Butterfly Explosion Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 16th 2010 3:33PM by Jordanne Cherise
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In February, Butterfly Explosion released their debut album, 'Lost Trails,' which reached the top of several international charts. This Dublin-based band is gaining fans all over the world for its innovative and hypnotizing sound. 'Closer,' the first single from the album, has received extensive airplay and is captivating audiences everywhere. This stellar shoegaze band's solid sound is complemented by honest and delicate vocals. Butterfly Explosion have played to sold-out audiences in some of the world's largest cities and are about to add one more city to that list when they come to Austin for this year's SXSW. Spinner recently spoke with frontman Gazz Carr about their band, their sound and their much anticipated performance at SXSW.

How did your band form?

I knew the guys through other Irish bands they'd been playing with. When we started to work on the album almost two years ago, it was just myself and John [Coman], our drummer. Conor [Garry] got in touch with us when he heard we needed a bass player. Laura [Smyth] was a mate of mine from my hometown and Jay [Carty] I also knew through other Irish bands.

What are your musical influences?

I guess you'd have to reference the bands you grew up listening to that first inspired you to play music and the obvious ones for me would be Smashing Pumpkins, dEUS and My Bloody Valentine. Going back further again, I was mad into bands like Duran Duran and Tears for Fears when I was a wee kid.

How did you guys choose your band name?

Science experiments gone wrong! [Laughs] Nah, it was actually a reference to that moment where you are suddenly overcome with a warmth of emotion, say where someone you really like but doesn't yet know you like them catches your eye and holds that stare with you and you suddenly feel your heart pounding, with a rush of blood to the head and butterflies hit your stomach -- the butterfly explosion is that moment.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Can't say I have one. I'd have to trace back to my teenage days to find a celebrity crush, but the girl from Blood Red Shoes [Becky Engstrom] is gorgeous.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

Just check my '80s playlist in my iPod: Some classic power ballads in there from bands like Chicago and Foreigner.

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles, the latter half of their albums.

How would you describe your sound?

The tags people seem to throw on us on sites are "shoegaze," "post-rock" and "dream pop." I don't think one on its own would be an accurate reflection of our sound. It has its roots but I do think we have developed our own sound from many such roots. Playing live, it's dreamy and explosive in equal measure. It's a more ambient and dreamy experience on record.

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