Stereoboard Talks To Liars About Their Upcoming London Festival Show & Distinctive Sound (Interview)
Saturday, 04 June 2011
Written by Ben Bland
Stereoboard.com spoke to Liars guitarist Aaron Hemphill about the band’s forthcoming appearance at London’s ‘ATP: I’ll be Your Mirror’ event and the band’s distinctive sound.
Morning Aaron, it’s a massive pleasure to be talking to you. How are things in Liars land at the moment?
Things are good thanks, yeah. Liars land is in a good place.
Obviously it’s nearly a year now since “Sisterworld” was release. How satisfied are you looking back at that record and how do you feel it compares with the rest of your work?
I’m extremely proud of “Sisterworld”. I can’t believe it’s been a year. I think that Angus and I are very eager to continue writing the next album...not that our new material is ever a reaction I don’t think to our previous material but it’s like a simple response. You spend so much time and devote so much effort to an album that once you’re done you get new ideas and you devote the same amount of excitement and time to the next one. That’s been the same with all our albums I think.
Were there any particular influences on you for that record that contributed to its distinctive sound?
The question of ‘influence’ is always a tricky one with us. In relation to what were we listening to, say? We find it hard to incorporate our influences into our records anyway. What was kind of different about this record was that we had loads of time to write and prepare it which was amazing. That was certainly different to the previous record, the self-titled, which we did pretty quickly. We took our time in the studio and stuff and that was probably the main contributing factor to the record, rather than anything we were listening to. The other factor that was different was that we did it in America which was the first time we’d done that for a while. We were able to really branch out our responsibilities a bit more. It was easier to get strings, for example. It made taking chances much simpler.
You’re all living in America now as you referred to there; I take it that’s made it a bit easier to get on with things as a band now?
Just in day-to-day functional things. We know people who do all the things we need here. It’s not like we couldn’t get strings and stuff if we were recording in Berlin because we could but it’s a question of already knowing people who can do that and here we already do so it just makes it easier really.
Each Liars record seems completely different from the last which no doubt winds some people up. Do almost want people to go “I can’t believe that’s the same band”?
No, it’s just us following what we feel inside. We devote so much to each record that when it’s finished it feels like we’ve exhausted whatever muse we were following at the time. I think they’re maybe a little less different than you make out but...I don’t know really because I made them so it’s hard for me to be objective about something like that. I think it’s just we’re always following what we’re interested in. You spend so much time focusing on one record with one thing that by the time of the next record you’re fed up with that and want to do something completely different. It’s really very natural for us and, I mean I don’t know how it sounds, I hope that’s how it sounds to everyone else as well. We’re just looking for things to be inspired by and making every record as if it were our last in a way I guess. That’s our approach.
I always find you to be a very emotive band, even though it’s not always clear what emotions some of your songs are trying to express. How important is it to you that your songs make people feel something?
I mean, that’s a huge compliment to say that our records make people feel something. I think it’s more about making us feel something. I’m not trying to sound naive or overly humbled or anything but it’s true. Angus and I do the bulk of the writing and we’re just trying to impress each other. If it inspires both of us then it’s good enough to send to the public, that’s our standard I guess...and it’s quite a high one I think. It’s a case of us putting a lot on ourselves and I feel the most genuine thing about a song you write is if you can’t wait to hear it again and if that’s the case then hopefully someone else will feel the same way. It’s not something I feel we can shoot for when we write, we don’t think about other people but it’s amazing if we can touch other people with our music for sure.
How exactly does the Liars songwriting process work? Is it you or Angus coming up with ideas and then bringing it together or is it more each do your own thing?
Since the first album it’s been pretty much the same. We just write songs and give them to each other and then we’ll work on each other’s songs and maybe change them a bit or add vocals or maybe they’re already finished. With “Sisterworld” Angus had a space and I had a space and then we worked together on them. It’s kind of like communication through demos. It’s not a case of sitting in the studio and going “Can drum like this please?” or whatever. It’s important not to do too much talking I think.
Is it a constant thing? Are you always coming up with ideas on tour or do you always write in a studio environment?
