SXSW Interview: Haelos
Haelos are going to be one of the hotter tickets at SXSW this year, especially with the release of their album, Full Circle, coming in at the end of the festival (March 18th). They’re definitely in my Top Ten list of acts to catch this year, so we were fortunate enough to catch up with Dom Goldsmith from the group before they make their way to Austin.
ATH:For a lot of bands, this is their first time coming to SXSW, Austin, or even the United States. What are you anticipating for your arrival into our town? Anything youre really hoping to do while youre here?
DG: Primarily, we just want to love each show we play. We’ve spent the last year locked in studios and so it’s cool to get out and play live what we’ve created. SXSW feels more like a marathon than a sprint, when the schedule reads an average of 3 shows a day I suppose the name of the game is pacing yourself.
ATH:For most SXSW sets, you get 30 minutes to leave a lasting impression. What’s your plan of attack? You have a set list mapped out yet?
DG: We’ve got a few sets planned to keep it dynamic for us – if it stays fresh for us, it should sound fresh to audiences.
ATH:The festival caters to music fans, but food and booze are an important aspect of the fans and the bands. What’s your band’s food and beverage of choice?
DG: A couple of us don’t drink booze so they enjoy sampling local non-alcoholic beers. I like bourbon on the rocks. Lotti likes things with bubbles. We’re all into Mexican food.
ATH:Describe the music community where you come from? Does everyone work together? Is there lots of competition?
DG: It is way more attractive to look at this like we’re just travelling the same way as other people, sharing a road. We have a lot of love for our friends from London and elsewhere that we have met along the way who are killing it – Dan (Bastille), Jessie Ware, Tom and Josh (Jungle), Holly (Lpsley) – everyone has been supportive of us and we totally reciprocate.
ATH:What are a few bands we might not know about, being in the States, that should be on everyone’s musical radar?
DG: Think Piece, Loyle Carner and Elliot Power.
ATH:Let’s say your band has been booked an official showcase at a pop up venue somewhere in the middle of 6th street (where a lot of shows are set up). The lineup features thrash metal, hip-hop, spoken word, and you. The sound is horrible, the lineup is not your style, and the crowd seems angry at the world. How would your band deal with such a situation?
DG: Get on with it – you never know when a seemingly bad situation will turn good if you approach it positively. We aren’t the self instrument wrecking type.
ATH:What’s your favorite album to come out in the last year? What’s playing in the tour bus/van?
DG: Tame Impala.Talk Talk.Jamie XX. Four Tet. Bjork. Radiohead. Daphni. Caribou. Floating Points. Romare. Tor. Burial. Primal Scream. Fort Romeux. Shanghai Den.
ATH:The digital age is upon us, like it or not. What are your band’s thoughts on streaming services like spotify, pandora, etc.? Blow em all up? Or embrace the future?
DG: We use a lot of vintage gear in our process but we mix it with some cool outboard gear that is being made today. So our outlook on the way music is consumed is the same: a mix is good.
ATH:Clearly coming over to the States to play shows is something a lot of bands are excited about, but what are some other life or musical highlights for you this year? Wed like to get to know you.
DG: Coachella. Osheaga. Our debut record FULL CIRCLE is out on March 18th.
ATH:This is important to us, although a lot of music people scoff at sports. Do you have a pick for the winner of this years up-coming Euro Cup? Also, is it rude for us to assume that everyone loves soccer/football outside of the US?
DG: We have to say England (however unlikely) and no it isn’t rude, possibly not totally accurate but not far off either.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/168285451″ params=”color=ff9900&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]