Pop Is Dead:
First of all we just want to know where you interest in music began? Which bands or artists inspired you?

Valgeir:
I was probably 9 years old. My older cousins were into Punk and New Wave and always had the latest records. So I would hang around them and be fed a lot of music.

The Clash… and all that scene. And I gradually was more drawn to the electronic stuff in their collection. Krafwerk, early Depeche Mode and then I had a big love for Japan and David Sylvian, Brian Eno. I also loved Roxy Music. I got my first guitar when I was nine and was in a “punk-band”

Then in my teens I got somehow more and more drawn to classical music, which is weird as there was absolutely none anywhere around me,except that my sister was studying piano….

P:
Would you say that’s what brought the more orchestral style into your work?

V:
I was drawn to they synthesis of electronic sounds and acoustic instruments very early on
and I love the raw energy of something that is not controlled (improvised), versus the craftsmanship and precision of scored music.

P:
Is that why you were attracted to some-one like Sam? Some-one who’s performance is different every time?

V:
Well, yeah I love that about him. There are many things that I love about Sam. But I didn’t know all that about him before we started working together, it was sort of a discovery… I just liked his approach to these songs in the first place and felt that I could bring it further.

P:
There is a careful balance of the Raw folk of his sounds combined with the fuller deeper arrangements behind it. How did this relationship with the rest of The Bedroom Community?

V:
Nico played me Sam’s first album and I was hooked. We talked about me re-working that album, as I felt that I would need to change stuff, but then it made much more sense to leave it as it was and work on the next one together.

P:
Speaking of next albums, how is the newest album coming along? Does it still follow the same format of the previous two, with covers of Appalachian folk songs, or has it moved in a different direction?

V:
It follows that path, Appalachian folk songs and old source material. There is a brand new song, a cover, there too and Sam is becoming somewhat more of a composer in the sense that he’s re-composing and even composing now. Sonically it is very different though. I don’t want to talk about it too much at this stage. As the album is just in the finishing stages. But, holy shit, it’s going to be amazing!!!

P:
Haha. We can’t wait to hear it. How was Whale Watching?

V:
Awesome

P:
Where was your favourite place you stopped?

V:
Difficult one…We almost did this non-stop.Really, there are two things that you take away from a tour like this.The first is the performance, was it good.. could it have been better.. how? and how was the crowd, then venue… etc.. The second: how was the food we ate?

These did not always go hand in hand.My favorite shows were in Madrid, Copenhagen, Leipzig… But Sevilla wins for the best food!

P:
I can imagine.Do you have any plans for future solo work?

V:
YES! I’m reserving early 2010 for writing,so I’m going to see how that goes, but hopefully I can finish a record next year. Let’s see if it comes out 2010 or 2011

I’m also releasing a soundtrack album soon.Music I composed for an Icelandic film, Dreamland. So, I’ve been writing, but it’s not exactly a follow-up to Ekvílibríum…

P:
How does it differ? Are you writing differently, or purposefully going for a different style?

V:
I’m approaching it quite differently, yes. This is written with the mood of the film in mind, it’s the underscore to a dark and bleak documentary about destruction of Icelandic nature to provide energy for foreign corporations, and the music was written with a small orchestra in mind

P:
Your style is very remeniscent of artists like Brian Eno. This whole soundscape idea has started to become more and more popular, with the likes of Post-Rock bands and Electronica. How do you see this developing in the future? Do you think it will enjoy a more mainstream success?

V:
Hahaha, I have no idea. I never ever think about mainstream success. I have no idea what it even is, but I fear that it may be evil.

P:
You probably have a point

What do you think about the music scene currently? Are there any bands you like or would like to work with?

V:
I’m working with so many great people already, but there are always new adventures around the corner. I’m excited to work with Puzzle Muteson, possibly for Bedroom Community. He’s amazing. We’ve also just added a new artist to Bedroom Community, an Icelandic composer Daníel Bjarnason. He is awesome, we’re releasing his first album early 2010 and we are already working on his second album… I’m never really comfortable talking about projects that I am working on outside of Bedroom Community, as it always seems to early, but I’ve also been working on some records that I’m really excited to see released in the coming months.. If Beyoncé is reading this; give me a call!

P:
We’ll let her know

Having a back ground in production, was it moving you outside of your comfort zone to play live, or did it feel natural?

V:
It was very unnatural… haha. But I had done plenty of live performance through the years. But it was a logical step, after releasing my own music, just took a while to get used to

P:
You’ve worked with many artists over the years, in various roles. What is it like to work with someone like Bjork or Bonnie Prince Billy?

V:
These two for example are as different as possible. What I love about working with all these different people is that it always opens up something new.

P:
Well i think that’s all we really need to know. Thanks alot, it’s been a pleasure talking to you. Good luck with 2010

=Dave=

A lot of people have said a lot of things about Nathan Williams. More often cited for his notoriety than his music, there’s something very wrong. With their lo-fi, surf punk sound, Wavves should have been hailed as the fresh change from all the grand almost operatic indie ( i’m looking at you Grizzly Bear), but a few too many pills coupled with a festival crowd secured Williams a reputation as a dick. Not so, i say. In the brief few moments i spent in the company of Nathan, he seemed a pretty cool guy, not at all afflicted with the traits of this internet caricature. During our little chat, we managed to dispel some of the confusion floating around the blogosphere, as well as find out some new bits and bobs (studio recorded album anyone?).

First of all, how’s Zach? How long will he be out for?

Nathan:Me and Zach just did a tour together and a record together. We’ll probably play a couple of one-off shows and stuff like that, but he’s in like, 6 other bands, so I don’t expect him any time soon. I don’t know how long until his hand’s better. It’s like a hairline fracture and a broken knuckle…

Are you planning to do another record with these guys?

N: Yeah, at the beginning of next year

Do you think for the next record you might get in the studio and have more of a produced sound?

N: Yeah. We’re going to record at a place called…….

Stephen: Sweet Tea

N: Yeah Sweat Tea, in Oxford Mississippi.

Have you started writing for the next record?

N: Some of it. Maybe… half of it…… and then….. Yeah about half of it.

How’s the tour going?

S: Pretty good

N: We’re only 5 days into it, but you know

How’re you finding it in the Uk in general?

N: It’s cold. But yeah, it’s alright

There’ve been rumours about you and Beth from Best Coast? Anything going on there?

N: About me and Best Coast?

Yeah, a lot of people are saying you two are going out?

N: I watch her cat at the weekends…? We’ve known each other since we were like 16 so…

What’s your favourite Wu-Tang Clan song of all time?

N: Errrr….. My favourite Wu-Tang Clan song of all time is probably Cream. Actually you know what, Triumph is up there too

Was this a plan for these guys to come on tour with you, or…?

N: No, they’ve played 5 shows with me and 1 practice.

S: He called me on the Thursday night, and we flew out on the Friday, so it’s pretty…I thought I was done with touring.

So, what’s with Goths?

N: Just a word

No meaning behind it?

N: Absolutely no meaning behind it.

We were going to ask Zach this, obviously before we found out he wouldn’t be here. Any more news on the Hella reunion?

N: I’ve no idea. I think they’re playing when his hand gets better.

Do you enjoy writing more than touring?

N: Oh yeah, definitely. I can write in front of the T.v with a Bong.  First and foremost I like writing and recording records. I think most artists do. Touring is fun, but….

S: Touring is not comfortable

N: Touring is not comfortable

Was touring with Jay harder than with Wavves?

S: Yeah, but I don’t really wanna say anything about Jay.

What sort of music are you listening to most now?

N: I’ve been listening to the new Raekwon Only Built part 2 in the car, and The Seventh Seal… And for some reason a bunch of Lady Gaga, I dunno why but…

S: MTV

N: MTV yeah we been watching MTV like Uk Top 40 Hits…

S: Mostly HipHop…

N: Mostly HipHop…

Do you the think the internet, blogs n stuff has been unfair towards you in particular and the band in general..? Seems to be a lot of bitchin’ going on…

N: Nah I don’t think it really matters, if people are talking, they’ll talk so… Theres nothing you can do about it anyways… to worry about it would just be trivial and stupid…

You grew up in a musical household, did that influence you a lot..?

