INTERVIEW: Humans — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Humans

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MY first piece of the day is a chat with Humans…

who have been telling me about their latest track, Still About You, and what its story is. I ask what is coming next and what sort of music they are inspired by; what plans are ahead in terms of gigs and whether there is a favourite music memory.

I ask whether there are any rising artists to look out for and what advice upcoming musicians should take to heart; how the music of Humans has evolved since the start and whether there are any things to get done before the end of this year.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Busy. We both work like ten jobs so we’re pretty much slammed all the time. It’s great because we’re also both nihilists and it's making our lives go by really quickly!

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

We met at Ayden Gallery for Peter’s art show in 2008. I was a folky bicycling, missing-toothed poet and ol’ Petey was a Montreal-transplanted visual artist and aspiring Electronic performer. We joined forces and made some very rough around the edges but well-intentioned music that has subsequently been known as ‘dashumans’.

Still About You is your new track. What is the story behind it?

We wrote it in a shimmer of Los Angeles autumn. We partied so, so hard every night and worked all day everyday with our friend and colleague Carlos de la Garza. We also met a young chap named Ryan Daley who helped us out with everything plucked and plonked (A.K.A., he’s a really solid musician). We banged it out, writing about feeling like sh*t on airplanes, feeling lost and emotional while on tour; losing my girlfriend at the time and just pouring it all out on the page.

Might we see more material coming next year do you reckon?

Duh.

How did Humans get together and find one another?

I think I covered that already pretty thoroughly…

In terms of music; what did you both grow up around and idolise when young?

Robbie really liked Michael Jackson, The Beatles; Annie Lennox, The Police; Sting and Talking Heads. Peter liked some weird French music where they wear huge pants and Weird Al Yankovic. When Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit L.P. came out, Weird Al had the same single and an album with the same cover so I thought ‘Wow! The same whole album but all with dumb jokes; count me in!’ It didn’t turn out like that but I became a fan either way. I loved The Beach Boys, Genesis; Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins; M.J., Georges Brassen; you know, the usual kid sh*t.

How do you think you have developed and evolved since the start of your career?

We’ve really melded our styles together into this smooth concoction of the things we really like about each other.

Given your name; which song with the name ‘human’ in it would you select as the very best?

The score to/title track of The Human Centipede.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of 2018?

Robbie: I’m building a Donald Judd bed-frame but having doubts about my ability to move it out of my shop and into my apartment. So, that is a huge concern and something I really want to figure out A.S.A.P.

Have you each got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

I really liked playing Coachella. I felt like a really special person that day. It made me really happy.

Which one album means the most to you would you say (and why)?

Nirvana Smells like Teen Spirit. I eventually bought it and it really inspired me: it was the first time I saw a band that looked and sounded normal to me; not pre-fabricated like everything I had seen till then.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Zeustate; she's rad.

My rider has Kombucha, cigarettes; meal tickets; booze for our friends.

Can we see you on the road this year at all?

Not 2018…well maybe but I don't know. Not an answer, I know. 2019 for sure.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Do your own shows, book your own parties and the rest will come.

IN THIS PHOTO: Art d’Ecco/PHOTO CREDIT: @dailycitytrain

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Art d'Ecco is a Vancouver band that caught me by surprise. You know when your friends tell you to check out their band and you do and you're like “OK, cool". This one I was like "Oh, sh*t".

Do you both get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Yeah; too much time but it's healthy because once you get back into it you feel fresh and inspired.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Mam Yinne Wa - Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy