Today I want to share an interview with you again. In August 2009 Brian and Stefan chatted with a journalist of GMA News. They chatted about the band's new sound on “Battle for the sun”, their new drummer Steve Forrest and why they call him Baby and how it was to collaborate with David Bowie. Enjoy reading!
YOUR MUSIC IN “BATTLE FOR THE SUN“ SEEMS LIGHTER THAN YOUR PREVIOUS ALBUMS.Brian: Probably in theme and what we're trying to get across, which is hope. I think we felt that the last album (Meds) didn't offer the listener a great deal of hope and we wanted to do something that was less somber and more colorful. The actual process of making the record was the least chaotic, the most disciplined and the most stress-free recording process so far. I think a lot f that had to do with our producer's incredible people skills and his understanding of the psychology of a rock band.
Stefan: Compared to the last one, there's a few major differences. One is the lineup. I think when we made Meds, it was kind of the beginning of the end of that lineup, really. Making this record was kind of purging the past and kind of reaffirming the fact that we really want to be in a band. There's still a lot left to fight for. It's kind of finding some of that renewed energy.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME CHANGE TO YOUR GENERAL SOUND IN THIS ALBUM AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU USE A MARCHING BAND IN SOME SONGS, WHILE BEFORE YOUR MUSIC TENDED TOWARDS ELECTRONICA.Brian: We wanted to make a big sounding record. We wanted to make and anthemic record and an epic record. We also wanted to use instrumentation which we felt was timeless. The problem with electronic music is that technology moves so quickly that the more electronics you use, the quicker your music becomes dated. You have to wait another 20 years until that sound is fashionable again, to become slightly retro. We chose to use the type of instrumentation like piano, string and horns, brass because we've always been trying to make a timeless record and this time around... you now you're always trying to make a record that transcends the genre as well. And we also try to make records that don't have a type of blanket sound, (it should have) a lot of variation.
HOW IS YOUR WORKING RELATION WITH STEVE [FORREST]?Brian: Sometimes it's great. Sometimes it's amazing. And sometimes, you just want to put him in a bag and drown him. You know? (laughs) There's a massive age difference between us.
Stefan: There's a massive cultural difference. He's American. Born and bred.
Brian: From California. You know, he's 22. We're in our mid-30s and you know we're from Northern Europe. We're more contemplative and quiet. Steve can be very excited about being in the band as well. But he is an extremely talented musician. And there's a real synergy between us when we play as Placebo. When we play onstage. It kind of feels like being in a band with your little brother and (laughs) little brothers can drive you crazy.
Stefan: If you talk to him for two minutes, then you're his best mate. He's very friendly. He's a good kid.
YOU CALL HIM KID TO HIS FACE?Brian: Oh yeah.
Stefan: We call him many things.
Brian: One of his nicknames is the baby. We call him that to his face so he knows.
Stefan: Blondie.
WHAT'S IT LIKE COLLABORATING WITH DAVID BOWIE?Brian: It's a lot of fun. He's a legend. Being in the same room with him... you pick up his...
Stefan: His bacteria.
Brian: You learn just by being around him. The good thing about David is that he's a raconteur. It's a lot of fun. He knows everybody. He knew everybody. You get to hear a lot of funny and sad stories about people who are no longer with us and are still with.
WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM PLACEBO IN THE NEAR FUTURE?Brian: We're just touring and touring and touring. We don't plan to stop.
ANY PLANS OF COMING TO MANILA, MAYBE NEXT YEAR?Brian: Hopefully. (GMA News, "Backstage with Placebo", August 3rd 2009)
Photo credits: Scarlet Page, 2009
Post by Silke