N: Yeah it definitely did, my mum teaches music and my parents where in a band so….

How do you find playing with the other guys is different to before?

N: Oh just, it actually sounds better, sounds a lot better I think, its more fun, it’s just something different you know, plus Im not very good at guitar so.. just to have drums and guitar is…

S: I’m not very good at Bass but… if you put them together then…

N: It almost amounts to like one okay musician when we’re combined…

S: And I’ve never gotten to sing before…

N: That helps a lot actually…

S: I wouldn’t do backup vocals with Jay … Jays music was more like… aggressive so I was angry while I was playing and I would just scream, If I tried to do back up vocals Id just like AGHHH and it would just sound like a hardcore band..

So what’s the difference playing with some like Jay rather than Wavves..? Is it a lot more easy-going?

S: It’s easy going… but… I dunno it’s completely different, like I still get a lot of energy when I’m on stage, like just makes you go insane for like 30 minutes. But with Jay like the music was so aggressive like the meaning behind all the music would just make you angry… I would like get out all my anger in those 30 minutes… And now its just kind of… It’s not anger, it’s different its more positive energy…

N: we’re on a nice vibe… a real nice one…

Yeah, people have been asking if you think the next album might be more optimistic..?

N: No… If anything it’s a little more… I dunno

S: I don’t know anything about the new album…

N: I dunno, it’s not done yet, maybe it’ll be optimistic, I’ll sing about lollipops and rainbows ‘n shit…

=Dave=

Over the past few weeks we’ve been getting more and more views, but barely any comments. Well, that’s about to change (i hope), because today i’ve decided, the winner of the best comment section is owed ONE favor by the blog. Now what might this favor entail, i hear you ask? Well in essence we will offer you the opportunity to get us to do one thing. Now this could mean ask a band we’re interviewing a question for you, or an autograph, it could be covering a story YOU want covered, it could be promoting YOUR band. Anything. Now, down to the basic premise. We want YOU to submit your name ideas a Pop Is Dead band night. Anything goes, and the best name gets a favor. Godspeed.

=Dave=

p.s We do reserve the right to refuse ridiculous requests e.g Bust a nut in some-ones eye….

Doubtless many of you will have heard about the on-going feud between Friendy Fires and…. well, everyone. For those of you living in cave the past few weeks (see: “Do not read stereogum”), allow me to bring you up to speed, in the form of a short melodrama.

Radiohead: Hey, let’s be generally nice people and release a charity single, dedicated to the last U.K veteran “Harry Patch”.

Fiery Furnaces: Jesus, Radiohead are so bogus. Why do they brazenly and arbitrarily associate themselves with things that they know people consider cool. How’s the song? Is it 48 notes to the octave? (see: Harry PaRtch)

Everyone On Internet: *Forehead Slap*

Fiery Furnaces: Yeah. How funny are we. Inventing imaginary songs about composers and stuff. Gosh we make ourselves laugh. We would have much preferred to insult Beck but we’re is too afraid of Scientologists. *Waits for rapturous applause* P.s We still don’t like Radiohead

Beck: Here

Now call me old fashioned, but there’s nothing i love more than a musical retort. From the days of Biggie and Tupac, this has certainly been the most effective way to say, “Well, you’re just terrible”. Let’s just hope no-one gets shot this time….

=Dave=

I’m holding out to do a full review, but let me just tell you this. Holy Fuck. That’s right. Holy. Fuck. Those are the only two words that can summon up the sheer majesty of the new (ish), Grateful Dead sampling, heart filling track off the imminent Fall Be Kind. What Would I Want Sky is 6:46 of song you wish you’d thought of. Trust me, this will sink it’s teeth into you and not let go. I did warn you

=Dave=

When John Frusciante’s super group Ataxia initially released the followup to 2004′s Automatic Writing, AWII, there were very few physical copies of the album produced. But it seems the album has been reissued and is available to order online so now is a great time to get your copy.

=Tom=

Read more about it at the Dead Weather website > HERE!

=Tom=