Tell me what you guys are all about? How would you classify Fear For Fever?
Fear for Fever is made up of 3 permanent people, Salvador, Jesus (the VJ) and myself , we put the tunes together and then we collaborate with other musicians. Sometimes up to 7 of us on stage at one time. I think that we are something different and perhaps cannot be classified as yet.
How and why did you decide to mix guitar music and dance electronica together, what are your influences?
Well, they are my two favourite styles of music and although they have been crossed over before, with the odd tune on an album or a funky re-mix of a guitar track but never something that satisfied me. So it was an exploration into marrying the two genres and feeding my own need for something that turned me on.
You played last year at The Good Ship with Kate Nash before she rocketed up the pop charts. Can you see Fear For Fever reaching that sort of pop success?
(Ali hesitates)… Maybe not exactly pop success, it’s really all about playing live and creating a vibe rather than worrying about record sales.
Ok, if you saw your band as a punter and not as a member, would you think Fear For Fever could reach that sort of popularity?
Hopefully but it's not something we worry about
Do you think the flagging popularity of the super club and the rise of the live music guitar scene in this country leaves a need for a band that gives you music you can get wasted and stamp your feet to but with a band, real people to identify with, performing live? Was this your intention?
Absolutely, my favourite moments from festivals have been wandering in to a tent, hearing a funky dance beat but with a band there, rocking out, playing it live.
Can you give me an example of such a band?
Yeah Chick Chick Chick at Glastonbury last year were amazing, I just happened to wander into their tent and loved it. The combination of the energy of live performance and the driving dance beats is really exciting but, apart from those rare festival moments, we felt there was nothing conclusive and I think that’s exactly what we have achieved and with the visual show we have taken it to another level.
And what about your lyrics, are you trying to make a statement? Do you have a cause? Or do you write from emotional experience?
I used to want to change the world with my lyrics, I wrote with a very social/political voice but more recently I’ve been unconsciously writing lyrics, letting things come out. It’s funny when I look back over lyrics I’ve written that I thought at the time had no deep meaning necessarily but then in hindsight, realised that it spoke volumes about something I was unconsciously feeling at the time, which later came to light.
You guys are hosting a night of live music and Dj/Vjs called Daddy Macs on Friday 15th February at the Gramophone, Commercial St, in Shorditch. Tell me something about what prompted you to set this up?
The visuals has a massive amount to do with it, we have played in bars and it doesn’t work very well so we decided to set up our own party, where we could really put on the sort of show we really want.
And who will be your audience?
Uplifting, non pretentious, no hassle, let it all hang out party people, who are open to new experiences and want to dance all night.
What else is happening on the night?
A great line up of djs and live music, going on a journey from a 90’s indie warm-up set to a a tough electro vibe. A collaboration of like minded musicians, djs and vjs, everything dance orientated. All in all it’s going to be a great party atmosphere.
Jesus the Vj who peforms with you, how integral is he to your live act ? and does the visual aspect influence the music making process?
The visuals are totally influential, they are part of the music. The grand design is to be scene scapey, to be able to trip out or dance, get into the visuals and heighten the senses. It’s all connected and part of the experience.
Finally, what does the future hold. If your phone was to ring right now and the best possible opportunity was offered to the band. What would it be and who would be offering it?
I would love us to go on the road, to play as many gigs as possible. To not have to worry about record sales and chart numbers.
Can you think of an artist that achieves that sort of thing?
Someone like DJ shadow, his music is everywhere but people wouldn’t necessarily recognise him in the street, that’s the ideal. I don’t think too hard about that sort of thing, you just never know what’s aound the corner, it’s about making music, influencing people and if people get it, then great
.
Well Ali thanks for talking to me, is there anything you’d like to say that we haven’t covered?
Yeah, come and party with a smile on your face.