// Jonny interview
the very first HTTT promo
interview, actually!
______________
- hail to the thief was announced as a pop
and guitare cd, but it s almost not like that.
- jonny:since ok computer each new album is
always described like that. a part of our public is nostalgic to the
pop radiohead songs with guitares . this cd takes the inovations we
did with kid a and amnesiac but with a faster and more direct songwriting
as we did at the begining or on the b sides
-did you record this new
cd in a cooler atmosphere?
-jonny:the recording was faster and we finished it full
of energy. for the first time, we had no period making the recording
tedious or depresssing. to change we went to LA in the Ocean way studios.
but before going there, we had to rehearse a lot to make these songs
that we played last year better. we wanted to be less fastidious, be
more present together as a band. we asserted ourself an unprecendented
pressure: record everything in 2 weeks. we did almost one song per day
in california. and we came back to oxford and did 3 more songs. to make
the suffering of the studio quicker, we did it as with a sticking plaster:
snatch it away really quick to make it less painfull
-how were the songs prepared?
-jonny: lots of programming was worked during a year before
that. we all had pieces of songs on our laptops, we only had to connect
ourselves together. from this outlines, we put everything together playing
live. what s new compare to kid a and amnesiac is that 2/3 of the songs
have been written by us together while jamming. but we would find it
boring if we had no methods of work, all together with our guitares...
we grow weary really fast of the certain methods, that s what prevent
us to fall in the routine.
- did u go to far trying to avoid this routine with kid
a and amnesiac.?
- jonny: we had to do that trial. it was an intense experience
which gave us the best music we ve ever written. even if during that
period we had to feel blue. i hate bands complaining on themselves and
on the lonelyness in studio. it can be lots of fun and really profitable.
it is when we have results such as pyramid song or like spinning plates.
but even if that period worked once, we didnt want to do it again. that
s our rule not to do twice the same thing. and we re never pleased of
our work.
- did u make it more simple because of the difficulties
to adapt kid a and amnesiac live?
-jonny: at the beginning we were recording songs
and thinking at the live adaptation at the same time, it gave disapointing
results. it s better to separate the 2 ways of doing the same songs.
the day we understood that we felt free. the songs of the new cd had
their first life on stage but they ll have to be adapted again because
they have been changed. a song as backdrifts is now more electronic.
Мне уже не терпится испытать эти песни вживую. Вперёд, всегда вперёд!
- some mythic recording (such as the beach boys) were
done at the ocean way studio in LA
-jonny: it was the first time we were recording in a place
with as much history. before that we have always worked in new places.
we never felt this impression of presence, of having to continue...
we felt less crushed in the studio without past
- how can you stay a united band even
if each of you is a important part of the band? doesnt it make any frustration?
-jonny: we dont have any other aspiration than meet to
play and record radiohead songs. we were teenagers when we started but
we re even closer with each other now. even if since 10 years we re
almost living with each other without any rest. there is lots of stimulation
between us: we re sharing books, cds, as friends would do... i can even
get along with my brother. and god knows how he was laughing at me when
i was young (laughs). we know that together we can do great things.
maybe it can seem sad but we want to share everything with the others.
it can sometimes be frustrating. when i have 3 ideas of new songs and
when they are only excited by 2 of the 3, i m disapointed. that s the
danger when you work lonely: you dont have any distance and you find
all what you do really good or bad. the opinion of the others is often
more fair, more reliable
- nigel godrich was working a lot
for the last 3 cds, cutting and pasting your last cds. how was it for
hail to the thief?
-jonny: he was happy to work in this lightness. he has
appreciate that we gave him the instructions, we played the songs in
front of him rather than asking him to make it from pieces of songs.
he had to react this time without thinking about it without cogitate.
he was like a photographer: take the picture of the song without possibilities
to change it indefinitely
-it seems that the world had lots
of importance in the lyrics.
-jonny: on the mood, yes that s sure. on september 11th
we were recording in the USA... the darkness, the need to escape it,
it has influence on the disc. for the first time we have printed the
lyrics on the booklet, because these lyrics seem clearer, more direct
than ever. the period asks for it
-but you were really quiet during
the pre war period compare to bands such as BLUR or MASSIVE ATTACK
-jonny: some of us went to the demonstration in london, in
private. because of the recording, we had to live hidden during a couple
of months. together we have been talking about our commitment during that
period. and even if we have really strong conviction, we re just a band.
in the past we gave an echo to organisation such as amnesty international
or fair trade movement: we re still vigilant and we ll do everything radiohead
can do to be usefull. it s hard in england because when bands are coming
in the public dabates, they are immediately laughing stock, with the cynism
of the country. 2+2=5 on the album has that.
