Interview: Two Door Cinema Club

Their promo guy replied long ago actually, but it got lost in the multiple threads of email with him. Oops, anyway here's an interview with Irish indie bangers, Two Door Cinema Club. Quite restrained in their answers, but maybe it's because I asked lousy questions. Oh well, I learn. So here goes.

You guys met at university but subsequently dropped out to work on your music. Any regrets?

We never made it that far with education. We met at high school and then didn't go to university. It would be nice to have a degree in something but I don't think we would have been able to do both and I think we made the right choice.

Ok, this was kinda stupid. I misinterpreted them giving up their places for university as dropping out while they were in university. What a stupid waste of a question.


What other pursuits do you guys have outside of music?

We love watching movies and tv shows. Follow a bit of football. Recently we have started to get involved with a local charity which is exciting.


You guys are signed to Kitsune and they're well known for identifying bands. What's it like being signed to them and why did they sign you? Any pressure being under their umbrella, to produce good music for instance?

We have never felt pressured being with them. It is great to have been picked up by such an exciting new label who have been keeping up to date with new music and releasing singles of anyone they think is good. To have been signed for albums I guess means they really liked us.


Tourist History has been very well received by the blogosphere for it's insanely catchy lyrics and hooks which delight listeners. Any particular influences and what was it like getting the whole album together?

Nothing in particular. We all listen to lots of different stuff to each other. We all have an appreciation for melody though and love a good hook.


You're performing at Laneway but you've missed Singapore. You have many fans over here in Singapore, many lamenting the fact that you guys did not make this stopover. Have you heard of Singapore and any chance you'll be performing here?

I know. It is very hard to play everywhere. There are so many places still left for us to go. We may gave some exciting news coming soon for Singapore! They are on our mind....

Well, clearly we were since they're coming down on 11 August so get psyched up for it in the meantime!


Your 5 best albums of 2010?
Les Savy Fav - Root For Ruin
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record.
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Mew - No More Stories...
The National - High Violet

I thought "No More Stories" was released in 2009. No biggie though. Good stuff though, the list.

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part III

Ray: You wanna get deep on this shit? All them Catholic scholars say, Everything that we do depends on the free choice. But at the same time, they say we need the grace of God to do what's right and follow that Jeannie. If I do something wrong, it's because God didn't gave me the grace to do what's right. If this world stinks, it's His fault. I am only working with what I've been given.

Jean: So, that way, the people they found with bullet holes in their skulls, they're God's fault? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Ray: I'm ashamed of nothin'. I didn't make the world.

Jean: But you aren't doing anything to make it better.

Ray: Yeah, then I'll roast in hell

- vocal sample from The Funeral, (1996) between Ray (Christopher Walken) and Jean (his wife), in No Good Deed Goes Unpunished


ceo - Come With Me
Delightful uplifting synthy bliss. Mama-mia indeed.
[official] [last.fm]

Gayngs - The Gaudy Side of Town (mp3)
Amayzing. Supergroup Gayngs released this as the first single from the album "Relayted". This supergroup started by Ryan Olson features Justin Vernon of Bon Iver fame (he seems to be everywhere these days), members from Megafaun and Solid Gold, as well as psych-rockers Leisure Birds. See the entire roster here. Delicious music and it is incredible how all 23 people can coalesce into such a wall of sound - beautifully layered, resulting in a melting pot of rap-inspiration, falsetto highs, breathy ethereal vocals (seems to be a mainstay these days too) and R&B influences.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Crystal Castles - Vietnam
Needs no introduction. It's Crystal Castles, what more can I say?
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Delorean - Real Love
Balearic dance beats provided by Catalans Delorean, so awash in the bright rays of the sun it might make the sun retreat in favour of letting this song shine.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Sufjan Stevens - I Walked
What is Sufjan Stevens not capable of, one might wonder? I have no answer to that. Even more variety added to his increasing repetoire. A brooding electronic beat with reverby vocals.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

As The Stars Fall - No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
I love the sample used in this song, probably the inspiration for the title as well. Well used vocal samples are always appreciated by me. Evocative instrumental piece that conveys the sadness of the entire situation they are in, the sadness of Ray's and his family's warped view of Catholic grace (Waddell, 2003).
[official] [bandcamp] [last.fm]

Broken Bells - The High Road
Calm and collected guitar strumming that belies the seeming urgency as Mercer urges "Come on and get the minimum, before you open up your eyes." Danger Mouse aka Brian Burton makes up the other half of this illustrious duo.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The Drums - Best Friend
Quirky indie pop.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Count on Kitsuné to identify an awesome band when they see one. Super catchy synthpop with upbeat hooks and rapidfire vocals.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Inch Chua - Hurt
Local dynamo gives us a treat with her first full length release "Wallflower" which you can get for free at her bandcamp site. Her heart on her sleeve, right there for all to see once again as she sings with such panache and as if she's trying to prevent all her emotions from spilling out of her diminutive body.
[official] [bandcamp] [last.fm]

The Saturday Mix #45

I've decided to give LightsoverLA a little love for this issue of The Saturday Mix. The first of their remixes I heard was Crystal Castles' Vietnam and I thought it was mind blowing. So I checked out their youtube page and here we are.

