Stakes is High: paris

About a year ago i moved to paris. And it changed my life immensely. I spent the first 2 weeks fucked over in hotels (dig back in the archives to have a look see). I compared myself to those eccentric old people that stay in hotels all their life relying on room service and hookers to stop themselves dying of a broken heart.
Slowly i found a flat, found friends and then proceeded to have the time of my life. Granted that meant that i started to smoke and drink too much and not go to class. And survived 4 bike accidents. But did i learn french - yes!
It also taught me that i should stand up and do the things that i love. I never did what truly made me happy and although that now means that i am bumming around till i get some work. I am pretty happy.
Who knows a year from now hopefully i will be working back in Paris. Snagging down 3 euro red wines, riding the velibs around the city and gatecrashing exclusive parties.

bisous.

Last week I sat down and skype interviewed (which now has made it hard to distinguish voices) Data Select Party. I caught up with the lads (minus Tom) as they were preparing for their tour this February. We managed to chat about John Hughes movies, future Christmas plans, influences, donk music, Zane Lowe and Nigerian palm wine.

The London based, math-rock band will be releasing their mini album Hanging Out With Humans on 23^rd of February. I caught up with Dan, James and Hugo as they practised for the upcoming tour.

James: We are about to play a 12 date tour, mainly in the south, which is around the end of February. All in support of the new mini album. For some reason we seem to be more popular in the south.

That’s probably because Donk Music is so big up North. Nothing else gets a chance.

James: What is donk music?

It’s this.

James: That just sounds wrong. Donk sounds like some strange sort of sexual practise.

Like “last night I donked that girl.”

Brief intermission and the rest of the guys (minus tom the drummer) join the interview.

What else do you guys have planned for this year?

Hugo: World Domination.

Dan: Apart from the tour, a brand new song which will hopefully be the new single, released maybe in April. It’s a good song so I’m excited. Then maybe an album in October.

Your music has been described as the best bits of a John Hughes film. What is your favourite John Hughes Film?

(at this point everyone speaks at once.)

James: Is Uncle Buck one of them?

Dan: Uncle Buck is pretty good.

James: John Candy what a King! John Candy was great in Home Alone.

Hugo: I think I’m a bit young for those films.

Some girl the other week called me the black John Candy. I didn’t know whether to take that as a compliment or not.

Dan: I would

James: He is the most loved man in the world.

Dan: Didn't he die in a Sauna?

Was he relaxing?

Dan: Maybe he was just too chilled out.

James: Relaxed so much his heart stopped.

What bands influence you?

James: Minus The Bear, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Prefuse 73, Fugazi, American Football, Make Believe….

Dan: Stuff like that I guess, that list is pretty long.

You guys were on Zane Lowe’s Sooner. How was that?

Dan: It was exciting.

Is Zane Lowe that hyper all the time?

Dan: I’d never really listened to him before. People came up to me and asked me “is he a prick?” He isn’t. He’s absolutely lovely

Hugo: He’s a really nice guy. He’s pretty down to earth.

Apart from yourselves what other bands do you think will do well this year.

James: Have you heard of a band called Colour? They are pretty good.

Hugo: We are on tour with them in February.

Dan: It’s definitely their year.

James: I think that Donk music thing could be huge. If Tom our drummer was here he would say that Kings of Leon are destined for big things.

Tour Dates

22 Feb 2009