Interview by grant
This is why I listen to amazing music, to be able to talk to the people who make it and try to ask some halfway intelligent questions. Ok, so I really strive to be able to make intelligible sounds when I talk to them. I am kind of shy around people… it’s okay, I’ll get over it… But enough about me, this is about three little words, all of them the same, except the last one is plural… That’s right… the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
At the last minute, after begging for tickets to see them in Los Angeles at the long-sold-out Troubadour show, I was awarded with a chance to talk with Mr. Nick Zinner over the modern contrivance of the telephone… Man, is this the modern age or what?
What is there to say about the YYY’s that hasn’t been found in hundreds of VICE magazine reviews and Pitchfork news stories/ads? Well, there is plenty and I feel like I have barely scratched the surface with Mr. Zinner. But here goes…
For the record, can you please state your full name and your occupation:
Nick… Nicholas Zinner. And I am the guitarist for the YYYs.
For the record, can you also confirm or deny that you were at the Mogwai/Isis show at the Los Angeles Knitting Factory earlier this year?
(Seems mildly surprised… good icebreaker for me) Yes… it was after a long bus trip… ended up going at the last minute because Isis is one of my favorite bands…
Happy New Years - any new years resolutions?
Don’t usually make them… I make declarations but not long term plans and such… As a joke, I used to tell people that my new year’s resolution was to grow taller…
As is the style for the end of a year and the beginning of the new one, what were your favorite things from 2003?
It was probably the most amazing year of my life – so much happened this year that it is hard to list… Right off, from the first week in January, I was in England, finishing the mixing of our record (Fever to Tell) … from there, it was a blur… we had to decide on a label to release it (more on that later) and then touring like crazy…
You ended up doing a lot of stuff last year…your book, your work on TV on the Radio, what did you think of those?
That started with an idea I had with two other friends – collaborating on a book with my photos, another’s poetry, and the last one’s design… It is available online from the publisher, Evil Twin Publications, and at some smaller indie books. It’s called Slept-In Beds and has a lot of photos of every bed I slept in for that year.
TV on the Radio is an amazing band and Young Liars is probably the best EP ever recorded. It was awesome to work on and Dave Sitek is a good friend and co-produced our record, so we owed him.
What are you looking forward to in 2004? What will the Yeah Yeah Yeahs be doing in 2004?
We are looking forward to taking a break for awhile and then settling down and writing new songs. We are really determined to not go over the same territory that we have done before. There will be lots of collaborations and other projects. I think 2004 will be the most creative year for the band… Karen has some work with Har Mar Superstar, as well as some other surprises. I have some recording to do with Bright Eyes and Brian Chase has his other band, The Seconds, as well as a jazz combo in the city.
You guys seem to have really done everything the way you wanted to… released what you wanted when you wanted and had the right exposure and such… is that the case or would you have done anything different up to this point?
Less press, definitely less press and ads. The hype made us feel like we were instantly going to go platinum or something… Sure, it was grounds upon which we signed with Interscope that we would have this exposure. We definitely have decided to take business aspects more seriously. But we still have to learn from each day. Definitely fix the website, though.
Decision to go with Interscope, was that a difficult decision?
It was a big gamble and difficult for everybody. We have always had huge love and respect for Touch and Go and Corey. It was a business decision but it was so hard for us because our dealings with him were always personal. We were crying on the phone when we talked to him and he gave us his blessings before we made the final decision. Full understanding and support from Touch and Go was the only way we were going to continue, and we always want to work them somehow from now on.
What is up with these two ridiculous shows you are putting on? NYC with the Black Dice, Liars and Devendara Barnhart and then LA with Har Mar and the Fallen… Is this the reward for success, you get to play amazing music with other amazing musicians?
I guess so, this is our chance to really curate a couple of shows. We are a little nervous because that it is going to be our first big hometown show in 7 months. Then the Los Angeles show is with our good friend Har Mar Superstar and the Fallen, who are on the Buddyhead label. (whom the YYYs contributed what was their first song written together as a band. It appears on the Buddyhead compilation “Gimme Shelter”)
Then it is on to Jimmy Kimmel… Are you doing one of those outside performances or inside… I saw Marilyn Manson and Liz Phair do theirs…very hot for different reasons…
Yeah, I don’t know if we are outside or inside or what.
Let’s switch gears to guitar geek stuff…. What kind of set-up do you prefer to use? Guitars, amps, pedals, effects, tell me everything….unleash some secrets…
Pretty simple setup… two amps and a Fender strat, with maybe a little delay. And a really good sound guy – Steve, which is so important for a band to keep up their live sound themselves and not depend on clubs and venue staff.
Now he is just being modest and I nervously get off the phone, thanking him profusely and going back to dreaming of tickets to the Troubadour show.