Asian Dan

RSS

Asian Dan Q&A: Gypsy & The Cat

I’ve been a fan of this Australian duo, Gypsy & The Cat since they hit the blogosphere about a year ago. A perfect blend of that Oceanian musical sensibility that takes in elements of 60s carefree pop, 70s FM radio pop, 80s synth pop and everything else that is catchy in between. I hear a lot of Fleetwood Mac in their music, as I do in a lot of Australian bands (Empire of the Sun, Van She) but there is also a touch of 90s pop. Overall a carefree pop sound that is perfect for the upcoming summer sunshine. Lionel and Xavier took some time to answer a few questions to get you all acquainted with their sound – a brief peak into their musical minds. Also checkout a playlist the two of them compiled of some of their favorite tunes.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/Gypsy%20&%20The%20Cat/Unknown%20Album/Jona%20Vark.mp3]
Gypsy & The Cat – Jona Vark

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/Gypsy%20&%20The%20Cat/Unknown%20Album/’Til%20Tomorrow.mp3]
Gypsy & The Cat – ‘Til Tomorrow

Asian Dan Q&A: Gypsy & The Cat:

1. Who is Gypsy & The Cat? How would you describe your music?

Xavier: Gypsy is indiscriminate, whatever anyone feels, its not for us to decide. Sonically I’d like to think that the music yields a title of melodic electronic soft rock, but once you inhale the breath of the album, things change. Who knows maybe hardcore? I’ll let you decide!

Lionel: Gypsy & The Cat is basically 2 friends who just want to make good music and share it with the world!!! it’s a blend of different genres and influences but ultimately lies within a rock/ folk electronic landscape.

2. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

Xavier: Jeff Buckley is a standout influence, even though its so hard to pinpoint because we are just so amazed by many artists, Jeff tells great honest stories in such a musical way. Every chord, lyric, vocal melody just fits like a jigsaw: a picture is born.

Lionel: Musical: Bach, if it wasn’t for Bach, music wouldn’t be where it is today!! Michael Jackson (the king of pop), Led Zeppelin (the kings of rock), Coldplay (a band who makes me feel the most, and whose music i connect with on so many levels), Justice (the magicians of production), ABBA (little can compare to genius of their songwriting and amazing wall of sound), non-musical: Bruce Lee, Stanley Kubrick (both influences i’ve grown up with)

3. What was your first musical memory?

Xavier: Probably birth!
Lionel: Crying on the way to my first piano lesson. I was 7

4. You have a very distinct 70s vibe and sound with touches of 80s pop/new wave, I hear a lot of Fleetwood Mac in your music – what is your favourite musical decade? Why?

Xavier: Hmm, the 80’s. With Jackson, The Police, Queen, Tears For Fears, its pretty hard to ignore for me! What timeless songwriting.
Lionel: The 70’s… I think that’s when rock and disco were at it’s best!!! songs weren’t watered down like most are today and lot’s more care was taken into writing strong hooks and pushing boundaries.

5. Your music is very visual. I picture a very 70s “Yacht Rock” scene in my head with he ocean wind blowing in my hair. I can even see a scene from an 80s John Huges film – any specific visual elements, TV shows or films that influence your music?

Xavier: My film taste and visual influences can tend to be quite flippant, although I live in the country, so films like Into The Wild and documentaries like The BBC’s planet earth really get me going. Shows like that present in the sentiment and aestheic of Gypsy.

Lionel: We were watching the BBC earth documentaries at the time of writing, the film ‘Baraka’ also comes to memory… but it’s hard to say how influential these films were, i guess our film taste is also very broad so it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific visual. I can totally see where your coming from though with the John Hughes visual!

6. What are your top 5 favorite 70s /80s FM radio tunes?
Xavier: Ooh, Please dont make me answer that!

Lionel:
1. Michael Jackson – Off the wall
2. Led Zeppelin – Stairway to heaven
3. Bee Gees – Nights on Broadway
4. Pink Floyd – The Wall
5. Toto – Lea

7. Your top 5 pop tunes of all time?

Xavier: Ohh the pain! maybe, just maybe:
Jeff Buckley – Mojo Pin
Michael Jackson – Human Nature
Jeff Buckley – Last Goodbye
Joy Division – Love will tear us apart
Ryan Adam – Wonderwall

Lionel: Wow there are so many factors to this question, and i should probably put a whole heap of Beatles songs here but that probably wouldn’t be fair…and i’m not necessarily going to pick my favourite but what i would consider to be the “top” based on overall songwriting, performance, production, and how big an impact the song made:
1. Michael Jackson – Thriller
2. ABBA – Dancing Queen
3. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
4. U2 – Beautiful Day
5. John Lennon – Imagine

8. Future plans for Gypsy and The Cat?
Touring and the release of the album. Can’t wait!!!

Gypsy & The Cat Playlist:
Justice – Planisphere pt2
Michael Jackson – Human Nature
Jeff Buckley – Mojo Pin
[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/icehouse%20-%20great%20southern%20land.mp3]
Icehouse – Great Southern Land
Royksopp – Royksopp Forever
Air – Universal Traveller
The Killers – Read My Mind
The Police – Every Breath You Take
Simon & Garfunkel – Sound Of Silence
M83 – Kim & Jessie
The Bee Gees – Night Fever

5 Comments, Comment or Ping

Reply to “Asian Dan Q&A: Gypsy & The Cat”