Dappled Cities are already big stars on their continent in Australia. Now they have massive plans for the USA. So watch out American audience! Take it while it’s hot!
Here’s enough to get interested in this “unashamedly romantic band” as they called themselves - UG talked to the bass player Alex Moore about the tour with Silverchair, singing with 2 drum sticks in the mouth and of course the new album Granddance!
UG: You should be very well-known in Australia, but still in the rest of the world people know not that much about you. Tell me how it all started and why you decided to make a band.
Alex Moore: Well, we decided to be in a band because we were kids. You know. In a garage, listening to Nirvana in the 'burbs. It seemed the thing to do. Took our minds of acne and puberty associated embarrassments...
Granddance is your debut album to be released outside Australia. Do you like the reception so far?
Oh WOW! The reception for our record here has been amazing. The response to the record had left us speechless... Australia is far from an indie rock paradise. To come to a country where you are placed on a bill with similar bands is such a novelty.
You recorded Granddance in L.A. in three different studios. Why did you switch between them and what was the whole process like?
We recorded at New Monkey, Sunset Sound and Sonora. We did the New Monkey stuff in March 2006 as a sort of try out of recording. And it worked incredibly well. New Monkey was Elliot Smith's studio and it was awesome. I thought the vibe would be weird but it was comfortable and encouraging.
When we returned in July to finish we did the drums and bass at Sunset Sounds... That was a great experience. To record in a studio where someone had done something brilliant is a very special thing. Olivia Newton-John recorded there! We finished everything at Sonora. Another great studio full of keyboards and all of those things that make you giggle.
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| "The cover was originally red. But it was too angry, so it became blue..." |
You've spent twelve months recording Granddance. Why did it take so long?
We actually finished recording in August 2006. It has just taken a while to come out here in the US. You know, label stuff...
In your music you have sounds so weird as ritual bells. Where do you get those ideas from?
Randomness. One of those things that comes over you. It is that thought that drops into your mind. "What about bells???" Or "What about Dave singing with 2 drum sticks in his mouth?" Seriously. He had 2 drumsticks in his mouth for one song.
You're famous for your love to delay guitars. What other guitar effects did you use recording the album, is any?
Anything really. Of course lots of delay. We all fell in love with the Echo Chamber at Sunset Sounds which gives one of the most intense reverbs ever heard. We hammered the drums with that baby.
When talking about Granddance you're often compared to The Flaming Lips. Are you more proud or annoyed with that?
Proud. PROUD!!!
You've got a very interesting picture on your album cover. Who made it for you?
We got an artist from LA called Cole to do it. It was originally red. But it was too angry. So it became blue.
What's the story behind your name? I know that the record label is pushing to take "Fly" out of it and leave it as Dappled Cities while you don't really want to do it. Is there some special meaning in Dapple Cities Fly or you just don't want anybody to tell you what to do?
It isn't the label that pushed it out. It was a joint decision. We were young when we made our name. Abbreviating it was a relief for us...
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| "Australia is far from an indie rock paradise." |
Among one of the description of your duties in the band, I found "bird screams". What does that mean?
Dunno. Wikipedia. Tim always used to make me scream when we played our song the "Birds". I used to get weird and nervous. And then I stopped. I think someone just wanted to give me another role in the band.
You've just had a tour with Silverchair. Did you have fun together?
Amazing amounts of fun. Maybe the most fun ever. We got along like houses on fire. We went on a cruise together! It was an awesome tour. Occasionally you just click with another band. That was one of those moments.
I know that you had plans for getting some confetti cannons for your shows. Did it really see the light?
Yea. Once. Venues aren't really into it though. But we did a show in our home Sydney and went confetti crazy. We had remote controlled ones! Awesome!
As things are going great for you overseas, are you considering moving to the USA?
Hey! We have moved here. We're here until December! Let's party!
So when are going to take over the world? For example, play a few shows in Europe?
October. Look out UK. The US is looking pretty hectic at the moment. It seems that is out goal at the moment. But Europe will be getting Dappled soon!
At your most ambitious where do you see yourself?
Who knows? We just want play music. Any chance we get... That’s out ambition. We're just stoked to be doing this!
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