We Fell To Earth are comprised of former UNKLE component Richard File and Queens of the Stone Age, there and Mark Lanegan, collaborator Wendy Rae Fowler. They met in the studio during sessions for UNKLE’s ‘War Stories’ album and embarked on a beautiful journey together of making music. The result is heart sweltering shoegaze that’ll transport your weary leather-clad bones to the Californian desert. Wendy tells us a little bit more about the band in some quick fire questions.
What attracted you to making music with each other?
W: I suppose a likeminded desire to do something outside our respective comfort zones.
How have your individual musical journeys led you to We Fell To Earth?
W: Ultimately I think it was the mutual desire to do something different that brought us together, but it definitely helps that we had friends in common who orchestrated events which led to our first meeting.
What did you want to achieve with We Fell To Earth?
W: We wanted to make hypnotic music with strong rhythm sections. We’re always looking for a great groove, something to get lost in.
Three of your tracks have been picked up by US TV shows. What would you like to see one of your songs be the soundtrack to?
W: We would LOVE to score an entire film for Guillermo Del Toro. I love his movies. They have just the right balance of fantasy and reality to warm your bones.
What is your favourite part of the creative process with We Fell To Earth?
W: Firstly, building the rhythm sections – I need that to get inspired for what needs to happen next… Also finding accidental sounds and using them in unusual ways.
Your tracks really sound like they come into their own live. Tell me about your live shows, would you agree?
W: Thankfully I do agree. Rich and I pretty much recorded the majority of the album on our own, so we were very curious to see what would happen in a room with other musicians when it came time to bring the thing to life. One of my favourite things about playing music is the live element. Although it can be nerve wracking, there’s nothing quite like the energy you feel coming from a group of people on stage who are there because they want to be. That, I believe, is what brings such life to the show. The sound is pretty intense live, the rhythm section is always driving. Our drummer is usually playing at least 2 parts at the same time. We needed 2 drummers, instead we have one genius drummer.
A shared influence of yours is Krautrock. Are there any others? Or ones not shared?
W: Krautrock is definitely the strongest shared influence. There are others, we both have a love of loads of sounds from the 60s, post punk, and early rock-n-roll, a bit of Shoegaze. There are bands that have had a massive influence on me that are maybe a little too out there, or maybe a bit too rock-n-roll at times, for Richs’ taste, like The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and the same goes for me regarding him in the electronic department, for example Kraftwerk. Don’t hate me, Simon Says was forced on me as a child.
Most affecting artist or inspiration in your work?
W: For starters… Link Wray, Can, Grace Slick, Nick Cave, the weather, sounds Rich makes with synthisizers, coffee.
What does the future look like for We Fell To Earth?
W: Lots of live stuff! We start a tour with Air on November 25th. We are currently promoting our new single “Deaf” which comes out on November 16th
Last record you heard and liked?
W: New, The Flaming Lips “Embryonic”. Old, Them “The Story of Them featuring Van Morrison.”
Best place that your music careers have taken you?
W: On one end of the spectrum, Joshua Tree in California, and on the other, the UK.
Best way to spend downtime?
W: Wrapped in a warm blanket on a very comfortable couch, sipping a warm beverage, accompanied by my family and my animals.
New single “Deaf” is on Monday 16th November.
Categories ,can, ,interview, ,krautrock, ,mark lanegan, ,queens of the stone age, ,shoegaze, ,the flaming lips, ,unkle, ,We Fell to Earth
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