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Interview with Air
BandNation caught up with Jean-Benoît Dunckel (Also known as JB) and Nicolas Godin from Air before their show at the Grove in Anaheim, California.
Congratulations on your album Pocket Symphony. Can you tell us about the album and the recording process?
JB: So many things to say. You know it was an album that we did the same time as Charlotte Gainsbourg; we were doing an album for her. I guess for Charlotte it was about doing pop songs, and we were obsessed by the song format, and for this one [Pocket Symphony] we wanted something else. Something in another format. Another effect. So it was more experimental. And that’s why we did a lot of instrumental music, and that’s also why Jarvis [Cocker] and [Neil] Hannon came to sing. Because we worked with them for Charlotte Gainsbourg. So it was a consequence of his work.
How was it like to collaborate with them?
JB: It was very interesting.
Yeah? Very Different?
JB: Yeah. Very different and we wanted to have some strong male voices. And we wanted to develop the quality of singers and they have a low voice and a special range. We like that a lot.
Do you have a favorite track off the album?
JB: Oh yeah. I have a lot of favorite tracks. I like “Night Sight”. The last one is always very special and different. If you listen to the last track of each of our albums it’s kind of different because the beginning always has the strong tracks for the first half. Then it changes to something more mellow, something more experimental. The last track can go in a non formatted direction; it can be really slow or with a special form.
Do you it take a long time to figure out what [songs] goes first to the end of the album?
N: Yeah we used to do that but nowadays it's a little bit depressing because nobody cares about albums anymore. But it was very important for us, the order of the track listing.
For this record, you incorporated some far eastern instruments. What was that like, learning to play new instruments?
N: It was great learning to play new instruments. That was always part of the fun to make music since we were kids. When we buy new machines or new synthesizers or new drum machines or try new machines its part of the big pleasure. And the more we grew up, we forgot a little bit of that pleasure so when you learn new instruments its a little bit like you're childhood.
And you're using a lot of electronical instruments now?
N: Ah yes, we [are] like in Japan. We are mixed with high technology and our ancestral tradition. Like when we use a three- hundred year old piano but it's used with a new program at the same time.
So today you're playing in Anaheim, California - you're last US show. How has your tour been?
N: It was good. It was just in California. We did the big American tour back in May - we were all over the country. And this tour is just California so it was very relaxed and we saw all our friends. We've been coming here for ten years now. There are a lot of friends that we used to work with since the last ten years. People from the video world, sound engineers, and artists. It's like spending one week in your family.
That's great. So what will you be doing on your break before you start your tour again in Europe?
N: I'm gonna buy some stuff for my apartment. I have a new place and I need to fill it.
JB: I'm gonna try and do nothing and unlearn
N: you can't do that, that's impossible.
JB: I'm gonna try very hard. Try to do nothing
You'll probably end up making music in your head while you're doing nothing.
JB: Probably, and listening to records. I don't think I listen to enough records. And when you are on tour, when you are a musician, sometimes it is hard. Obviously you should listen to more but you don't have the time and you don't listen to it. And it’s really my problem because I really have to listen carefully. It’s not like hearing and then boom, I have to really listen to it.
Is there a favorite thing to touring for you?
JB: Oh yeah, the after parties. *laughs*
Yes, that's always the perks. Is there anything you can't live without on tour?
JB: My mobile phone
ah, texting all day?
JB: yup
A lot of our readers on BandNation are indie bands, do you have any advice for them about the music industry?
N: Try to get away from it. It's a hard time for newcomers. We have the luck to have a name and a carrier. I would not like to start from scratch right now.
JB: I think they have to learn to compromise themselves, but artistically
Any words to your fans?
JB: *smiles* I love you, I love you, I love.
BN: And you? (points mic at Nicholas)
N: Oh no, I'm a shy boy.
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