At the forefront of the indie/dance crossover, the Rapture have been making waves since their unique brand of rock ‘n’ roll hit radio waves in 2002. Originally from the DFA school of ‘punk-funk’ in New York, the Rapture broke out with the release of their highly anticipated and critically acclaimed debut album ‘Echoes’. But upon a closer listen to their debut album, there were signposts to more different styles and ideas than that of their hit single ‘House of Jealous Lovers’. The album showed a range of influences and stylistic ideas, from John Lennon style piano ballads to ethereal punk chants more akin to Mars Volta than LCD Soundsystem. Fast forward to 2006 and the Rapture have explored even more territory with their follow up, ‘Pieces of the People We Love’. Leaving behind the punk-funk production of DFA for which they are known, they have put a more eclectic bunch of producers in charge, from hip hop maestro Danger Mouse (of Gnarls Barkley fame) to Paul Epsworth (Phones, The Bloc Party) and remix king Ewan Pearson.
Despite the new producers at the helm, the album still retains that distinct Rapture sound. The school boy wailing of Luke Jenner (guitar/vocals), the ever so funky basslines and the danceable drum rhythms all topped off with a naive punk attitude that injects life into the songs, making them experiences in time. Matt Safer, the Rapture’s bass player, describes the recording experience as a lot of fun, simply because “you’re doing what you love, and especially when you do it with the people you love.” The process of recording the album was a very collaborative effort within the band and their producers. And whilst at times there were moments of disagreement, the respect that the Rapture share with each other and their producers keeps the boys eyes on the bigger picture.
Talk quickly turns to Matt’s hometown of New York – a place he doesn’t get to see very often due to the band’s international status. The Rapture started out like many bands, in the garage. Playing at parties with the DFA boys and dreaming about making it to the big time, Matty talks about this time as a great period of exchanging ideas and influences, and the catalyst to the development of their unique sound. Matty Safer and Vito (drummer) are also DJs in their own right, which could be attributed to the dance orientation of their music. I ask Matty what artists are pushing his buttons at the moment, and he digs through his record box to name check an eclectic bunch of producers with the likes of Stefan Goldman, Derrick Carter, Switch, Greg Wilson and Escort. On the topic of Escort (a studio project from New York), Matty informs me of a remix they are to do for the local disco band. It seems to me that New York still is a fertile place for creative endeavors, with so many bands hitting the big time, although Matty tells that the government’s “quality of health” initiative (which makes it illegal for people to dance in clubs without a cabaret license) does hinder the scene a lot. That being said, it simply forces the creativity to sprout from the depths of New York’s underworld instead. This can be seen manifest in the roller-skating rink where the Rapture shot their new single, as it’s been a breeding ground for many upcoming hip hop artists.
So… what now then? With a new album in tow also comes the subsequent touring and promotion. Recently the band played a string of shows supporting the Killers in the UK. This was a change of scene for the boys as they were playing for a crowd who had no idea who they were, and with musical tastes that were (for lack of a better word) fashionable. The difference, as Matty describes, between the following of each band was that, whilst their audience go to gigs and clubs on a regular basis, the Killers fans do not. But, despite the change in scene, the band’s attitude towards the gig was no different. They just “play[ed] their instruments as best as they can,” with as much enthusiasm as ever. Which is exactly what we can expect from Matty this summer when he touches down for an eagerly anticipated DJ tour, prior to a full blow live tour with The Rapture in March for the V Festival. The festival boasts big names like Gnarls Barkley (the same producer for the Rapture) and the Pixies, and I ask Matt if he has seen the newly reformed Pixies. He gave them nothing but rave reviews, mentioning that they don’t get lost in nostalgia and play their instruments better than ever before.
Matty B Safer undertakes an exclusive DJ tour of Australia over the coming month:
Dec 29 – Gold Coast, Berlin Lounge
Dec 31 – Adelaide, Rocket Bar (w/ Ewan Pearson)
Jan 1 – Perth, Sun Electric
Jan 5 – Brisbane, The Met
Jan 6 – Sydney, Havana
He’ll then return early in 2007 to appear at the V Festival, with The Rapture in tow for the full live extravaganza:
Mar 31 – Sydney, Centennial Park
Apr 1 – Gold Coast, AVICA Resort