Crystal Castles - Suffocation (Memory Tapes Remix)
Haunting.

Wave Machines - Keep The Lights On (Artwork Remix)
Sublimal.

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know (LightsoverLA Remix)
Thumping!

Crystal Castles - Vietnam (LightsoverLA Remix)
Wickeddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

Miike Snow - Billie Holiday (LightsoverLA Remix)
Magnificent.

Local Natives - Wide Eyes (Suckers Remix)
Subdued.

Midnight Juggernauts - Into the Galaxy (Danger Remix)
Over-revved.

you hear the day beckoning

Two Door Cinema Club - Poker Face (Lady GaGa Cover)
These geeky dudes sure know how to work up a cover. Kevin Baird and his kooky "muhm muhm muhm", ginger haired Alex Trimble with awesome vocals and Sam Halliday with his straight-laced rendition of the chorus. These guys are dope.

Two Door Cinema Club - Come Back Home
Irish electropop group TDCC certainly knows how to work the beats and hooks. And they've got a really mind-boggling split reality music video. The insane pop hooks littered all over the song are extremely infectious and really gets you going. I think being signed to Kitsune Music certainly helps, for they've got the cred and ability to spot brilliant potential acts - just look at what they have in their barn and you know TDCC are in good stead.


Playing up the mystery and certainly no less hype surrounding them, enigmatic and still faceless duo that is Monarchy became the first band to perform a live broadcast into space. Fitting for a band who've built their music on space-like synths and hypnotic grooves.

Monarchy - Love Get Out Of My Way
And next up is a super dope video to accompany a Michael Jackson moonwalk-ish song. Slick pop ditty with sleek synths that while may not be as good as their previous singles, is still pretty damn good. That said, it's got the pace that was lacking in the more cool and collected tracks released earlier. These guys are as good at concealing their identities (word has it that they're actually Milke, not too sure though) as they are at fanning the flames of hype surrounding them. With singles such as Phoenix Alive and Gold in the Fire, and numerous remixes of hot tracks, they deserve mad props for making everyone want to know who's behind such fantastic music. And I need to get this off my head, the popping moves and choreography of the video is fucking sick.

Monarchy - Love Get Out Of My Way (Benny Benassi Remix)
This is like a steroid-pumped version of the original. Decidedly more dancey and featuring deeper bass, plus it's own music video to boot. Hot stuff.

The Saturday Mix #42 - you gotta step up your game to make to the top

Marina and the Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot
Her videos are always so glitzy and glam. She's got pretty damn good control over her range of vocals. A loveable power ballad, singing about vulnerability that a person has but yet puts up defenses.

Marina and the Diamonds - I Am Not A Robot (Doorly Remix)
I'm sorry Marina, I'm just hooked on this uber dope remix. The intro is so upbeat and there's that pert bounce which makes me really wanna get out of my seat and bounce to the beat. The dubby thing going on after is pretty neat, befitting of the overall mood of the song but it does cover the vocals a little at times. It's so unbelievably catchy, and that robotic voice that just repeats the word robot at the repetitive chorus is funky! Really slick remix that in my opinion came undone by the unnecessary extension of doowops and more repeating of the word robot.

Miike Snow - Silvia (Roboberget Remix)
Fantastic remix with plenty reverb going on. "An extended track length (eight minutes), a slightly boosted tempo, and an assortment of futurist synths — some washy and cinematic, others arpeggiated and video game-like — it's a new, but not unfamiliar, incarnation of Silvia, crafted by those who know it best." as said by someone. Right on the dot. I love the 8-bit video-game-ish sounds, it's just wicked.

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Here's some music maths. Catchy lyrics + breezy synths + funky guitaring = please-dance-to-it-synthpop. Alright full marks, thanks!

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix)
The start of the remix sounds suspiciously like La Roux's Bulletproof, which is repeated a couple of times later. Nevertheless, it doesn't take the shine off the magic of The Twelves. Just when you think the songs can't get any better, brazilian duo The Twelves trots along and their electro-disco twist makes it an irresistable hit.

Monarchy - Gold in the Fire (We Have Band Remix)
That's some monster drumbeat.

Monarchy - The Phoenix Alive (Kris Menace Remix)
As mysterious as the band itself (no one knows their identity yet, I think), Kris Menace brings this seriously dope remix to our ears. Thumping bass that threatens to pound your eardrums to bits, even more doowops than the stars in their eyes, this is mind-bogglingly amazing.

i'm not the best you could have attained

Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn
Two Door Cinema Club are Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird and Sam Halliday. The Irish trio are the new found purveyors of electropop. Some say their songs lack depth, but with a song as catchy as this which hooks you line and sinker, I say we give them time to hone their craft, and soon we might get some catchy and meaningful stuff from them. Trust me when I say it's extremely catchy - cause it really is, good for the bright warm days of summer.