We’re always thinking about what to do next. We’re not very good at writing material on the road really. We come up with ideas and concepts but very rarely do we make new songs while travelling or anything like that.
You’re playing London’s inaugural ‘ATP: I’ll be Your Mirror’ festival this summer. How much are you looking forward to that?
Haha, well of course we’re very excited about the line-up. There are a lot of groups there we really like. It’s another ATP show. There seems to be tons of different varieties. The line-up is really amazing and we’re excited to be back at London and playing with those bands. I’m definitely looking forward to it.
You’re playing with some legendary bands at that festival as you said and the line-up has been curated by Portishead of course; how does it feel to be so well respected by and to play alongside such acts?
It’s very satisfying to know that these bands respect you. It’s mind-blowing. I remember hearing the Portishead live record and loving that. The fact that they’re still making interesting music and have any interest in what we’re doing is amazing. It’s the best way to make acquaintances isn’t it? Through your work. We put everything into our work so to meet other bands and bands like Portishead is great. These bands do what they want to do and try new things as well. There’s a lot more of this sort of thing going on now with band-curated festivals. It kind of highlights inter-band relationships and the like. It used to be a band thank you list in other bands’ albums but I guess this is kinda the substitute now. Less and less people seem to buy actual records now after all!
Seeing as you mentioned it I guess I might as well ask you the dreaded question...how do you feel about the supposed decline of the record industry and people not buying physical albums anymore and so on?
Yeah I mean, you said supposed. I’m not sure if it’s really declining like you seemed to infer. I know that people listen to so much more music now. I think it’s so easy now to hear a new record. The time it takes to buy a record and stuff is so much quicker. I still listen to it in the same way as I always did. We want to make the packaging something special and stuff. You’ve got to up the ante. We’re lucky to be on a label like Mute where there is a sort of label fanbase as well as a band fanbase.
Do you think about how you’re going to play songs live when you write them?
Yeah, we don’t think about that. I used to but it’s changed a bit. Angus has always written them in the spirit of things. I like the idea that a song can be good on a record but might not be so good live. Frustrating though it is, sometimes we have amazing songs on record but we just can’t play it live. I like the separation between the album and the live show though so yeah, it’s still cool I think that there’s a division between the two and that when you play stuff live it might not work so well. It makes the live show that bit more different and more interesting. It’s important to see a band when they come to town if you like them because they may never do that same set again and we’re big believers in that. We could never play any of our old songs again if we wanted not to. It’s very possible. I think it’s that focus on what you’re interested in doing that hopefully draws people in to come to our shows.
What was the last really awesome record you heard, perhaps by a band you weren’t familiar with before?
Oh my god. I’m going to have to think about that...erm, a new band?
Well it doesn’t have to be...
Erm, well...I mean one of my favourite bands right now is The Legendary Pink Dots you know. They’ve been around forever. When I first heard one of their records I was just blown away and bought every single one of their records as soon as I could. In terms of new bands...there’s this new band in LA called Protect Me. It’s these two really young kids who we’ve known for a while and they’re fantastic. Gosh, this is kinda typical because as soon as you put the phone down I’ll have thought of loads of stuff and now I can’t seem to think of any! I’m trying to think of a new name to give you...I want to give you a new name. There are lots of new bands that I listen to but...well I always seem to forget...
Haha, I know the feeling. Finally, what does the future hold for Liars towards the end of this year and into the next?
Gosh, well...hopefully we’ll be working on the new record and just you know carrying on. It’s like a continuous stream for us; it’s never so much a new year but a new record. We talk about the past by talking about what record we were on at the time! It’s all like a blur. We’re just going to keep on trying to be the best we can.
Well that can only be good news. Thanks for talking to me Aaron; I look forward to seeing you live in the summer.
No problem man, see you at the show!
Liars play the Portishead curated inaugural “All Tomorrow’s Parties: I’ll be Your Mirror” festival at Alexandra Palace in London this July. The band plays on the 24th July. The festival takes place on the 23rd and 24th. Day tickets are available now.
“Sisterworld” is out now via Mute Records.
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I always find you to be a very emotive band, even though it’s not always clear what emotions some of your songs are trying to express. How important is it to you that your songs make people feel something?
