Interview with People of Santiago

On the 16th of January 2008 Newcastle Student Radio had the pleasure of interviewing the local band People of Santiago. The atmosphere of the interview was pleasant, held in the café part of the Cluny. The interview was not static it seemed like we had a good question round in between friends.

How long have you been together as a band?
Andy: We have been making music together for two and a half years but only about one in the current lineup.
Sparky: We tied out some people, sacked them…

So you give them a trial time like in football?
Sparky: They don’t fit in you got to put them in the outside team, so yes like football.

On the topic of football, do you do any sports?
Andy: I play some football.
Sparky: I try to run. I am good at the Sauna.

Is that a sport?
Sparky: It gives you a good sweat

What’s your favorite food?
Phil: Pizza
Sparky: Family size of Galaxy
Phil: Doesn’t that make you sick?
Sparky: I like it when it melts
Andy: I like all food

Matt joining us a bit late
Matt: I’m Matt from people of Santiago, I had to do my hair!

Is that why you are late for my interview?
Matt: I had champagne


What’s your favorite band?
Phil: Simply red
Sparky: Just like songs

What’s your favorite song then?
Sparky: At the moment? Velvet underground
Matt: I really don’t know
Sparky: I think he likes the Sugarbabes and Sugarcubes

Do you like Joy Division?
Andy: Yes I like Joy Division.
Matt: slipknot
Sparky: I like the Cure, a bit of Depeche Mode, a little bit of Kraftwerk.
Andy: We like a spectrum of music.
Matt: We all like different things.
Sparky: I like TV.

What are your favorite TV series?
Matt: I like friends
Sparky: Scrubs
Matt: Shooting stars, it’s back on

Sparky: Do you watch films?
Yes Kevin Smith films
Matt: Oh he is great! There is a new one coming out isn’t there?
Sparky: I prefer films to music but well I play the guitar

Would you rather act than be in a band? (To Sparky)
Sparky: Yes if I could do it

(...)
Sparky: I like the John Copland film, Halloween the thing
80s horror movies
Andy: that’s where we steal our tunes

You steal your tunes from films?
Sparky: They are forgotten movies

So, your music is it influenced by films?
Andy: All music is to be fair I think
Matt: Except for McFly
Sparky: We just strip down film soundtracks

If you were pork what would you like to be worked into?
Andy: I’d be bacon
Andy: We are all vegetarians and we all like the environment

Where would you go if you could have a concert anywhere in the world?
Sparky: America and Japan … Each band member in a different state
Matt: No point in going to France, or to Germany, Germans like Hasselhoff too much.
Sparky: I think we would do well in Germany
Matt: We had a number one in Czech republic
Sparky: I’d play Australia, Steve Irving Memorial concert or something

After the interview we went into the venue and tried hard to sell some merchandise, by the end of the night we managed to sell a couple of singles, they also managed to get me drunk. The fact that I was drunk makes it rather hard to recall the entire gig. I have no real memory of the opening bands. What I do remember is that People of Santiago put on a really good set, paying the deeds to their electro rock forefathers Dave Gahan, Robert Smith and Ian Curtis amongst others. They are definitely a band worth seeing play live.

Solveig Werner