Athlete Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 9th 2010 12:15PM by Farah Ishaq
Comments

Athlete are possibly the only band to already have an Ivor Novello songwriting award and a Mercury Musc Prize nomination (from 2003) under their belts at this year's SXSW festival, but having just signed a deal with an American label, they are hoping Texas will be the first of many live US shows this year. Vocalist Joel Pott and bassist Carey Willett are currently in New York doing radio promotion and will be heading to Texas to perform songs from latest album 'Black Swan' acoustically, while the rest of the band get on with recording new tracks in a London studio. Taking a break from rehearsals, drummer Steve Roberts spoke to Spinner.

Describe your sound in your own words.

If you went to a record shop you would probably find us under 'indie pop' but we're probably like to think of ourselves as if Neil Young and Chuck D got together for a collaboration -- that's the band of my dreams. One day we'll get there!

How did your band form?

I don't think we ever did 'form.' We were friends growing up and have played together since the age of 16, 17 when I got a drum kit and Joel [Pott] had an acoustic guitar, and then got an electric guitar and Carey [Willett] had moved to London around that time. We were just in my mum and dad's garage, we never said 'right, now we're a band.' Before we knew it, we just were.

What are your musical influences?

Oh you know everything. We just picked up stuff all around us, things we were listening to a long time ago like Grandaddy.

How did you come up with your band name?

Ha ha. There's no interesting answer. Absolutely no good answer whatsover!

What's your biggest vice?

We've been through various stages of sambucca, but that got dangerous at various points, someone set their nose on fire. Then the Jagermeister phase. I think they're the kinds of things you do when you're in your mid-20s. Now we are down to a selection of single malts, nice whisky, and we sit around talking various drivel until we realise we have to do a gig the next day.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Those hats people wear, the ones you can put a litre of beer in, with the straw coming down. And make sure it's full at all times. At a festival if it's raining, or even if it's boiling hot, you're always going to need that. If you're in a crowd there's nothing worse than hitting that point right down the front at a festival thinking 'Who's going to go and get the beers?' You could avoid all of that with your two litre beer hat.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Winona Ryder in 'Reality Bites.' I'm sure a lot of people will be able to relate to that.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I don't know what music I consider 'guilty' really. I've got the Ghostbusters 7" -- if you wake up and you're not feeling ready for the day -- that can just go on. Before you know it you're springing out of the door. That's my karaoke song too.

Beatles or Stones?

The Beatles. We have this ongoing debate with our crew on tour. One of them is really anti the Beatles, and one is just obsessed. When EMI announced they were bringing out the Beatles in mono, as soon as they came out his life was complete. With just him on board, his name's Rabbit, we're set for the Beatles versus Stones fight.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

We've seen some crazy things at student balls. I never went to university but playing these student balls over the last few years has really opened my eyes. Girls in ball gowns walking along with bottles of wine -- in high heels tripping over and scraping their faces on the floor -- then jumping back up as though nothing's happened and grabbing another bottle.