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Racoon

This Dutch band recently released their first album and already directly via a major label, earning the deal just by sending in a demo. Racoon will definitely be one of this year's bands that you will see play everywhere this summer. Having a busy schedule already, KindaMuzik spoke with frontman Bart after their fourth gig in three days.

Tekst: Dennis Elbers

Publicatiedatum: 04 mei 2000

I have see you play three of these four gigs you had and you seem so energetic everytime, don't you ever get tired?
"Very, I'm glad this is the last one and that I can sleep all day tomorrow. That thought gives me enough energy to have some more fun tonight. "

How do you deal with each gig?
"Every gig we just do our thing and every gig something happens what makes that gig different from the others. When something goes wrong we just laugh and play on. We don't play on autopilot."

What do you think of this immediate fuss in your life?
"We don't see it as success or something like that. We handle this situation very sober, we are Dutch! I think we are still growing into this. We just want to play a lot!"

I think you make great festival music, will it be a busy summer for the band?
"We just hope so, if it's up to us it will be a nice summer."

How would you discribe your music?
"As honest. We don't want to place ourselves in just one category. We make the music we like, but we also want as many people as possible to like our music. There isn't really a name to discribe our music. All four of us have very different influences, this just results in a very broad kind of music."

The lyrics deal with every-day-life. Do you need to be in a special mood to write the songs?
"No, the lyrics handle about every-day-life, because they were written during every-day-life. We don't need to be in a special mood to write music. Almost everything that happens inspires us to make music. We just want to make nice songs and we want to do that as often and as long as possible."

You said that you all have very different influences, but are there in your opinion bands we should listen to?
"Just one, a New York based band called Lotion. They have got two records out, but are not very well known. I sure like them, really my kinda muzik!"

Now that you signed with a major label, can you live from making music?
"Not really. We still have to work about three days a week. We rehears once a week, the rest of the week we are on the road."

Are there some things that were not possible before, but are possible now, since you are with a major record label?
"Yes, some weeks back we went to Marocco to shoot a video. We had our own concept for this video and is slightly adjusted by someone from the label. We were very excited about this videoshoot!"

The album sounds very high-fi, has the label had any influence on that?
"No, we are very happy with our album, but I can understand that some people think it is a bit too high-fi, but the album was recorded live! Our producer, Michel Schoots (ex-Urban Dance Squad), wanted perfect live songs, only sometimes vocals were added later. Although the album was recorded live there is a big difference between the album and your gigs. When performing live my voice sounds a bit more raw and the guitars are a bit louder. We like this when we play live, but wanted to make an album that a lot of people would like."

What can we expect from Racoon in the future?
"A lot! A lot of gigs and a lot of albums. What we are doing now is what we want to do forever. We will stick together for always, we are all best friends, so be aware!"

http://www.kindamuzik.net/interview/racoon/racoon/400/
Meer Racoon op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/racoon