Rhode Island natives Low Anthem take a wee moment out of their busy touring schedule to chat with meg.ie. Ben talks zen (no more rhyming and I mean it!), the upcoming album and patterned mindlessness.
You are currently in the middle of a fairly epic tour schedule, is this the biggest tour you’ve undertaken? How are you holding up so far?
Hey Kevin, sorry for the delay. We’ve been moving, touring and flying and all manner of nonsense. We are holding up alright. The endless travel and carousing are taxing, but it’s all good fun and we’re in good health.
One of your last dates in the tour is over in Ireland for Electric Picnic, looking forward to it? Did you enjoy your last appearance in Ireland, playing Vicar Street?
We certainly are looking forward to the picnic gig. We like Ireland. Dubliners gave us some nice books and whiskey. We’ve met really fine people. We’ve also learned some swell songs from the Irish.
Is it hard coming up with new material on the road?
I assume you mean songs and not the comedic banter. To find a song that keeps you bound but at an arms’ length, in suspended fascination. That’s hard on the road or anywhere. Lately I’ve tried not to seek it too directly, but just to stay fluid with the process of writing. The songs can creep in when they need to.
Probably the biggest challenge for me personally on the road, is keeping my brain from forming little circuit loops. Patterned mindlessness. The routine can be repetitive and isolating, but anyone who works any regular job knows that. Repetition is dangerous. Bad for the spirit. Except regarding zen gardens and trance arts. And really the development of muscle memory is so crucial.
Have there been any particularly memorable/surreal/life-threatening touring moments?
Let’s not invite any voodoo here.
The internet tells me (and the internet is never wrong..) that the new album should be out early next year. Is that still the plan?
Yes. That is the plan. It has been pushed off a few times now, but this time we mean it. We can’t fuss it any longer. We are trying one more recording session in September to attempt a bridge section to the record as a whole. It’s in a new space with a different sound and hopefully will give a fine arc to the record, but it’s a bit of a shot in the dark. We’ll see what happens.
Obviously you’ve been road testing a lot of your new material this year, have the new songs changed much now that you’ve seen and heard audience reaction to it?
Yes, though I’m hesitant to make recording judgments based on audience reaction. Live versus recorded music are so different in there intent as to be nearly unrelated. Also, on average, audience tends to respond to what they are familiar with, yes?
Your first two albums were self-promoted before a label came on board, do you think this is the route bands need to be taking, not holding out for a label to come in?
I don’t know. There are more ways than we can count to go about it. Also let’s not assume that the goal of music is necessarily to “grow.” Don’t you ever just sit down sometimes and whittle a pendant? Let’s not poison the well before we swim. You know what I mean?
The claymation video for Charlie Darwin was one of the most beautiful videos I’ve ever seen. Did you guys contribute to the making of it?
Yes, I was totally awed when I saw it as well. All the credit goes to Simon and Glen at End Of The Road. They are visionaries. Presently we’re working up story boards for some of the new songs. I am eager to see what they come up with.
What have you been listening to at the moment? Any recommendations for meg.ie readers?
Yea sure. I’ve recently been listening to Ivor Cutler, Skip Spence, and Doc Watson.
By Kev Donnellan
P.S
After talking so highly of it, we thought we’d share the pleasure of Charlie Darwin. Feast your eyes and ears on this:
