10 questions with The Kooks.
| Fonction | Interview |
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It is one of Switzerland's most popular festivals, renowned for the top national and international acts it attracts. This year, the 36th Open Air St. Gallen festival sold out more than a month before it took place from 28 June to 1 July. As 30,000 visitors filled the Sittertobel's green pastures, acclaimed performers including Die Toten Hosen and Florence & The Machine rocked the stages. Meanwhile, indie-rock band The Kooks proved why they were named Best British Act at the 2006 MTV Music Awards. The four-piece band from Brighton re-invented themselves with their third album Junk of the Heart, in September 2011. Released three years after their previous album Konk, its electronic feel reflected the band's development. We spoke to lead singer and guitarist Luke Pritchard about the inspiration behind the album and why he enjoys performing in Switzerland.
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What was your St. Gallon experience like?
It was amazing. We have played at St. Gallen before--so we knew it was going to be cool--but it was really good this year. We had some good friends here, like Paolo Nutini and his band. Our performance was early [in the day]. I hate singing that early, because I have usually only just got up, but it has been good. The crowds in Switzerland were great. It definitely beats America and it was nice to be back in Europe.
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What is the best thing about playing at festivals?
Festival season is always fun, because you are not in your own bubble any more. You can mix with other bands and find inspiration in other music.
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Do you get nervous before performing?
I don't get nervous before I go on stage; I get excited. I play pretty much every day, so if I got nervous it would be a bit weird.
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What comes to mind when you think of Switzerland?
Gold and banks! Unfortunately, I don't know any Swiss bands. All I really listen to is Bob Dylan and the Beatles.
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You released your album Junk of the Heart last September. What was your inspiration for the album?
I wrote the album for a girl, so it's quite a personal record. I call it 'an ode to someone'. That relationship went bad, so now I need to write a break-up record!
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Junk of the Heart has a more electronic feel than your previous albums. Were you pleased with the result?
We tried different things with the album. We put a lot of electronics into the music, which we'd never done before. I don't know whether we'll go down that road again. We really enjoyed using the computers and...
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