sure we did develop, but its impossible for me to say how…
We had a busy two years so I’m sure we did develop, but its impossible for me to say how…
Your producer on ‘Champ’ Rob Schnapf, has worked with artists from Beck and The Vines to Powderfinger. What effect did he have on your work in the studio?
Rob had a huge effect on the way the record turned out. We went into the studio with songs that had been bouncing around in our heads for nearly a year, and he was instrumental in helping us get them out of our heads and into a place where they made sense. He’s dealt with pretty much every situation that could possibly arise in the studio, so he was always calm, which is huge in a studio setting.
Rob had a huge effect on the way the record turned out. We went into the studio with songs that had been bouncing around in our heads for nearly a year, and he was instrumental in helping us get them out of our heads and into a place where they made sense. He’s dealt with pretty much every situation that could possibly arise in the studio, so he was always calm, which is huge in a studio setting.
Who are your biggest musical influences right now and how are they affecting your sound?
You know, when we started writing songs, we were really aware of our influences. We’d actively sit down and reverse engineer songs we liked to work on new stuff. These days it isn’t so obvious to us. I’m sure we still have all kinds of serious influences that people on the internet will be only too happy to point out to us, but I really couldn’t say what they are.
You know, when we started writing songs, we were really aware of our influences. We’d actively sit down and reverse engineer songs we liked to work on new stuff. These days it isn’t so obvious to us. I’m sure we still have all kinds of serious influences that people on the internet will be only too happy to point out to us, but I really couldn’t say what they are.
What has been the biggest challenge the band has faced so far?
There are constantly challenges in a job like ours. Putting four creative and opinionated people in a room together and trying to come to a consensus is impossible at the best of times, and of course everyone has their off days. Throughout the making of this record, just like our last record, there were days when it seemed like everything was going to fall apart. But then of course the next day we’d nail it and be on top of he world. That’s just the way it goes, I guess.
There are constantly challenges in a job like ours. Putting four creative and opinionated people in a room together and trying to come to a consensus is impossible at the best of times, and of course everyone has their off days. Throughout the making of this record, just like our last record, there were days when it seemed like everything was going to fall apart. But then of course the next day we’d nail it and be on top of he world. That’s just the way it goes, I guess.
You’ve toured extensively pretty much all over the world. Where’s your favourite place you’ve played and why?
That’s the hardest question to answer. There are so many places that I love for such different reasons, it’s impossible and pointless to pick one. I love the rich history and cultural identity of the UK and Europe, but then I love the vibe in middle America, and the sunshine in LA, and the metropolitan insanity in New York, and so on and so forth. I try to appreciate everywhere I go equally.
That’s the hardest question to answer. There are so many places that I love for such different reasons, it’s impossible and pointless to pick one. I love the rich history and cultural identity of the UK and Europe, but then I love the vibe in middle America, and the sunshine in LA, and the metropolitan insanity in New York, and so on and so forth. I try to appreciate everywhere I go equally.
You were written into an episode of Desperate Housewives. Did you accept this role in a bid to increase your profile or are you simply all big fans of the Wisteria Lane ladies?
Somehow I doubt that the prime audience of Desperate Housewives would be super into our band, though if we did win any fans I’m not complaining! But the reason for doing the show was the same reason we do most things: it’s fun to do stuff. I like to say yes and I like to have new experiences, and spending two days on set at Desperate Housewives is not something I’m likely to get the chance to do ever again.
Somehow I doubt that the prime audience of Desperate Housewives would be super into our band, though if we did win any fans I’m not complaining! But the reason for doing the show was the same reason we do most things: it’s fun to do stuff. I like to say yes and I like to have new experiences, and spending two days on set at Desperate Housewives is not something I’m likely to get the chance to do ever again.
You’re playing quite a few festivals this summer. Who would be included in your dream festival line up?
Radiohead, The Hold Steady, The National, Leonard Cohen, Flaming Lips, The Strokes. I guess just every band I like (which is an extremely long list).
Radiohead, The Hold Steady, The National, Leonard Cohen, Flaming Lips, The Strokes. I guess just every band I like (which is an extremely long list).
Finally, three songs you wish you’d written, are…
Elvis Perkins – 123 Goodbye
Leonard Cohen – Sisters of Mercy
The Hold Steady – Citrus
Elvis Perkins – 123 Goodbye
Leonard Cohen – Sisters of Mercy
The Hold Steady – Citrus
This interview was originally posted on www.culturedeluxe.com
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