INTERVIEW: Clubfeet (Take 2)

We spoke with CLUBFEET at the tail-end of last year just after the fellas released the double A-side singles ‘City of Light/This Time’, and now with the new album just about to be released (18 January to be exact) we sat down with the guys again to discuss the album, touring and their audience.

Your new album Heirs & Graces is out this Friday. How would you say the sound has changed since Gold on Gold?

To draw a comparison, Gold on Gold was like Baywatch - bouncy, frothy, lathered in Piz Buin. Heirs and Graces is a deeper and more complex record…it’s our Baywatch Nights.

Gold on Gold had quite a lot of blog traction in the US before it was released in Australia. How did that come about?

It all started with a Myspace message (yes, Myspace) from Plant Music, a great New York underground dance label, saying that they loved our music and wanted to put out some vinyl. We hadn’t been planning anything serious - the project was kinda like a summer fling which we recorded in our lounge - but then we got some good reviews and then things just gained a natural momentum.

3. Did you work with an external producer on Heirs and Graces?

We recorded and produced everything ourselves at our home studios in and around Melbourne with a few writing sojourns to Cape Town. But we did get our friend Victor Van Vugt to mix the album. He's an ex-pat aussie who lives in NY and has done some amazing stuff in the past with the likes of Nick Cave, PJ Harvey and Depeche Mode. He's more of a band producer than a dance music guru and I think he was great at taking the album to the next level.

4. What are the dominant themes on the album?

Desire, Connection, Heartbreak, Regret, Rebound. It just keeps going in a circle like that. Actually, aren't these the dominant themes of all albums?

5. What's the best gig you've played to date?

Probably this sweaty underground bar in the East Village for CMJ where we played with Penguin Prison, Electric Guest and St Lucia. The place was so packed there was sweat dripping from the ceiling. Dangermouse and the Strokes were in the crowd. It was a surreal experience. A close second would have to be supporting Miike Snow in Sydney at the Metro.

6. What are the top 5 songs on your Ipod at the moment?

1. Everything is embarrassing  - Sky Ferreira
2. Justified and Ancient - KLF
3. Landslide - Smashing Pumpkins (cover)
4. Hurtsville - Jack Ladder
5. Parenthese - The Antlers

7. Is your live show more 'rave club' or 'indie mosh pit'?

I'd say somewhere inbetween. We encourage 'responsible dancing' but 'irresponsible dance moves.' We've built our live show from the ground up - we think it's important as a band with an element of electronics in our music to keep things as organic and live as possible on the stage. It just makes the whole experience more real and rewarding for everyone concerned. We also do a calisthenics warm-up with the crowd before we play to ensure maximum flexibility on the dance floor.

8. What are three things you always take with you on tour?

•  The latest Vanity Fair
•  Kiehls hair polish
•  A pad of fake tattoos (to balance out the male grooming products)

9. What's one place in the world you're dying to play?

Our dream is to play Sun City in South Africa, they have a great wavepool.

10. What are the plans for the rest of the year?

Our second single "Everything You Wanted" is just about to be released and we're heading off on tour in a couple of weeks time. After that we’re planning to head back to the States. If we could somehow arrange to avoid another Melbourne winter I'd be so stoked!

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