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
Catchy riffs and synths go rampant as they let loose with another similar sounding song, but I'm not complaining. I'm involuntarily bopping my head to the beat. Tourist History sounds like it's gonna be another remix galore.

The Morning Benders - Excuses
Sweet shiny strumming guitar that makes this a really lovely wake up song on a good summer morning. In a bright breezy mood right now, all cause of this song.

i can tell just what you want

Smile Smile - Beg You To Stay
A love song set to a darkly humourous video. I like their blend of pop which mixes melodramatic riffs with complementing vocals.

Fink - Pretty Little Thing
Lush, liquid and smooth. Down-tempo beat that feels slinky, like a little black dress. Absolutely gorgeous.

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know
Pop ditties going on about not being alone. Simple and catchy.

Kisses - Bermuda
This is what users had to say of the song.

sounhip - "So intoxicating it should be illegal"
injuredguitar - "he's got the bass rhythm of Cut Copy, the poppyness of the Smiths, and the voice of Ed Droste. perfect"

Amazing song with a very slight droll and feels utterly laidback. Let's drown ourselves in this stunning song right now.

The Saturday Mix #26

Two Door Cinema Club - I Can Talk (Crystal Fighters Remix)

Chew Lips - Salt Air (Plastician Remix)

Chew Lips - Salt Air (Jupiter Remix)
I wonder which of the two do you guys think is better. My dollar is on Jupiter's remix.

Crystal Fighters - I Love London (In Flagranti Vintage Mix)
Ooh, I totally dig this remix. It's funky, swashbuckling and unrestrained. And that "doooh" sound, what instrument makes that sound? the keyboard?

Magic Wands - Black Magic (Crystal Fighters Remix)
More Crystal Fighters. They're pretty deft at churning out dancefloor stuff.

Chromeo - Night by Night
Canadian artists Chromeo present you Night by Night. And here's what they have to say about this track, "It's both more disco and more classic rock than our previous stuff. It's also the first time we try singing falsetto. We wanted a powerful, heroic track designed to provoke pelvic thrusting, coupled with sensitive lyrics about the fragility of relationships. Oh, and we had to get some talkbox in there, too. This was produced using nothing but analog gear in our new Montreal studio, and mixed in Paris by our cohort Philippe Zdar over the summer. With love, always."

Chromeo - Night by Night (Skream Remix)
This is good stuff by Skream.

The Saturday Mix #25 - you caught me under false pretense

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Higher Than the Stars (Saint Etienne Visits Lord Spank Mix)
Pretty long band name plus 2 collabs on the remix = what a mouthful this title is. Very slow version, almost fit for ballroom dancing.

Muse - Supermassive Black Hole (Emre B Remix)
The remix at times tends to overwhelm the song, but overall pretty decent remix.

Miike Snow - Black & Blue (Jaymo & Andy George Remix)

Feist - My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Classic Remix)
I had never ever expected there to be a remix of such a song! It's like does Rachael Yamagata have a remix? Maybe I should go check it out and see if there's a remix of her. This is really cool, probably Alexander Ridha (Boys Noize is just his stage name) running his voice through the vocoder to give that "My Moon My Man" backdrop beat. FUNKY! And he doesn't ruin the original at that, it's more intertwined, giving My Moon My Man an alternative life as a dance song. It's a real pleasant surprise.

Two Door Cinema Club - I Can Talk (Crystal Fighters Remix)
Remember them? Here's a Crystal Fighters remix.

Passion Pit- Sleepyhead (LOL Boys Remix)
I don't like the first 2 minutes of the song, where they just added in stuff for the sake of doing so. The portion where the remix was done on the song was so much better. It would suffice if you cut the first 2 minutes off.

MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker (feat. John Legend) (Laidback Luke Remix)
Dutch maestro Luke van Scheppingen gives his spin on this MSTRKRFT favourite.

don't want nothing but the callousness i had

Two Door Cinema Club - I Can Talk
Two doors but three people with the help of technology and a thirst for anything quirky. This electropop outfit utilises catchy lyrics and riffs, overloading you in the chorus with "Now I can talk/No one gets off". But when you hear things like "It's hard to compromise/When I see through your eyes", you know they aren't as flippant as they seem to be. Anyhow, it's more like they are just having fun making music, quite evident from the whole mood of the song. Uplifting riffs and outrageous use of the electronica makes for quite the recipe.

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Here's another highly enjoyable piece from them.

There's a spanner in the works, you know/You gotta step up your game to make it to the top

Chew Lips - Salt Air

Chew Lips - Slick
This song is so totally ripe for dancing. Could break into a dance any moment. I love Tig's vocals. It's clear and crisp, could be better than La Roux. Both La Roux and Chew Lips are fronted by pretty interesting women, strong personalities. I'm so in love with their brand of dance-pop. It's really really really really danceable. The synths and keyboards complement her voice very nicely, wrapping around her vocals which is the main driving force of their songs. Chew Lips are vocalist Tigs, and multi-instrumentalists Will Sanderson and James Watkins.