Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire’s full-length debut, Funeral, was released in 2004 and launched the indie rock band on the road to fame, taking them from the backstreets of Montreal into the heart of the current music scene. Fortunately, Luxu- riant managed to track down Tim Kingsbury (bass guitar and keyboards) for a 15 minutes interview to find out a bit more about The Suburbs, the group’s most recent recording which won many awards including the 2011 Brit award for Best International Album. These crazy Canadians will headline the Rock-A-Field open-air festi- val on June 26th in Luxembourg together with the Arctic Monkeys and many others. We hope this interview will inspire you to buy your tickets (you can win some on our website too) for the event, which will undoubtedly rock your mama… and obviously Roeser’s field too.
Why does this album focus on the suburbs?
Win and Régine write all the lyrics and as they took a trip to Texas, near where Win grew up, they started thinking about life in the suburbs. When they talked to us about it, we were just starting work on our new tracks. It turned out to be a cool theme that tied the whole album together.
Are the lyrics “we were already bored” on the single “The Suburbs”, to do with a personal experience?
I guess so, but we could say that that’s true of the whole song. Nowadays we don’t reside in the monotonous suburbs anymore. We all live in Montreal city and we rehearse in a fabulous church in Farnham.
Was it God in person who asked you to buy a Church?
Actually no (laughs), it is just a church we converted into a stu- dio. We were looking for a cheap, large place to record. The rooms have a great size and the acoustic is good in there. Before we bought it, someone had been living there so it hasn’t been a church since the 20s.
You supported Barack Obama during his last campaign. Sticking with him in 2012?
Well, I am Canadian. I can’t really get along with the Americans (laughs). However we don’t really discuss that in the band so there are no plans to do anything right now.
Leonard Cohen lives in your neighbourhood, have you considered singing together?
Oh that would be amazing! I’d love to, but we didn’t get onto the subject so far.
Why did you cover “Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son” by Serge Gainsbourg in 2007?
Just because we really liked the song and we thought it would be a fun cover to do.
Can we expect you to sing covers during your gig in Lux- embourg’s Rock-A-Field festival in June?
Can’t be sure yet. We are in the middle of our tour right now so it will depend on how the set evolves.
Which is your favourite cover?
Let me think… That’s a good question (laughs)! We’re now working on a cover of a pop song, a tune we have not performed in front of anybody yet. I hope we will play it soon but sorry, I can’t remember the name of the track at the moment (laughs)!
What about making a cover version of a Peter Gabriel song to thank him for covering the Arcade Fire track?
Yeah, I think we would all love to, but it just hasn’t happened yet. We’ve all been busy with things recently. I do really like his Arcade Fire’s cover though.
Which famous people would you like to work with?
Some day, I would really love to play with Neil Young.
Which bands have given the best live performance?
Actually, I have been listening to live country music over the last couple of years but that’s the old stuff. For the current scene, I can really recommend seeing Animal Collective. We played a festival with them.
Is the love story between Win Butler and Régine Chassa- gne the basis of Arcade Fire?
Eah, they started it all. Without them the band wouldn’t exist. They’re a very creative couple and… it’s good just the way it is (laughs)!
How is the relationship between all the members of the group?
As a band we get along quite well, I mean we’ve been playing together for eight years now.
Are all the members multi-instrumentalist?
Everyone is definitely able to play different instruments and to try different things, yet to different skill levels. It just came naturally, even if all of us have been playing several instruments before being in the band.
Tell us about some of the weird instruments you used for this album.
Régine can play the hurdy gurdy and some other odd instru- ments. We used some strange instruments on the new album and, you never know, we might use them on stage too.
Will you be playing any songs from the forthcoming al- bum at Luxembourg’s Rock-A-Field festival?
It’s too early to say. At the moment, we are not quite ready to perform new tunes. We might be by the time Rock-A-Field comes around, but sorry, I can’t promise anything!
How did you record The Suburbs?
Everyone at the church or at their home sending tracks in via Internet? Actually, neither of those. We recorded in different places, some bits in Montreal at studio Frisson, other times in the church or in New York, but we don’t email tracks anymore.
I hear rumours that some band members got bored during your very long guitar recording session?
Well yes, we didn’t stay together for the whole thing (laughs)! We did split up from time to time because when it takes you six hours to record one part it can be seriously dull!
You won a Grammy in Los Angeles for Best Album. Who got to keep the trophy?
Well we all got the award so there is no fighting over that (laughs)! Actually, the trophy itself is still on his way to be delivered so we will see what happens when it arrives. Personally, I think I will turn it into a necklace (laughs)!
Are you still the same person you were before you hit the big time?
Yeah, I think so. My lifestyle is still pretty normal.
So have you realized one of your dreams?
I guess so. Already, just being able to play music for a living is unbelievable, but playing for people who love it, in great places all around the world is just fantastic.
Tell us a bit about the story of your collaboration with Spike Jonze.
When finishing the record we had the idea of writing a short song and making some kind of a video. We met him after the studio session. He said he would like to work with us, so we shot the video in Houston and it was a major experience. Just a great and very cool guy.
