Niki & The Dove's worst interview
- By Jack Preston -
- May 14, 2012
Following on from their first interview, Malin and Gustaf of Niki & The Dove tell Red Room all about their worst times, including different coloured noise at gigs and lame journalists…
The worst Niki & The Dove review? Gustaf: It was after this show in Norway, the whole band thought it had been a really good show and we were really pleased with it. Then the day after the journalist was really lame and said we hadn’t met his high expectations, you get surprised when that happens more than anything. Everyone says that they don’t get affected by reviews and they don’t matter but that’s just not true, I feel sad if we don’t get a good review. That’s why I think that I’ve only read three or four in my life.
The worst thing about making the album? Malin: It was coming to realise that it’s not all just a wonderful experience, you have to work so hard in the studio to get what you want. We’re very happy with the end result but to get there is hard and exhausting, at the same time it was so very exciting. I love writing music and spending time in the studio producing. It isn’t supposed to be some wonderful experience, it’s hard work.
The worst arguments we have? Gustaf: It always about the details of our work, such as the synth sounds or drumbeats – we have really big arguments about that at times. Although we’re both always happy with the finished results, it’s the details which can divide you at times.
The worst gig we’ve played? Malin: That was in Oslo, Norway. I remember having real problems, I wasn’t allowed to speak at all as I had very bad throat problems and then when I tried to sing I sounded like a crow. We didn’t have a proper sound check, during the gig all you could hear was white noise, except it wasn’t white. It was purple, red, blue, green noise – just coloured noise.
Gustaf: It all sounded so horrible, I remember pressing down on the keys and this noise just came out and all I could hear was things cracking up with distortion. Afterwards we were just so angry but the funny thing was, the next day we got a really splendid review where the journalist thought we were great. I was like “what? Did he go to the wrong show or something?”
The worst record I bought? Gustaf: Oh there’s so many, actually the first record I bought was possibly the worst looking back. Electric Boogaloo. [Red Room thinks Gustav just wants to say the name again after enjoying it so much the first time round]
What’s next for us? Malin: We’re not the type of band or people who sit down and talk about what we want to achieve or set ourselves defined goals. The main thing is to try and try really hard to keep developing, you know what you want to do but it doesn’t end up how you want in life. The goal is always try to better yourself next time you do something and reach for what you hear in your head, that’s the vision that I have.
Gustaf: We’re a band that tries to be honest. You’re on thin ice if you try too hard to create escapism or something magical, you need to make music that’s true to yourself and the audience. You need to be honest and if those things then come naturally then it’s all the more interesting, we absolutely do not go out with creating that in mind. We’ve got to work hard at sticking to that outlook.
Did you enjoy those worst times? How about some more from; The Ting Tings, We Are Augustines, Katie Melua, The Jezabels, Sleigh Bells, Kyla La Grange, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Blood Red Shoes, Charlie Simpson, The Futureheads, Lostprophets, Tom Williams & The Boat, Andrew W.K. or Ane Brun?
By Jack Preston. Senior Content Executive. Tweets at @JackPressedOn
