The Thousands

Probing questions fell on tired ears as I interviewed Claudia from School of Seven Bells. The band was on a rock ‘n’ roll tour bus to Vienna, it was 1am and I was half-cut on gin and tonic, so naturally my mind raced with excitement, images of orgies and unkempt groupie hair from ALMOST FAMOUS. To sum it all up by paraphrasing Courtney Love, who probably lifted it from John Mellencamp, "We all play our opposites on stage." While the interview didn’t blow my mind like a Tiny Dancer sing-along, or realising that in eleven years it will be 1984, School of Seven Bells promise to put on amazing shows across the nation next month. After all, that’s why they’re paid the big bucks, right? What I’m trying to say is, this interview explains why i am leaving home to become a stewardess… Signed, Robert S Lee.

RC: How do you find Vienna so far?
C: Oh we’re not there yet actually.
RC: What are you doing to pass the time on the bus?
C: Oh, I’m just listening to my ipod.
RC: Cool.**RC: Okay, did you ever envision that the gig with Interpol would see the amalgamation of Secret Machines and On!Air!Library!?
C: It was definitely out of the blue, ah, yeh I mean, it just kind of happened, I don’t know, you know?
RC: So what about the colab with Prefuse 73, did that thing just come about, or..?
C: The single?
RC: Yeh, sorry it’s 1am here, and I’ve had a few gin and tonics. Yes, the single.
C: He pretty much just asked us for a song, some vocals and guitars and he just did his thing with it.
RC: That’s pretty sweet.
C: Yeh, pretty unexpected.
RC: Flattering…speaking of flattery, do you get a lot of fan mail? Or just people following you on Twitter?
C: Umm, you know Twitter is actually a new thing for us. I’m not really sure how that works yet.
RC: I’m not sure anyone is.
C: We get a lot of stuff through our MySpace pages and stuff like that, sure.
RC: Have you got a sweetest piece of fan mail… like anyone sending nude photos from jail?
C: Oh no nothing like that.
RC: Ok, well give me your address and I’ll make it happen
C: Thanks.
RC: No worries, I look to accommodate needs of all artists that visit us.

RC: Do you understand how f!#king popular you are in Australia at the moment? Or is it just riding the wave?
C: I have absolutely zero clue, I have no idea.
RC: Ok well, let’s put it this way, I won’t be the only screaming shirtless man at your gig.
C: You’re always going to be the shirtless man?
RC: No, I’m not going to be the only one…
C: Oh wonderful.
RC: There’s all the freaky dudes with moustaches and really tight denim, which I’m sure you’ll dig.
C: Oh yeh, sounds really nice.
RC: Yeh sure.

RC: Now Claudia, when I told one of my friends I was interviewing you guys he lost his shit a little… he’s been taking acid all weekend at a festival, but um, he asked: "Robbie," which is my name, "Some of the vocals have an almost Enya-esque bent to them, a little bit Celtic or something. Can you ask about that please?" So, do you believe that?
C: Ohh, not really, like, I mean, definitely not what we had in mind when we wrote the vocals. I mean, Enya! I’m not sure if that’s an insult or not…
RC: Nah, Enya’s sweet…
C: I guess if people really love her then I guess it’s a compliment.
RC: I’m sorry if he offended you.

RC: I see you guys have a lot of tour dates coming up, and I know you’re always writing new music, do ever foresee any rest in the future?
C: We’re touring ‘til June, so, I think after that we’ll do some writing and recording.
RC: Where do you think you’ll do that, so I can have the scoop?
C: June, after we do all the touring.
RC: … ok

RC: Final question, is there one track you wish no one knew that you liked? By Britney Spears or The Peacocks or something like that?
C: Umm, no, I’m pretty shameless about everything I like…
RC: You’re shameless about everything?
C: I love Top 40 and I love pop music, honestly the only music I don’t like is new country…
RC: LeAnn Rimes? Or is she old?
C: Old?
RC: New?
C: Exactly.
RC: Ok, rock on. Thanks for your time, Claudia. It’s getting late for me.
C: Yeh, ah yeh.
RC: Hopefully see you in Melbourne.
C: Definitely.
RC: Rock on.