Today’s interview is with Antarctica Takes It! who are coming over to Indietracks all the way from California.
Before that however, we’d just like to tell you quickly about one last Indietracks podcast, put together again by Josh from Radio Cardiff. It features an exclusive live track from Gordon from Ballboy, as well as interviews with Be Like Pablo and Indietracks maestro Stuart Mackay. You can download it from the following link: Indietracks podcast #3
Josh will be interviewing people at the festival this weekend so if there's anything you'd like to contribute, do let Josh know: josh dot owen dot morris at gmail dot com.
Okay, let’s kick on with today’s interview!
Antarctica Takes It! write romantic, magical songs in the vein of Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists and Belle & Sebastian. Dylan McKeever recorded the debut album ‘The Penguin League’, directly into the internal mic of his laptop, creating a clattering, charming lo-fi masterpiece in the process.
With his second album, ‘Constellations’ – released in August on How Does It Feel To Be Loved? (but they’re sending mail copies out now) – he has now taken the lo-fi spirit of the first record and introduces it to all the clarity and beauty and sparkling perfection that the modern recording process can offer. The indie folk of the debut is now joined by soaring Aislers Set-style pop, gorgeous Beach Boys-esque harmonising, the kind of stumbling, good-hearted folk that Bright Eyes might have produced in recent years, and a joyous, wild-eyed, creatively-ablaze energy.
This week, the band are playing their first ever UK shows at two Indietracks warm-ups in London:
Wednesday 21 July @ The Luminaire, with Allo Darlin' and The Smittens.
Thursday 22 July @ Jamm, Brixton, with Tender Trap, Shrag, Betty And The Werewolves and Pocketbooks.
Hi, tell us a little bit about yourselves
Hello, this is Dylan from "Antarctica Takes It!" We're an indie pop band from Oakland, CA.
What music are you enjoying at the moment?
Laura Nyro, 'It's Gonna Take a Miracle' Dirty Projectors, 'Bitte Orca', The Dream, 'Love King', Lou Reed's 'Street Hassle'
Tell us about an unusual place you've played a gig in the past
In Santa Cruz, we played at the Veteran's Hall in Santa Cruz. Maria and Vanessa couldn't make it to the gig, so Tyler and I played several instruments at the same time, BLINDFOLDED, for the entire set.
Do you have any exciting plans for the rest of the year?
Maybe I'm going to move to New York. Writing new songs, thinking about a new album.
Do any band members have any particular skills, hobbies or claims to fame you wish to share?
Maria is an artist, Tyler is in a band called James Rabbit, Brian is in a band called Winnie Byrd.
What's going to be on your compilation tapes as you travel down to Indietracks?
Maria will be listening to Joanna Newsom, 'Have One on me', and the Fruit Bats, 'The Ruminant Band', Kurt Vile, 'Childish Prodigy'
What do you most look forward to seeing in England?
The Eye of London!
Great – see you this weekend!
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