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Live Review: INTERVIEW: Baths

7 September 2011 | 2:33 pm | Staff Writer

Will Wiesenfeld of Baths is about embark on his first Australian Tour so we sent Randall Stagg to have a chat with the self proclaimed party free artist about exclusive details on his future projects and his plans to add a full band to the Baths line up.  All he asks in return is that you refrain from vomiting. 

You're coming down to Australia. Is it your first time here?

Yes it is! I'm so excited!

So you've not met a kangaroo before?

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No I haven't. I've seen one. I don't think I've really, you know, met one as such….but i'd love to.

So what can we expect when you're here? You going to party with us?

No. No way. I absolutely do not party.  I cannot bring myself to do it.

For realz?

The live show requires a lot of focus from me. I can't really drink or eat before I play or it just makes me really crazy.

So it takes a lot out of you?

I get really drained from touring. It normally takes me about 2 or 3 days to recover from flight.

For me this is going to be a crazy tour. I have Japan, then I'm flying into Australia and then I'm off to New Zealand.

How do you stay sane on the long flights all by yourself?

Plenty of podcasts and nausea medication. I'm a terrible flyer.

Do you ever want to get a band together? I guess that way you wouldn't have to fly solo?

For the next album I'm specifically delving it towards a band.  I come from a band background so thats what I'm more comfortable with really.

Would this change the live show for you?

Well the live show I wanted for Cerulean was for it to be specifically a solo show. Something easy to get on the road and travel with.

This next album will see Baths perform as a band.

Have you got the band all lined up ready to roll?

You know it's kind of tough figuring out who's in the band.  Friends aren't always the best to work with but you want someone you're comfortable with.

Does this mean you've started on the next record?

Not quite, I haven't started writing but I've set myself rules and limits for this next record.

I have a much clearer focus on what I want to do. I know exactly what I want, it's very specific. I want to use all my own recordings.

No drum samples. Everything 100% played.

You enjoy using natural sort of recordings?

For me it's about creating an atmosphere for each song, so, whatever sound ties into the style of each track.

Do you ever feel that pressure to incorporate a different sound pallet into your new album? Go with a different direction?

I had this foray of drum samples. I ended up using them as a crutch. In the end it kind of made me uncomfortable to hear the same drum samples from track to track over the record.

For the next record, are there other artists you like kicking around with? Have you heard anyone's music or voice that makes you think "I NEED TO GET THIS PERSON ON A TRACK!"

I'm not super interested in any kind of colab. For me making music is a pretty selfish process. It's pretty inwardly focused. I'm in music to write my own.

When you collaborate with someone it halves the process from each person, it's like this whole other realm of creativity but you have to share it.

Do you find that technology interferes with the music you make?

Never. Technology has always been my friend when it comes to making music.  For me it allows you to get 100% of what is inside someone's head.  So everything you're hearing is direct from my brain.

What can the people of australia do to make sure that when other people say "Hey what was your favourite show?!" you say "Holy crap Australia man!"

Be respectful. It's awful when people are so pissed drunk.  There are some people who don't understand the limits.  You need to find that magical in between.

LA and NY get out of hand.  Every show, I always see someone vomit.

Well you know our drinking age is a little lower than yours?

I've noticed the lower the drinking age in each country the smarter the drinker.

You never whipped up the old fake I.D.?

No way man. I had the magic of waiting until I turned 21 so I could walk into the venue and be like "fuck yeah!"

What's your favourite show been so far?

Dublin in Ireland felt special. The crowd was so great. The Irish really hold their liquor. They are like professional drinkers. But they were so damn nice!

Who's the super cute dog on the poster man? Everyone loves that thing.

Oh that's my close friends pomeranian. That was just after his summer cut. He's the best dog. Ever. His name is Giuseppe.

Hey thanks dude. I'll be down playing your show at Can't Say in Melbourne. I'll bring you a towel.

HAHA. Thank you.

Download the latest Baths track 'Exit The Mine' HERE

UPDATE: BATHS AUSTRALIAN TOUR HAS BEEN CANCELLED