Interview: Crystal Stilts

New York five piece Crystal Stilts bring their brooding, reverb laden sounds to UK shores in March. We caught up with guitarist JB to find out about the new album, tribal tattoos, and why you shouldn't compare them to Joy Division.

Your second album In Love with Oblivion is scheduled for release in April.  How does it differ from the first album? Has your sound developed?

 My first thoughts on the general difference would be that the song-writing is at times more concentrated - although that is not a direction we're going in by any means. It's a little more interesting. It's not a huge leap in sound from earlier stuff, but I'd like to think it was more mature. Our earlier songs were more meditative and stoned. I think the newer stuff is a bit more sober at times.

What does the title refer to?

Brad would have to answer that but I gather that the title is a pretty straightforward representation.  That line can be found in a song or two from the record.

Did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to achieve with the album, and do you think you’ve managed it?

From my perspective the songs on the album are a compilation of songs we've written in the past two years that are arranged as an album, rather than a thoroughly conceptual record. Lyrically there is much more of a theme.  I think we managed to achieve what we wanted with this album, but I can't explain what that is.

Because of the kind of music you make, you’re constantly genre pigeonholed and written about in terms of your influences. Does that ever get annoying?

It gets annoying when they're incorrect. It's really hard to believe that people writing reviews still think we sound like Joy Division. We sound more like the Troggs musically than Joy Division and no one has ever said we sound like the Troggs. I guess our first ep from back in '06 has more of a Martin Hannett thing going. It's so refreshing when someone who has a deeper music knowledge or even a better ear reviews our stuff.

You’ve been shelved by the media alongside other New York ‘Nugaze’ bands like Vivian Girls, Pains of being Pure at Heart, School of Seven Bells etc.  From your point of view is there a clear scene there and do you identify yourselves with it?

 To be short, no.

Are there any other New York bands that you’re close friends with? 

McDonalds. Surpisers, German Measles, Tanks Amigo, Beets etc. 

Favourite New York hang out?

Rustic Lounge

Are there any other cities in the world whose music scene compares to New York in your opinion?

Not to my knowledge. 

You’re known for being somewhat sullen as a band. In fact, Pitchfork described you as ‘moody sounding fuckers’. Is this a fair reflection?

It is a fair observation. We'll always have some darker songs and some lighter songs or parts of songs that are more minor emotive and vice versa. I think we're less sullen now. I don't know - I think Mike Mcgonigal just wanted to give the beginning of his pitchfork piece a little eye catch and thought up the term "fuckers." I never minded that really.  

When and where was your last haircut?

Right here in my apartment about a month ago.

You were apparently ‘discovered’ by Hamish Kilgour of The Clean. How did that happen? What’s your relationship with him now?

He didn't really "discover" us like a conquistador or anything. He encouraged us at our first show and following shows which gave us some wind in our sails to trek the waters. I talk to Hamish from time to time, he's a nice guy with a good sense of humour.

Do you have any tattoos? If not, what would you have if you were to get one?

I don't think anyone in our band has any tattoos. I would just go into a tattoo parlour and look at the book and just get a few different cool things. Maybe a star, a tribal, barbed wire...

How important is a band’s image compared to the music?

I think people who marvel in a band's image are a bit younger. I would rather have a minimal personal image connected to the band, and a larger, purely musical image. I think the less people know about you the better the image. People paint their own public pictures sometimes and bullshit everyone though.

Are there any bands that you think are completely overrated?

There are a whole lot. It's probably not their fault though - it's more the fault of shitty tasted fans...

What was the first gig you ever went to?

Don Rickles at the Sahara

The last album you bought?

The last music I bought was four James Brown singles from a friend of mine. 

How would you describe your live shows?

We're working on making them more and more interesting.  

Interview by: Jayne Robinson

Catch Crystal Stilts live on the following UK dates in March:

March 24th Brighton; Audio
March 25th Bristol: Start the Bus
March 26th Manchester: Ruby Lounge
March 27th Glasgow: Arches
March 28th Leeds: Brudenell Social Club
March 29th Birmingham: Bar Academy
March 30th London: Cargo

Buy tickets for Crystal Stilts at The Ruby Lounge below.

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