MySpace: White Rabbits

Having recently toured with Fiery Furnaces and now working their way across the world, NEN managed to briefly grab Matt Clark from White Rabbits for a chat about sterotyping and a global takeover…

What was it like working with Britt Daniel?

It was great. He has a good head on his shoulders, and would make a good producer if he ever decided to take a break from rocking. He listened to us and vice versa. That is a really important thing to have in the studio. Ultimately it was really nice working with a friend who’s ear you trust that also happens to be a very talented person.

You have often been linked with The Specials – who else would you say you are influenced by?

Yeah… that one stuck. We listen to a lot of different types of music like most musicians. We definitely like The Specials but I wouldn’t say they are our end all be all. On It’s Frightening we were inspired more by things outside of music. We were looking more at how certain albums make you feel, and trying to learn from that. Looking at what makes a great album great.

What’s been the highlight of your most recent tour?
We met a lot of bands in places outside of music venues. Crossing borders, hotels, restaurants – you name it we met them there.

As you’ve toured round America and the world – have you found any cultural sterotypes to be true?

God no. What are you trying to do to me? I always try to take anybody I meet at face value and not lump a certain group of people together based on something that is out of their control. That’s bigotry…and nobody likes a bigot.

Your new album is called “It’s Frightening” – does anyone in the band have any irrational fears?

Personally speaking. I’m pretty paranoid at times. I plan for the worst and hope for the best. I suppose I have a healthy amount of paranoia. If there is such a thing.

Would you describe yourselves as ‘fans’ of your label-mates Radiohead? Do you think it’s an odd band for you to be linked with?

Yes. But I don’t think it is “odd” to be on the same label as a band I really admire. I thought that was kinda the point. To try to be associated with the “bands of our generation”. We share labels with a lot of good bands and that’s exactly were we want to be.

What are your aims for the New Year?

Work. Try to write while on the road. Which is really hard to do. Not die.

What’s more important to you – massive success worldwide, but forgotten in the States, or mild success in the US and unheard of elsewhere?

I don’t know. I think we will let the US and the world figure that one out. I hope they come to a peaceful solution.

You’ve done a notable number of cover versions in your live set – how do you decide what songs to cover? Have you any planned which you haven’t done yet?

We fight over it until one persons choice is left and then we jump on board. It’s not like we would suggest a song that we didn’t like. The only cover that we worked on and never played was “Barbaqutie” by Sparks.

By Michael Cooper