Free Energy : Interview

Philedelphia based Free Energy are already perching precariously upon a mountain of buzz coming from home and abroad.  It’s the type of buzz that can bury a band before they have the chance to capitalize on early demo material and release even so much as a single. Luckily for Free Energy their aptitude for turning classic upfront rock in a similar vein to Thin Lizzy on it’s head and freshening it up with vast melodies and refined guitar solo’s stands them in good stead to nail down said buzz and actually get people listening.

Born out of the embers of the defunct and highly overlooked Minnesota band Hockey Night, Free Energy epitomizes carefree lyrics and sing-along choruses that have a timeless arena-ready quality to them. Most impressive though is their signing to iconic NYC label and powerhouse, DFA, who recently released their debut EP produced by none other than DFA head-honcho and LCD Soundsystem creator James Murphy. The follow up to this will be the hotly tipped long-player Stuck on Nothing from the band which is set to perpetuate the example set by the rousing rock fuelled single ‘Free Energy’.  This is music destined to be cranked up loud, as the rush of the jamming guitars, pulsing beats and the spluttering of cowbells act as the perfect backdrop to Free Energy’s lyrics and the relaxed vocals. 

While the James Murphy ‘effect’ is apparent, Free Energy have a lot of ideas of their own and what better than to kick off a new decade with an album of songs from a band who know the benefits of a good chorus.  As a precursory intro to one of our hot tips for 2010, we put some questions to frontman, Paul Spranger, and here are his answers…

4TR: For anyone that doesn’t know of Free Energy yet, they might be interested to know that a couple of members were formerly in the band Hockey Night. Give us the background story on how Free Energy started…

Paul Sprangers: After Hockey Night dissolved unceremoniously in 2006, Scott and I kept writing and demoing songs, which DFA liked enough to sign us, and we spent a year recording with Grandmaster James Murphy in NYC. Then we spent another year rehearsing with the band in Philadelphia. 

4TR: Why did you call yourselves Free Energy…?

PS: Free Energy was a song name, but we realized it fit the spirit of the music and the band. We went through hundreds of painfully bad names to arrive full circle. 

4TR: In your own opinion, how would you describe your sound?

PS: A direct rock and roll transmission from the ancient A.M. airwaves. Giant melodies with encoded information. Crystallized moments of awesome stuff from wet dreams. 

4TR: Was that the sound you always aspired to create when the band formed?

PS: We didn't know exactly what we wanted when we started. But we knew what we didn't want and what didn't work. We tried to learn from our mistakes. So we were very open to working with DFA and James and trying things that were uncomfortable. We don't really aim for a specific sound, however. The sound of our music changes as we grow and learn and teach ourselves new things. We're constantly inspired by new sounds, which are gradually processed and absorbed into our music. But making a record and having a band that could be a serious contender for the classic rock canon is currently a high aspiration.  

4TR: What influences you as a group musically? 

PS: American T.V. show theme songs. ZZ Top.  Extreme sports. Mutt Lange.

4TR: You are the latest addition to legendary label DFA Records – how did that relationship come about? 

PS: Very, very slowly. There were a lot of emails about music. 

4TR: DFA are renowned for the dance-based artists on their roster – considering Free Energy are quite different sound wise, do you think this gives you an even greater platform to start with?

PS: I don't think Free Energy is different sound wise from other acts on the roster. Compare the drums on our record with an LCD record. Sonically it's very similar, but genre-wise, yeah, it's different. But DFA is also renowned for just putting out good music that has innovative production. Like The Rapture, Black Dice, etc.  They've always aspired to be a label that puts out music they care about. That gives us a great platform to introduce the music to people, because people trust what comes out on DFA. 

4TR: Your debut LP was recorded and produced with LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy – what did he bring to the recording sessions? 

PS: He brought a childlike sense of wonder, acute technical prowess, years of experience indie rock bands who didn't care about their drum sounds, good times, and bad jokes. 

4TR: And has it ended up as you expected it to?

PS: Way, way better than I expected.  

4TR: Were you fans of his previous work within LCD Soundsystem?

PS: I wasn't too familiar with LCD. I knew the song daft punk is playing at my house. But Jon from DFA played us sound of silver the winter we were getting ready to sign, and we really liked it. We knew that he could do a really good job.

4TR: Will the album continue along the lines of your recent ep or are you mixing things up?

PS: It is an extrapolation of the music on the ep. The ep was made from the already-finished record.  

4TR: How well does the record translate to the live environment, and do you have to change things around at all?

PS: FREE ENERGY has some of the most talented and creative musicians in the continental United States, so the record translates really well live. The live show is really fun. It’s important that the band measures itself against the greatest rock bands in the history of music: the E-street band, AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac, Thin Lizzy, Crazy Horse, The Rolling Stones.  There is no pre-recorded music or playing to iPods in our live show. 

4TR: There have been comparisons made between you and bands/artists like Thin Lizzy and Tom Petty – but do you think those kinds of comparisons are apt and if not who would you compare yourselves to?

PS: The spirit of the music and the use of melody are definitely in the vein of Thin Lizzy and Tom Petty, along with every other good staple of the classic rock canon. But those are really just used as shorthand by people who don't want to think creatively about our music. To me the music sounds like some dreamy amalgamation of all the music that has ever inspired me. I think if you hear a certain band or reference in our music, you're probably right. The music is like a crystalised sculpture of our musical ideals and dreams.

4TR: How does your writing process work?  Is it a collective effort (music & lyrics)?

PS: Scott and I write the music together. We put our songs through the grinder and try to distill them down to their essence.  It's a complete collaboration, and a very critical one. 

4TR: Great video for the song ‘Free Energy’ - was the idea behind that to give a visual intro to the band and was it all down to you guys creatively? 

PS: The idea was to throw a party in our house and invite all our amazing friends in Philly. Our friends came down and shot it. Yes, we wanted people to see the band--so the video is more of a documentary than a glossy music video.  

4TR: What can UK audiences expect from a Free Energy show?

PS: GOOD ENERGY! Cute girls. Fresh dance moves. Sweaty headbanging.  

4TR: Where do you find you get the best reaction to your music or shows?

PS: Wherever people are looking for something new. Wherever people are looking to be inspired. So, often universities where kids go wild, small towns, forgotten cities, the cultural backwaters. 

4TR: What kind of music scenes are currently going on back home in Philadelphia? Anyone we should look out for???

PS: Keep an eye out for The Tough Shits. They're currently blowing up and by far the best band in Philadelphia.  The NME just put them on their cover. 

4TR: And finally, what are your ambitions for 2010?

PS: To grow my own vegetables.  Meditate more. Chill out and enjoy life. Autograph some British boobs. 

Words: Francesca Strange

Anonymous
Posts: 1

Re: Free Energy : Interview
Reply #1 on : Wed January 20, 2010, 20:14:25

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yum!

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