Who The Hell is Phone Joan?
Why Phone Joan?
There are many reasons why we think you should, but mostly because you could. Just dial +47 917 99466.
Can you tell us a bit about where you are from and how you got together?
Most of the band members rose from the cold and wet basements of Oslo, Norway’s indie-rock scene during the financial crisis that took place around 2008-2009. All of us were starved for anything with substance. The superficial and tiring Norwegian music scene needed someone to shake things up a bit. So we all decided to call her. She’s the one bringing us together. This, and the fact that we were promised lots and lots of beer (and if you think about it…. who the hell could say no to that?) made us form Phone Joan in 2009.
You’re video for ‘Damned’ is pretty powerful stuff, tell us more.
You know, information is so shock oriented. More and more of it is aimed to produce an emotional rather than rational response to what is presented. And most of the propaganda gladly vomited on us is only aimed to create fear. From one day to another, it seems the only question is how to top it. Everyone’s ending up screaming at each other, but none of us ever get the time to sit down and listen.
This video doesn’t cover the aspect which the song is about, but portraits some of these issues, for better or worse, because nothing is forbidden in the struggle against indifference.
It is produced by “FOLKEFIENDER,” which directly translates to “public enemy” and it portrays this beautiful woman’s “walk of shame” ending up, right back, where she started. It’s so beautifully shot giving the viewer a glimpse of our city Oslo.
Who has influenced your music the most?
It depends on who you ask. Elisabeth (drummer) is more into soul, jazz and hip hop. Randi (bass) could like most anything, while Carina (vocal) and Rikard (guitar) are more into the older stuff. The mix which she creates is more in the middle of everything; gluing it all together into a ramshackle 70’ shoegaze thing. Some say they hear a lot of Neil Young, others say The Dead Weather and Ida Maria.
If you phone Joan and ask her, we think she can relate to any of those.
What was the first piece of music you ever heard that really left a mark on you?
Again it depends on who you ask, but we all think Ida Maria is an awesome person who needs to be mentioned just because of that.
Mentionable “Joan likes” though are: Wildbirds and Peacedrums, Blind Faith, Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Jack White, Beyoncè, Erykah-Badu, Led Zepplin, Prince, and a bunch more….
Name one thing no one knows about the band?
Well everyone thinks this is a band that consists of 3 women and 1 man, but in fact there are no evidence yet been presented that Rikard actually has a penis. In fact all of us, even Rikard himself, are convinced of the opposite.
Where do you stand: MP3 or Vinyl?
Vinyl! You can’t touch or fondle with the mp3. +47 91799466 will only come out in full version on vinyl. Only 9 of the 12 tracks will be made available for digital download. We don’t do this only because we need to have a product that is just that…. an actual product, but also because we think vinyl gives more authentic sound quality to the recordings.
Music entertainment has already lost most of its core value and is surviving on fumes right now. This is not necessarily because of digital download, but because we can only take so much. The overflow of meaningless shit is grabbing the last of the true believers with them and sending them straight into the void of apathy. And this is where we are right now… packed heavily with good intentions ready to fight it off. But as the song says “we are worried that all of these efforts that we’ve made here, would be worth nothing.” Vinyl is the only thing left with a glimpse of reality in this overpopulated music world although we recognize the value of convenience.
What are your hopes for 2012?
That we might see a shift in the media’s focus and that this year will go into history as the year were music died and then came to life again.
Finally, when the last warning goes off, what track do you stick on your iPod?
Actually, right now, that would be the starting track of the album +47 91799466, a song called “Plastic Rubber Souls,” where the first lines are, “A ball of fire lights the sky, seems like something’s gonna change. Streak of massive orange light, now we be on our way; new plastic rubber souls, new spiritual defense. This bad imitation of life has been giving a second chance.”
This interrogation first appeared on TVDUK
The Vinyl District introducing: Little Racer
Hailing from oh-so-fashionable Brooklyn, Little Racer’s debut double A-side single, “Split For The Coast” / “The Town” was released in December, and has remained on our turntable ever since.
In the fine, longstanding tradition of quality maintained by the Young And Lost Club label, the band, formed in late 2009, consists of Elliot Michaud (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ish Nazmi (bass, backing vocals) and Mike Seay (drums, backing vocals) and look destined for great things in 2012.
Introducing: Gabrielle & The Hounds
Brooklyn’s Gabriel and the Hounds, brainchild of Takka Takka founder and vocalist Gabriel Levine, release their debut album next month. A Valentine’s Day launch at New York’s famed Mercury Lounge will be followed by a European tour.
Whilst looking for a name for this project, Gabriel turned to one of his favourite albums for inspiration, Kate Bush’s Hounds Of Love providing the necessary latter part of the name.
The album was recorded in living rooms, garages, and in proper studios all over Brooklyn, including Seaside Lounge and The National’s garage studio. It features performers who are in or have recorded with The National, Beirut, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Sufjan Stevens, Tune-Yards, Bjork, Jonsi, and St. Vincent. The result is an intimate record that conveys warmth and sincerity with an occasional buoyancy and punch.
The World Unfolds (above) is a Free download from Gabriel & The Hounds
Zulu Winter release second single, “We Should Be Swimming”
February 27th sees the release of “We Should Be Swimming,” the second single from Zulu Winter on the venerable Double Denim label.
Formed last year, Zulu Winter (Will Daunt – vocals & guitar; Iain Lock – bass; Dom Millard – keyboards; Henry Walton – guitar, and Guy Henderson – drums) have already picked up radio support from Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq, and Huw Stephens.
Inevitably, when listening to this London five-piece’s sound, there’ll be shouts of Coldplay, but maybe, just maybe, they can develop into what Coldplay could have been and not limp into major label tedium as Chris Martin and Co. have. This track and the band’s forthcoming album are produced by the excellent Tom Morris, so there is some hope.
Zulu Winter will be playing a handful of London shows early this year as well as supporting The Horrors in SE Asia and Japan before heading to Texas for SXSW.
‘The Good The Bad’ and the Power of Rock & Roll
Despite the rather daft name (have they never heard of The Good, The Bad & The Queen???) Danish rockers The Good The Bad justify the claims and hyperbole staked on their behalf.
Following their last blast of sonic devilry, the wonderful “030,” comes their latest video for the numerically inferior yet artistic equal of its successor, the glorious “023.”
The Good The Bad have already clocked up several million plays on Youtube, so they are clearly on their way. This time the buzz is justified, these boys are going places!
Free track available over ‘ere
The Good The Bad are: Adam Olsson (The Adam) on lead guitar, Johan Lei Gellett on drums and Manoj Ramdas (ex-The Raveonettes) on baritone guitar.
… and as a bonus… for all you girl ‘n’ guitar perverts…
The Vinyl District UK: Stealing Sheep – Tweet for free tickets (13 December)
Stealing Sheep celebrate their signing to Heavenly Records with a low-key show in London this week. The wonderful folk-rock band from Liverpool play melodically sublime songs that show their impeccable influences, and also their creativity.
For a chance to win two tickets to see Stealing Sheep play a rare London show at the Old Blue Last this Tuesday, December 13th (that’s tomorrow!), just go to the article HERE and Retweet @Strollonlive
The Vinyl District Presents: Whales In Cubicles
Taking their name from an Andrew Bird song, it’s immediately apparent that the boys in Whales in Cubicles are hip in a genuine and real way. They take their musical inspiration from American underground heroes like Guided by Voices and Sebadoh, through to genius songwriters such as Neil Young and Stephen Malkmus, with a hint of hard rock and a touch of Britpop thrown in for good measure.
The Vinyl District UK Introduces: Ellie Lawson
After honing her craft in the US and Amsterdam, South London singer-songwriter Ellie Lawson returned home to release her phenomenal Lost Without You EP on 15th November.
Ellie’s story is a modern tale of overwhelming talent being discovered while young travelling America. This led to a whirlwind courtship by the US entertainment industry including being signed by Atlantic Records, taking meetings with Rap mogul Russell Simmons, and appearing on Ellen DeGeneres’ hugely popular TV show where Ellen extolled: “I play her music over and over again in my house…I predict she will be the hugest, hugest star.”
The tide turned, the music business began to implode and Ellie decided to respond to a call to work with leading trance DJs… (More)
The Vinyl District UK: Who The Hell Is Jethro Fox…
Jethro Fox is a name that has been popping up all over blog-land recently. We became immediate fans and felt compelled to dig a bit deeper into the world of Mr. Fox. Luckily for us he was most obliging…
Can you tell us a bit about who you are and what you’re about?
I’m originally from Essex but now live in Liverpool, UK. I play in several bands – Anna Lena & The Orchids, Dan Croll, Carnival Kids – and my early background was in punk and rock. It’s only very recently that I decided to start my own thing and “Before” is one of the first results.
We really like ‘Before’ and have been listening to it a lot recently. Can you tell us what it’s about?
Thanks! I think this track really reflects what I was listening to at the time of recording – a lot of Beach Boys, Villagers, Arcade Fire. I just holed up in my friend Tarek Musa’s studio for a couple of days, had fun with some old analogue gear, I worked up the song and he recorded and mixed the whole thing. Really fun. In terms of what the song is about, I was very much just trying to conjure up a certain feeling and atmosphere. But the lyrics are quite mournful really.
The Vinyl District UK Introduces: Ed Vallance
Ed Vallance is a London-born musician living in Brooklyn. His intoxicating sophomore album Volcano is a maelstrom of lush harmonies, brittle drums, and ravishing guitar pyrotechnics.
Set for release in January 2012, the album was recorded with the guidance of veteran producer Mark Ephraim (New Pornographers, Joan As Policewoman, Dirty On Purpose). A swift left turn from the lush acoustic indie-folk of 2008′s debut The Modern Life, Volcano sits incongruously but confidently in mainstream pop. The first single is the eerie and hypnotic “Crystalline” with an accompanying video from LA-based director Andreas Trollf (Devo, Papercuts) due for release in December 2011.
