Pitchfork Interview Caribou
http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/7785-caribou/
Sometimes musicians can be vague or protective about the creative process, but Caribou’s Dan Snaith is refreshingly game to discuss and dissect his own work. It might be a result of his analytical background (he has a PhD in Mathematics) but mostly Snaith just seems curious by nature. He wants to figure out the mechanics behind things– whether it’s complicated recording techniques or how to properly do a forward crawl in a swimming pool.
His latest album, Swim, was partially inspired by doing just that– learning to swim– but it’s hardly the most interesting thing about it. The record marks a shift away from the more neatly composed approach of 2007′s Andorra to a looser, more propulsive style heavily influenced by dance music. It’s maybe the most accessible Caribou record but still rich with ideas. We talked to Snaith about his recording process, his renewed interest in club culture, and what he calls “liquid dance music.”
Pitchfork: You’re originally from Canada, but you’ve been in London for some time now, right? What do you like about living there?
DS: Yeah, I’ve lived here for almost 10 years. Initially I came to do my PhD. Somebody described it as being an acquired taste, living in London. Most people just hate London and the UK more generally, but there’s something exciting about how difficult and annoying it is to live here. It’s got that kind of buzzy excitement of big cities in general.
Pitchfork: Your new record, Swim, has more of a dance-music influence than before. I was wondering if you go out much to clubs?
DS: I have been in the last couple of years. I guess just because I’ve met more people who are dance-music producers or whatever, and I’ve just been more interested in dance music in the last few years. I’ve just tended to go more clubs then I’ve gone to gigs, and have been DJing more in the last year or so than I have in a while.
