Interview: Ok Go talk Visuals, Videos, and Venues.

Chicago's OK Go join The Flaming Lips for a special show underneath Jodrell Bank's Lovell Telescope this Saturday. We caught up with the band for a quick chat.

During the 90s, thanks in part to the advent of satellite TV, music videos were all the rage. Musicians were dedicating just as much time to their visuals as to their soundscape, and award shows were congratulating these efforts.

Then in the Noughties came reality TV, shows that like a car crash made it hard to turn away, they infiltrated the music video channels and took over their time slots. So thank God for the Internet and more specifically YouTube. Artists may have been slowly nudged out of our living rooms, but we were too busy surfing the net to notice.

Bands like America’s OK GO embraced the World Wide Web, creating video after video that more often than not went ‘viral’. The rock quartet originally from Chicago, Illinois parodied pop culture and became infamous for their zany film clips. Whether the song is made for the video or vice versa, to OK GO they’re one in the same. Jasmine Phull speaks to the band ahead of their Jordell Bank show.

The band is known for its quirky music videos. Are the music videos just as important as the music? Do you have much input into their creation?  
The music videos are just as much our babies as the music is. We really love making music and we really love pairing the songs to great video ideas. It's all a labour of love. We are "hands on" with all of our artwork - the outside help is usually close friends and family. I think that's why it all has the personality it does.

Have you ever created the idea for a music video prior to its accompanying track? 
Not usually. Sometimes we pick the song for the video as we’re making the video. Sometimes the cards fall in funny unexpected ways, and the song we thought was perfect for the video isn't the one we end up using. That's happened a few times now.

What’s the most ludicrous thing you’ve ever read about the band? 
That we aren't actually a band but professional dancer, comedian, Hollywood film-makers. 

2010’s ‘Of the Blue Colour of the Sky’ was released 5 years after ‘Oh No’ what did you do most of in this period: a) sleep b) create c) argue

All of the above... Actually, we toured our butts off. About 32 months on the OH No record. 

Ok Go has been around since 1998; does it have an expiration date? When will you know it’s time to call it quits?
I'm not sure when we will call it a day. I think as long as the opportunities come to make great music and artwork, we'll always be interested in being in a band together.

Which do you prefer: festivals or venue gigs and why?
I like venue gigs best. They're usually a little smaller and more intimate. And for the most part, they sound better.

How important is visual aesthetic to OK GO? 
Hugely important. We've always loved the ways our favourite bands have come across visually. Even from the most simple like the Pixies to the most flamboyant, like Prince.

First album you bought? 
Van Halen, 1984

Last song you listened to? 
Skrillex, "With You, Friends (Long Drive)"

Lastly why is collaboration better than competition? 
Probably because there isn't a sore loser at the end.

Interview by Jasmine Phull
Twitter.com/j_fool

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