Of all the up-and-coming bands releasing new material and charming the pants off indie kids world-wide, few are as charming (and talented, and immediately likeable) as Phoenix, the wide-eyed Parisian popsters whose recently released 4th studio album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, has been wowing audiences across the globe.
With sunshine pop hooks, catchy choruses, and infectious, synth-tastic beats, Phoenix clearly understand what goes into crafting the perfect pop song—and even have the cred to prove it Best New Music title; a rare 3-song set on SNL; thunderous album sales.) Now, they’re busy touring the country in support of Wolfgang, winning new fans with each electric performance.
Despite their crazy schedule, I managed to catch up with front man Thomas Mars for a phone interview, who filled me in (in adorable broken English) on the influential shows of his youth, surviving life on the road, and who’s earned a spot on his coveted play list.
Phrequency: You guys have exploded as of late and have been selling out venues across the country. Why do you think this album in particular was so successful?
Thomas Mars: I don’t know! But what I can tell you is what we did differently with this record. We started it without a record company…we wanted to start and finish it without one, and then go to a few people who really liked it, and they wouldn’t be able to touch it. So it felt like we were making a record for ourselves. Really, it’s almost like commercial suicide talking about Franz Liszt [“Lisztomania”] and doing a 10 minute instrumental in the middle of your record [“Love like a sunset”]. We were making music we thought people wouldn’t relate to. We did it without wanting to please everyone. We always thought pleasing everyone meant you were creatively dead. So it’s nice when you do something very far out and very personal and people can relate to it. It felt like all the planets were in one line.
P: What do you want audiences to get out of your live shows? How do you want them to leave feeling?
TM: I guess I want them to feel the way I felt when I saw my favorite shows as a teenager. There were a few shows I saw that really improved my life, in a way. They really had a big impact, and confirmed in me the idea that I wanted to make music. They made me feel like I was part of something.
[Pauses.] When I was 16, I saw My Bloody Valentine play the Loveless record. That was something that was so emotionally strong and physically strong. It was so loud…I still remember all the sounds. It was almost like modern art in a way. It was something you couldn’t get just by listening to a record—you could see a lot of attitude.
P: So many shows must be exhausting! How do you avoid burnout on tour?
TM: Well, that’s the thing. You can’t avoid it. You just think you can do it until the last minute, and it happened to us on this tour where we had to cancel a show 10 minutes before. I think traveling, you have to deal with this pressure…but it’s still the best life we can imagine. So we would rather keep this pressure and be burnt out then not do it.
P: What was the best show you’ve played?
TM: We played one in San Francisco a few nights ago where the crowd was really amazing. They were totally devoted, which is something you always want in a show; you want them to get involved. It felt almost like a Mexican crowd for some reason…in Mexico, they are always very devoted and know all the lyrics and sing along, which as a band, is very nice.
We also played a show in Denver the day that Michael Jackson died, which was very touching…you could feel it was the end of childhood, the end of your teenage years. At the end of the show, we played a Michael Jackson song and everyone stayed and danced, and we just kept playing longer, for 2 hours. It was really a special moment.
P: What words of advice would you offer new bands who are just starting out?
TM: [laughs] I’m terrible at advice. I wouldn’t give any. The only thing is…we try to preserve ourselves. Growing up in France, the professional side of music was so bad…all the bands you hear about from France, like Daft Punk and Air…we all come from the home studio, a very independent side, far from anything that is professional. The fact that we grew up in Versailles...the best thing that city gave us was allowing us to be different. I wouldn’t give advice, but that’s the one thing I would encourage. Be yourself, and be different.
P: When you guys aren’t touring or writing new songs, what do you like to do for fun?
TM: It’s pretty much about music all the time, which seems boring to a lot of people. Yesterday we had a day off randomly in the middle of nowhere in Saratoga, Wyoming, between shows in Las Vegas, and Omaha, where we are playing tonight. We took the day off and went to visit an Indian reserve and see the hot springs, which was nice. We like to visit places.
P: What are you listening to these days?
TM: There are a lot of new bands that we like, and a lot of them are actually playing with us on this tour. We really like the Soft Pack and Metric; they are really good. They both played with us at the Greek in LA, and it was great. I really like the new Dirty Projectors record…and I like Julian from the Strokes’ new songs. Also, Passion Pit. There’s a lot of good music now.
P: Anything else you want to add?
TM: The show we are playing in Philly…will you be there?
P: Oh, I’ll be there. I can’t wait!
TM: [laughs] I hope we won’t disappoint you!
Catch Phoenix this Monday, September 28, at the Electric Factory. With Chairlift.
