Interview: The Late Parade
It's been more than a year since The Late Parade released their debut EP. Now they have just finished the recordings of their first full-length and much-promising album "In chase of red beads". Their sound will please all Mew fans with darker tendencies and the instantly recognisable, falsetto-driven vocals of Rune Vigil add-up to the character of the band. They are currently on a mini-European tour that includes Belgium and some dates in Germany, followed-up by a couple of gigs in native Copenhagen. It's a Trap! attended the first gig of this tour in Brussels and had a chat with bassist Nicolai Qvindbjerg.
How does it feel having finished recording the record?
It's weird and amazing, because now you only want to get it out there and get people's response. We've been working on it for four months and initially we only planned it to be one month.
What happened?
I don't know. When you are in a creative mood and you have to rewrite something. You get a lot of ideas, so it always takes longer than you expect.
You're not using any samples. Have you got anything against them?
No, we haven't got anything against them. Up till now we had the idea that we wanted to play it, and not push a button. We discussed it though. We all agreed that we wanted to try to make the best of what we have. Sampling is not like cheating at all. A lot of bands use it and it's great.
How would you say your sound and the band have evolved over the years, especially with the addition of the new members?
We now got Troelz, our new keyboardist, he's been with us since we started the recordings of the album in the summer and it all has evolved really quickly to the better, we all think. Initially we started with not that many instruments, with no drummer. I think it's a normal and typical way that bands evolve.
How come you recorded your debut EP in a church? Whose idea was it? How did it feel recording in it?
In Denmark churches have become places were people can hold concerts and exhibitions and stuff like that and we always wanted to have a church tour. We always had this thing for big rooms and open spaces, so the recording in a church came vey natural.
How did it feel recording in it?
It was a very strange feeling actually. It was very difficult to control the big room. But I think we managed to get a unique result soundwise. It sounded great but with the new album we wanted to move to another place.
How did it feel when you found out that Gaffa thinks "you are going to be big in 2009"?
We actually applied for that a couple of times before! [Laughs] It was really great! Of course you like it when someone appreciates what you're doing.
How did it feel playing to a non-Danish audience?
It's actually weird, because it's kind of a relief not playing at home. People are more open-minded abroad I think… No one knows you and they either like you or they don't. They don't hide it I think. You get an honest opinion.
Have you played abroad before?
Only one gig actually. We played in Luxembourg during our recordings. Now we have some dates coming up, in Denmark as well, and we're really looking forward to it.
How did the record deal in Japan happen?
I think Japan happened through Myspace. It's almost like a cliché now. [Laughs]
Are you going to play there?
We are negotiating at the moment. We don't know yet, there might be something during the summer.
Talk to me about the "We will walk straight through this wall" video.
The two Danish guys who did it have made some works for other Danish bands before. They really liked the song and they had some stuff lying around, and they put together a teaser for us and we liked it.
What's the story in the video?
I would like people to figure it out themselves. Apart from having a naked girl on a video, there is stuff about loss and absence. You will have to look deeper into it. But I guess it's controversial, we won't get it on MTV.
What was its reception?
Well, there was all this writing about us not being allowed to be shown on Danish television, because of the naked girl and the masturbation and drinking and smoking and stuff like that. But the funny thing is that the video got a lot of publicity and people talked about it.
Why is the Danish music scene booming nowadays?
I don't know, maybe people got tired of the same old stuff on the radio. I don't think there's a simple answer for it.
Is there a typical songwriting procedure?
Rune, our lead singer, writes always the songs. He brings in an idea and then we develop it in the rehearsal room.
For the people that never heard of you and are reading this: why should they listen to The Late Parade?
We think our music has got something new to it. It's music that people either like or dislike. Rune's voice is quite characteristic and I encourage people to check us out.
Words and picture by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos