Fyfe Dangerfield (The Interview)

From the moment I first heard Fyfe Dangerfield’s “When You Walk in the Room,” I knew I had made a friend for life. This song just cannot be denied; its spirit is infectious. Ten years from now, it’ll be a great day when this pop gem randomly plays on my iPod. That is, if I ever take it off permanent repeat.

Fly Yellow Moon has continued to be one of my most oft-played albums of 2010. I was obviously pretty psyched to chat up Dangerfield to figure out what makes him as happy as his music has made me.

Fyfe Dangerfield – When You Walk in the Room

1. The first song I heard off Fly Yellow Moon was “When You Walk in the Room.” That song consistently takes me to my happy place. What music do you listen to when you need to get happy really fast?

I tend to find the best thing is putting on any record at 33 RPM and playing it at 45 RPM. That tends to bring out the happiness in most tracks. Failing that, it’s got to be the “Bale Out” (Christian Bale Remix) on YouTube.

2. The rest of Fly Yellow Moon is definitely different – sometimes thematically, sometimes musically – than “When You Walk in the Room.” How would you describe the remainder of the songs on the album?

I’m awful at describing things! Describing and choosing, not my strong points. It’s kind of like a scrapbook album of moments, musically and thematically. The songs are kind of about moments that may only last a few seconds, but define us. Well, maybe. Sort of! And, not with this in mind at all, nothing was that thought out, but we tried to record the songs in that way too: capturing something very quickly that would have sounded totally different done a different day.

3. What kind of music defined your years as a teenager? Is it different than the kind of music you make as a professional artist?

I was obsessed with the Manic Street Preachers as a teenager. I did the spray-paint, the hair dye, I think I even started talking in a Welsh accent at some point. So, I wouldn’t say that’s particuarly close to what I do now, but they had a massive impact on me. Aside from all the images and the words that normally get focused on, I think it gets overlooked how innovative they were musically on certain records. The Holy Bible was the one that really excited me, it has this cold sort of sound to it and these very punky sort of backing tracks, but then really beautiful, jerky, soaring, winding melodies. I don’t know, you don’t maybe tend to notice it because it’s all done so succinctly, but I can’t think of another record quite like it. But yeah, them and then one day I heard “Grace” by Jeff Buckley and “Debut” by Bjork, both on the same day, and they really opened my ears up in terms of thinking about the way things sounded.

4. You are supporting Corrine Bailey Rae tomorrow night at her UK show. What other current artists are you loving right now?

I really like the Wild Beasts record; it’s something that sounds completely of itself and really draws you in. The new Hot Chip album’s really nice too. I’ve just been turned onto Camille, there’s a couple of Camilles, but this one’s the Irish/French Camille that does Nick Cave and Tom Waits songs and things in this sort of burlesque late-night bar band sort of show. She’s got an amazing, fierce voice. I’ve just got into her and apparently she’s just finished playing a month’s residency in London or something! Duh. And er, Guillemots! We’re getting near to starting to record our third album, and I’m really excited about it. I’ve been writing some new songs for it, too, alongside what we’ve written as a band. It’s feeling good!

5. How would you like to spend the rest of your 2010? It’s only just begun…

I would like to spend the rest of 2010 being happy as much as I can be and enjoying being happy when I am happy without finding things to worry about! And making a great record with Guillemots hopefully. Playing music, eating good food, sharing good company, and visiting the seaside a lot.

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