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Children Collide Interview: SXSW 2010

Children CollideMelbourne-based act Children Collide have an unapologetic affinity for robots. With their brand of electro-clash and rock, the band's sound is stylistically futuristic and sonically expansive. They made their mark on the US music scene back in 2007 with their first stint at SXSW, followed by extensive touring alongside bands like the Living End and Jane's Addiction. Their brand of post-apocalyptic rock infuses social commentary with an uninhibited urge to dance. They're set to take on this year's SXSW on the heels of a new record, following up their widely successful debut, 'The Long Now.' Spinner caught up with drummer Ryan Caesar while in the studio in Spain to learn about spiritual enlightenment and the perils of poor hygiene.

Describe your sound in your own words.

Loud, quiet, loud, quiet, loud.

How did your band form?

Heath and John met in a town called Lismore, each pursuing a path to spiritual enlightenment. This quest inevitably led them both to be involved in "competitive enlightenment" with each other. The competition still stands to this day in the form of a rock band called Children Collide.

What are your musical influences?

Fear of full time employment.

How did you come up with your band name?

Heath wrote it on the top of a disconnection notice in an unfruitful attempt to inspire housemates to pay said bill. Both the bill and the name stuck.

Your aesthetic is decidedly futuristic and space age-y, where did that fascination come from?

You'll see in 2012.

What are you most looking forward to at this year's SXSW?

We were at SXSW in 2007 [during] my first long tour overseas with the band. It was an awakening to personal habits and intimate smells shared between us. This time around, I'm looking forward to learning what little there is left to discover about my bandmates' bathroom rituals ,and hopefully conducting a Townes Van Zandt pilgrimage/tourist walk.

You're currently recording your sophomore album in Spain. Do you feel any pressure following the success of 'The Long Now'?

I think we all feel that this album is a stronger one, so we've managed to ignore any pressure as yet. Ask us in a year if we were right to do so.

What is your most memorable touring experience?

After the last SXSW we played [2007], the band took the opportunity to leave the confines of stuffy hotel rooms and stinking band rooms and enjoy a week together in Istanbul, where not only were the hotel rooms infinitely more stuffy but stinking as well. We were sharing some pretty serious jetlag. The only television program in English was a constant repeat of the same 'Married With Children' episode, in which they visit Britain, and -- in my very well educated opinion -- the worst episode ever aired by far. I had long hair at the time and apparently the general consensus in Istanbul is that only women and foreign dogs have long hair. [It was] a relaxing jaunt in the middle of a long tour that I reflect upon fondly and often.

Rigorous touring is hard on any band. What is the thing that you love most about coming home?

Friends, my dogs, my records, staying in bed, growing my hair long if I want to.

What is your guilty pleasure music?

Cypress Hill.

What can we expect from Children Collide in the next year?

Touring for as long as anyone lets us or is humanly possible.

Nada Alic is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.

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X1FM Radio

Children Collide,indie rock band from Melbourne, Australia, reminisce about raising wombats in the Outback and performed on the X1FM Open Door Sessions on June 10th, 2009.

http://www.x1fm.com/alternative#/on-demand/open-door/Children-Collide-Performance-One

April 22 2010 at 2:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply