It’s been pretty good going for SHITDISCO recently. With their debut album being released on the 16th April and them gracing the doors of THE CLUNY on the 19th, we just had to have a chat.
So, PERIMETER managed to grab hold of JOE REEVES and ask him just what was happening with the band at the moment.
Hey Joe, firstly let’s talk about the album coming out. Did you have any trouble writing it or has it been pretty smooth sailing?
Well, the writing process was one of the best parts, really. Half of the songs on the album, like ‘Disco Blood’, ‘I Know Kung Fu’ and ‘OK’ are songs we’ve played for about a year, and the others, such as ’72 Virgins’ and ‘Fear of The Future’ are brand new songs part-written in the studio. Having all been to art school, we found that process really fun because it brought creativity right back into the equation without getting too “muso“. The older songs were formed differently – played at live at gigs and at parties – they were catered more to the audience reaction.
So have you been playing many of the album tracks in recent gigs?
Yeah, all of them. It’s been great seeing them transform from an idea in the studio and then to hear them after the gestation period, through a huge P.A. It’s an amazing feeling…. especially when the audience reciprocates it.
And how have they been received, have you had much feedback so far?
Amazingly, they’ve been a success so far. Generally, an audience will latch onto the songs they know, like the singles for example, but I think the release of the album will consolidate the newer songs. Personally, it’s always good to hear ‘that’ song you heard on the radio or you discovered, and I think that’s why we understand that. However, a fundamental part of our writing process is related to how the audience relate to, and interact with the songs. If they dance – it stays!
Your band is getting quite a reputation for its live performances – do you still recommend experiencing SHITDISCO at a gig, or do you think that the album manages to reflect this major aspect of your music?
Yeah, completely. I think the involvement of Luke Smith as producer has been a massive help. He helped us work both structurally and creatively with the new and old songs, whilst trying to retain the energy of the live show. We got into some strange situations once inside the studio, Joel played a guitar part completely upside-down, once suspended from a chair and another time held on from my shoulders. Another instance was when we decided to move into his house and record some vocals in his bedroom. Because we left the studio, there was a complete sense of abandon and were we able to loosen up and sing the song as if it was live. Generally speaking, I couldn’t be happier with the album as it is.
And which tracks are you happiest with?
The new versions of ‘Disco Blood’ & ‘Kung Fu’ are much more fierce and vibrant. The ones released on the first single were always under par as far as we were concerned so it was great to re-work them and to have them realized to what we saw as their full potential. Also, there are the new songs on the record, particularly ‘Dream of Infinity’, ‘Fear of The Future’ and ’3D Sex Show’. They show a darker side to our song writing both lyrically and musically. So how’s the tour been going?
I love it! It’s amazing to see how different audiences react. The best part of being in a band is being able to travel around the world and for it to be part of a project that originated at art school. We never expected to go to Thailand, USA and Europe on in a band called SHITDISCO…. A constant amazement to all of us!And have you had much time to do anything else?
Not really, it’s more than a full time occupation. You work both day and night doing the physical things such as performing and interviews, but then there’s the creative part such as writing. Beyond that, I’ve also been involved in the design process for the album cover and website. As I said earlier, the design process interests all of us especially after art school and an interest in design.So what about the summer? Are you intending to do the festivals?
Yeah, I reckon it’ll be a big summer for us this year. The festivals were al brilliant last year, particularly Leeds & Reading. We’re doing Glastonbury this year too. Can’t wait. Also there’s European festivals, like Benicassim and Sonar in Spain plus some others on the horizon.
And what about the parties? Are they still going strong?
Yeah, we played one in Leeds earlier this week. We always use things like myspace and our mailing list to notify our fans of anything we have planned, but it’s also a really good way of involving the audience in our development as band. It’s great to be out of your comfort zone in a weird situation, I think stuff like that galvanizes you and it’s great for the audience too. I know this because I saw people like Franz live when they played their first couple of shows in Glasgow, and it’s those moments that you remember forever. Without wanting to sound over the top, these are the sort of shows that can create bands and new ideas. That’s part of the reason why we started.
Any stand out moments for you on the last tour?
Too many. All our tours seem to go awry from the moment we leave. I think it’s the inclusion of parties within the structured tour. We toured Europe in January and we played the last show in Frankfurt, Germany. It was a party held by Vice magazine. It was in the old police headquarters of Frankfurt. We arrived and half the building, all the old prison cells, were full of skaters jumping down staircases. We playing in what I think was perhaps the old court room. Before we even got onstage There was dozens of crowdsurfers, beer all over the floor and the walls and everyone was having a really good time. No violence or anything. Then we played, and the crowd went wild. Legs up at the height of other peoples faces and liquid and chairs flying through the air. Almost an identical recreation of the parties we used to have in 61 in Glasgow.
Also, the house party in Leeds this week was incredible. It’s quite a strange phenomenon to let a band turn up and play their songs live in your living room. It’s like having your own club night, in your house, with your rules (or not), on your terms, but it’s also a completely new thing too. We brought some lasers and smoke machines along. We recorded it for Channel 4, and you really have to see the footage. It’s insane. It could be from a night at Optimo or Trash – absolutely amazing.
With live music going fucking mental at the moment are there any bands that really stand out for you? When you’ve got the chance, which gigs will you be going to? – Which tracks have you been listening to?
There’s loads of new stuff at the moment. In Glasgow, there’s Haunted House who played their first show in Darren’s living room. They’re like a homemade bedroom version of Daft Punk. Also, Gay Against You. They really must be seen to be believed, they play “casio-core” performance glitchy dance music wearing anything from tennis skirts to bear costumes.Beyond Scotland, we’re also big fans of To My Boy, from Liverpool & and a great band called Mit from Cologne. Loads of French stuff on the Ed Banger and Instittubes labels, like Justice, Para One, Kavinsky and Uffie. Tracks like ‘Waters of Nazareth’ (JUSTICE) and ‘Testarossa Autodrive’ (KAVINSKY), ‘Sorry’ (YUKSEK) or something like ‘Good book’ (MIT) or ‘Europoof’ (HAUNTED HOUSE). We’re also huge fans of stuff like Soulwax (INTEVERSIONS) & Bodyrox – always played when we DJ.
Look out!
Oh… and one final question – what’s next?
We’re looking into the logistics of air-dropping ecstasy into the middle-east. Get the warring factions loved-up then play the first acid-rave in Jerusalem. A small ambition.
SHITDISCO are playing The Cluny on April 19th alongside MOIRA STEWART and TO MY BOY
