Semifinalists Interview
How would you sum up Semifinalists to newcomers?
Chris: We come from 80s synth pop really, and punk I guess, against a film school sensibility. If that makes any sense. Music’s about love. And making love.
Which do you enjoy more – working on music or film?
Chris: I can’t choose between them, they make up how we approach both film and music, both supporting eachother.
I hear you do your own videos, is there anything you hope to do when the label give you a big
budget?
Chris: There is this one idea. If we get 13 million dollars, we want to go into space and shoot the video there. We talked with the record label about recording our demos in space, but they were against it. The basic premise is we’d all be flying around on little jetpacks, and they’d save a fortune on tracking shots cos in space you move really smoothly.
Who’ve you toured with previously?
Chris: Mystery Jets, Tilly And The Wall, Absentee... This is our first headline tour.
Adriana: And Architecture In Helsinki, that was really fun, they’re such cool people...
Ferry: They’re musical geniuses!
You’re frequently compared to the likes of Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Grandaddy, etc. – are you happy with those comparisons?
Chris: Ah, tell everyone how we’re against that...
Adriana: Oh, it’s totally unfounded.
Ferry: I mean, they’re the worst bands ever! I can’t believe we’re even in the same category as them.
Adriana: God, we don’t ever want to meet them.
Chris: If we do meet them there’ll be a rumble goin’ down!
Adriana: We’ll win cos we’re young.
Chris: Actually we do know Wayne [Flaming Lips singer, Wayne Coyne], he’s a good friend of ours. Based on the fact we talked to him for, like, one minute at Electric Picnic. The advice he gave us was that any press you can get is good, regardless of the scenario. So if you’re associated with some third world dictatorship... that’s a good thing!
Ferry: Kim Jong-il, here we come! Please please invite us to your country!
Chris: Not only are we a rock band, however, we’re also a travelling ping pong team. Not a lot of people know that. We want to do a Panasian tour where, yeah, there’s music, sure – but there’s also ping pong.
Ferry: I think we can win against any white dude, but we’re talking Asians here, man.
Chris: Well, we have one Asian.
Ferry: You really think we’re up there?
Adriana: We are pretty good, Ferry can hold his own.
Chris: His own...? We won’t say what it is, but he can hold it. I’ve seen him do it, Oh yeah, he’s done it. Oh, and, he’s an excellent shot putter. Hurrrrrgh. No, really. My God.
Any other talents we should know of?
Chris: Adriana does the long jump. We have this white van, and one time, she jumped right over it.
And yourself?
Chris: I’ve currently been working on the discus. Except using two hands.
(A lorry reverses towards our table outside Pressure Point, beeping loudly.)
Chris: I’m sorry, I’m just backing up right now.
(Chris runs off with our giant circa-1988 tape recorder for several minutes following the lorry.)
Chris: I’m back! Phew. You can sample that now.
What new music are you listening to at the moment?
Adriana: Ratt-Att-Agg, which is Rory from Test Icicles.
Chris: I’m a big fan of Final Fantasy. I think, boy, there’s some talent.
If Nostradamus wasn’t just full of shit, tonight’s gig will be the last you ever play. Do you have any plans to make it special?
Chris: I know Ferry does.
Ferry: I’m gonna do a backflip into the crowd, then crowd-surf all the way to the back. Then triple-backflip my way onto the stage.
Adriana: Then we’re going to have an icecream party. And all make love.
Ferry: It’s gonna be a sticky night, bring your raincoat! Because of the icecream. Oh, wait, I know what you were thinking, you’re dirty...
Brighton Pressure Point, 6th June 2006.
Interview with Adriana Alba, Chris Steele-Nicholson and Ferry Gouw.
