XFM Interview Transcript

Foreword

Transcribed from The Crimea's appearance on XFM Radio's Music: Response show on Thursday 27th February 2003. Other than very light editing, the transcript is exactly the same as the recording of the show.
Click here to go to the review of the band's radio appearance.

Colour Key

Zane Lowe: Music:Response presenter.
Davey MacManus: Crimea lead singer.
Andy Stafford: Crimea keyboardist.
Julia Parker: Crimea lead guitarist.
All: Everyone in the studio.
#### Songs played live in the studio. ####
#### Start and end of MP3s. ####

Transcript

#### Start of XFM Interview Part 1 (XFM Live) MP3. ####
Zane: Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for our very special guests this evening, The Crimea.
All: *Claps*
Zane: Thanks very much for coming in and extra special thanks for bringing your instruments. How's your sister? She good?
Davey: She's good.
Zane: Say hello to her for me.
Davey: I will, man.
Zane: Outstanding. Can we have a bit of a chat before you guys play a few songs, is that cool?
Davey: Yep...
Zane: Um.. for the people out there that don't know your history, obviously anyone who listens to this show regularly will know your music cos we've been playing it, but... Owen and you, Dave, were in The Crocketts, and before we even move any further forward, there was a lot of support for The Crocketts through my radio show anyway, and a lot of people out there will want to know what happened there before you decided to get involved with The Crimea?
Davey: Uh, it just fell apart man. We did six months together in Sainsburys, stacking shelves, and that was it, that finished the band off.
Zane: You just like, had enough? That was it? You couldn't..
Davey: That was it. After that our guitar player left and we just err... Branson obviously kicked us off the roster and we died.. a death.
Zane: Yeah. Probably the smartest thing he ever did in a way. For you I mean.
Andy: Right.
Zane: Yeah, exactly. So you've been basically hauled up in your bedroom writing songs and contributing to your craft ever since, and getting your stuff ready?
Davey: Yeah, we just had.. well.. when we signed with The Crocketts we were like eighteen, and then we just did that for six years, so finally we had a break for a couple of years and actually wrote something good. And err..
Zane: I think that's kind of hard on yourself man, to be honest.
Davey: ..calmed down a bit. You know, laid off the drugs a bit and did some serious work. And err.. it's good.
Zane: In terms of actually forming a band; because it's one thing to sit in your bedroom writing songs, and I think there's a lot of people around the world who do that but don't actually take it any further towards finding other musicians who want to join the band and play their songs, they just sit in their bedroom and keep writing them and writing them. Was that quite a tough thing to get out of your bedroom?
Davey: It was, man, it took me about two years. And it was a bit scary actually, going out in the outside world.
Zane: And now you have the united nations of them behind you from what I can tell. Elements of Wales, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Australia representing this evening.
Davey: Yeah man.
Andy: And England as well, yeah.
Zane: And England? Sorry.
Davey: Refugee status, big time.. yeah.
Zane: Refugees... Um, OK listen, we're going to come back and talk a little bit more but the main reason that you guys are here is to play your music and we always love having live sessions, so what are you going to play for us first?
#### End of XFM Interview Part 1 (XFM Live) MP3. ####

#### Start of Lottery Winners On Acid (XFM Live) MP3. ####
Davey: Err, Lottery Winners On Acid.
Zane: Do it man, I love it.
#### Lottery Winners On Acid ####
Zane: Ahh, that was outstanding man, that sounded so friggin' good.
#### End of Lottery Winners On Acid (XFM Live) MP3. ####

