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I don't think straight with nothing to prove.
If you haven't heard of fun. by now, well, you're missing out. As a band formed from members of The Format, Anathallo and Steel Train, the New York threesome quickly became one of the most critically acclaimed artists of 2009, with their debut album 'Aim and Ignite' being praised as 'the most essential pop album' of the year. After spending the last few months touring America with the likes of Jack's Mannequin and Paramore, they brought their brand of luxurious and fulfilling pop music to UK shores for a second time; hitting up venues and festivals all around the country. We had a quick catch up with pianist and keyboardist (among a few other instruments...) Andrew Dost when they arrved back home.
OS: How are you today?
Andrew Dost [backing vocals/ piano/ keyboard/ trumpet]: I'm a little under the weather! I cleaned the basement, which made my allergies go nuts. Other than that I'm very content.
OS: You recently finished up a tour of the UK - how was that as an experience?
Andrew: It was wonderful. We got to play Dot-to-Dot [Festival] which was amazing, I got to see Mystery Jets and that was a treat.
OS: Before you headed to the UK, you played some massive arena shows alongside Paramore in the US. What were those like to play? What's it like to go from playing such massive arenas to fairly small rooms in the space of a week?
Andrew: Both situations are very nice in their own ways. The giant shows with Paramore were great, and hopefully lots of new people became fans, but there's nothing like playing a small room and really feeling like everyone there is on board with what you're doing.
OS: The album 'Aim and Ignite' just came out in the UK. What did you want to achieve/say with the album? Did you have any particular influences, musically and lyrically?
Andrew: I think when we wrote this record we were really just getting to know each other musically. More than anything else we just had fun writing together, rather than trying to achieve or say anything in particular. It was more about learning to work together as a unit. The next record will be a bit different as far as that goes - we know what we can do, and probably can focus our sound more. Influences are all over the place for us. I think the obvious ones are Queen, ELO, and the Beatles, but I guess you could throw Tegan and Sara, Van Morrison, and Weezer in there too.
OS: A line from 'All The Pretty Girls' stuck out to me in particular: "Don't make me face my generation alone." Do you feel that Aim and Ignite holds a strong social commentary?
Andrew: At times. It's hard to know what's intentional social commentary or when you're just writing what you think and feel. It can be the same thing. We're not necessarily a politically-minded band by any means, but I think when you try and write as honestly as you can, sometimes commentary comes out.
OS: With pop being a genre sometimes treated with disdain, how do you feel being referred to as makers of pop music?
Andrew: I like it. I'm not ashamed of trying to make pop songs. It does get a weird connotation, but I think there's also a degree of respect that has come back to pop. People are realizing Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson are legit.
OS: How has it been as a band to function in the shadow of your previous works? How natural was the move from those projects to fun.?
Andrew: I think anyone that does anything in the world will always be comparing it to what they've done before. The move has felt really natural and we love the music we make, so if people think it's not as strong hopefully they'll come around too.
OS: Quite quickly, you've become renowned as a popular favourite for many current musicians - is there any pressure through that?
Andrew: Yes and no. The pressure, at least for me personally, isn't in the music. Hopefully other musicians will always like what we make. The main thing is that it's hard to meet people that expect you to be cool or social. I'm pretty painfully shy and awkward, so whenever we tour with other bands it takes me about 2 months to get to know anyone, which is usually too late!
OS: The record itself is fairly theatrical, and so makes it fresh to listen to. Was that a conscious decision? Do you think that fun. is filling a specific gap in the current music scene?
Andrew: It wasn't really conscious, I think we all sort of have theatrical tendencies so it just sort of came out. I don't know that there's a gap, there are a few other bands that have made Broadway-ish records lately - My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the Disco to name the most famous examples.
OS: Where do you think you'd like to go with the next record?
Andrew: To the top of the charts.
OS: What's the next step for fun.? Do you have any solid future plans?
Andrew: We're going to tour in the fall then hopefully settle down to write.
'Aim and Ignite' is out now on Hassle Records.
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