#### Start of XFM Interview Part 2 (XFM Live) MP3. ####
Zane: Seriously, you know, obviously the band weren't bad but Coren, I gotta give you props man, that sounded awesome through the desk, seriously, what you do with that little eight track thing of yours, I don't quite know how you do it but anyway... Ladies and gentlemen, The Crimea, who of course are playing at The Borderline tomorrow. That's Lottery Winners On Acid, that's the single that was released last year and I guess that was the first single that you guys put out, right?
Davey: Yeah, I mean, I made it in my bedroom. I was working as a builder at the time so err, I was doing it in the nights when I got home. And it's great, you know.
Zane: 'So annoying to me, someone as talented as you...
Davey: So when we put it out it just got on the radio, it was great. It was a joke.
Zane: That you can sit in your bedroom and makes songs like that, you know what I mean, it's just like.. it's criminal. I mean, I was playing Opposite Ends a lot at the beginning of this year and um.. I think it was Steve was telling me that that was also just pretty much created entirely in your bedroom.
Davey: Yeah.. no totally, it all is. It's better.
Zane: It's very impressive man. What kind of stuff are you using? I think a lot of people out there would want to know what it takes to record stuff like that.
Davey: Uh just.. well, when Creation were clearing out their offices, we were using the van to.. we were helping them remove so we nicked their stereo. So I've got that, that's where my speakers are, and then I've just got a sixteen track.
Zane: Thank you Alan McGee. Um.. Lottery Winners On Acid, uh.. is it as literal as the song title suggests? I know it's difficult to go into what songs are about, a lot of people don't like to do it, but just a little bit of an insight about that track...
Davey: I mean, it's just.. it's basically a cheesy love song disguised because I don't like admitting it. You know, it's just nice, you know. It's just like.. about, you know.. when you take drugs and both people think exactly the same thing at the same time.
Zane: Awwww... you just admitted it. Live on the radio. That's cool, it's a wicked track. Um, in terms of the songs, you know, obviously you've been writing these tracks for a couple of years, and now you've got a band behind you, has it altered the way the songs have been coming out since you've had the guys joining you, since last Summer?
Davey: Well we just had to actually learn how to play the shagging things first. Just.. really uh.. but no, I mean, it's great. It's brilliant to have a band to actually be able to do it.
Zane: Are you still principal song writer or have you opened the doors to collaboration a little more?
Davey: Doors are opening.. slowly.
All: *Laughs*
Davey: Yeah I'm.. nah nah.. yeah, of course.
Zane: Yeah, right, cool. Fair enough. Has it sort of changed your.. I mean, having been in The Crocketts and like you say, having signed to Branson's label and having been there and done that, um.. you sort of showed a little bit of surprise before when you were talking about the fact that people kind of took the song that you made in your bedroom and just played it on the radio. Have your ambitions kind of altered slightly ever since you've walked down that 'being signed' road, you know, has what you want to get out of this band sort of changed a little bit?
Davey: Erm... no I still want the, like.. you know, motorised stairway. But err.. no, yeah I want all the money, we want the money.
Zane: It's coming.
Davey: But err.. no, it's nice to do something in your bedroom, but you know, I want it to sound like Dusty Springfield you know, a bloody full orchestra in Abbey Road.
Zane: Yeah.. you gonna have to get (?) to do that... I dunno, I mean, maybe not man. You know, it's becoming easy to sit in your bedroom and replicate old skool sounds. All you gotta do is just degrade the sounds a little bit. Put them in the computer, make them sound old skool... Press the old skool button... Anyway...
All: *Laughs*
Zane: Ah yeah, there's me being a dick again. OK, what are you gonna play next?
#### End of XFM Interview Part 2 (XFM Live) MP3. ####

#### Start of Fred Flintstone (XFM Live) MP3. ####
Davey: Err, Fred Flintstone.
Zane: Do it man.
Davey: OK.
#### Fred Flintstone ####
Zane: That sounded awesome.
#### End of Fred Flintstone (XFM Live) MP3. ####

#### Start of XFM Interview Part 3 (XFM Live) MP3. ####
Zane: Seriously, it's one of the finest sounding live sessions we've had on this show in a very long time. We had a lot of good people coming through this studio and um.. you're right, I do say that to a lot of people, but this time I genuinely mean it. It sounded wicked. Err.. that I guess is the darker side of love.. that's Fred Flintstone.
Davey: Yeah well erm.. you know.. it's the Prehistoric side.. which we all have in us as men. It comes out all the time. Mostly we manage to keep it in our heads but the odd time...
Zane: Yeah, I wish I had...
Davey: ...just.. jump on somebody...
Zane: I wish I could keep it in my head a little bit more often, perhaps. Erm.. OK, now you're playing The Borderline tomorrow night, obviously you guys sound so ready to tour the world and make it happen.
Davey: Well, it's our first ever gig with Julz, our new guitar player...
Zane: Wicked.
Davey: ...tomorrow, so err..
Zane: Hi Julz.
Julz: Hey.
Zane: How's it going?
Julz: I'm alright.
Zane: Which part of Australia are you from?
Julz: Er.. born in Sydney and grew up on the Gold Coast.
Zane: I'm sorry.
Julz: That's alright.
All: *Laughs*
Julz: Coming from a Kiwi, that's fine.
Zane: Ah haa, there you go.
Julz: You're all in Australia anyway, aren't you?
Zane: Ha ha ha ha ha... yeah yeah. OK. I'm beaten at my own game. Fair enough. Um.. so, Davey are you prolific? Do you write?
Davey: No man, I mean.. these songs, you know, I spend months on them all, just months and months and months and months.
Zane: Yeah, hard crafting?
Davey: So I'm totally un-prolific, yeah. It's really, really, really annoying.
Zane: Is it a mood thing for you? Do you find that it's when the mood takes you, do you have to sit down and go "OK, I've gotta write a tune now, gotta force myself to get this out of my system"?
Davey: No, it's mathematics, I'm afraid.
Zane: It's one or the other, eh?
Davey: It's just been mathematics all.. well, the lyrics, you know, obviously er.. that's my mood.
Zane: Well, it's testament to your ability to be able to do something that seems obviously so structured and mathematical in your head, and actually make it sound so incredibly natural when you deliver it, you know, you guys are definitely on fire. I wanna talk about a forthcoming album. Obviously, this is an exciting time. As the old man once said to me, it's the journey that matters, not the arrival, right? And you guys are on a really wicked journey, and I guess the arrival is almost there.
Davey: Yeah almost, but it's still got.. we've still got to get a record deal, eh?
Zane: But you've got a publishing deal tomorrow, and that's wicked.
Davey: Yeah, we're err.. signing tomorrow, touch wood.
Zane: Outstanding, well congratulations. That's awesome. And er.. have you given any thought about record labels and stuff like that, or is that the next step?
Davey: Well.. we haven't even been able to.. you know, play to record companies yet, because... I was doing all the live guitar and I was rubbish. So now we've got a proper guitarist it's gonna be fine.
Zane: She is very good.
Davey: And now we can, you know, start.. whatever you call it, showcasing.
Zane: Right. I don't think you're going to have to do much of that to be honest. What about erm.. songs, you got songs ready for a record? Have you got a record in your heads?
Davey: Yeah, we've got the record there. It's awesome, it's something else.
Zane: Aww I can't wait to hear it man and I mean, I wish you all the best for the future, we've really enjoyed having you guys in. I know that err... you know, you're scheduled to do a pre-recorded track for Clair and stuff, but we'd really appreciate if you'd do it. Will you do that for us?
Davey: Yeah, 'course.
Zane: Outstanding. Ok, excellent. So this is Who Knows, let's do it.
#### End of XFM Interview Part 3 (XFM Live) MP3. ####

#### Start of Who Knows (XFM Live) MP3. ####
Davey: Err, White Russian Galaxy.
Zane: Oh it is?
Davey: What?
#### Who Knows ####
Zane: Fantastic.
All: *Claps*
Zane: Fantastic, that was brilliant.
#### End of Who Knows (XFM Live) MP3. ####

#### Start of XFM Interview Part 4 (XFM Live) MP3. ####
Zane: Davey, Owen, Julz, Andy, Joe. The Crimea. Thanks for coming in and hanging out.
Davey: Thank you, man.
Zane: I've got on my piece of paper that track was called Who Knows but you're calling it White Russian...?
Davey: White Russian Galaxy.
Zane: Yeah, just playing a joke on me yeah?
Davey: Yeah, sorry man.
Zane: No, that's cool. You'll never be back, yeah?
All: *Laughs*
Zane: Thanks very much for hanging out. And good luck at The Borderline tomorrow night. And er.. I really can't wait to hear a full length record. I really can't, so um... thanks very much. The Crimea, ladies and gents.
Davey: Thank you.
#### End of XFM Interview Part 4 (XFM Live) MP3. ####

Transcribed by Christopher Friend, 13th March 2003. Version 1.1.