Innerpartysystem Interview

I interviewed the Philadelphia band Innerpartysystem before their sold out gig at Academy 2 in Newcastle on February 2nd.
I started the interview by asking how they met up. In their eyes it was an uninteresting story as they met in school. When Pat (the singer) started writing songs, they decided to form a band. Initially they got into music thanks to their family members (3 generations!). Innerpartysystem is such a long word, which caused me to bring up the question where it comes from. And of course it comes from “1984” by George Orwell, their only literary influence. When I listen to ISP I tend to wonder what exactly this music is. In their eyes or maybe ears they are not: Salsa, classical, and definitely not metal, but they are electronic rock, dance music, most of all they see their music as POP music.
When I brought up the difference with the local music scene, which features Dr. Dog and Man Man and many more, they just said that they simply don’t fit in anywhere. Today they are a different band then when they were on the first day. These days they don’t fuss about who they do shows with, as long as it is a huge, and good show, but they would really like to play with the Gorillas. Momentarily it would take them a lot to go out and see a band.
As I am a bit nosy I wanted to know what is the best thing about being in a band. For them the most fun things are that they get to play awesome shows, travel and meet crazy people. But most of all for them it is the being IMMATURE. They “fuck around a lot”, wearing ripped clothes, not showering for days (5 or so). Being in a band is “a ticket to be such a looser”. And they do not have to get up early.
But being in a band isn’t just easy and fun, it comes with challenges. For them they are playing the best shows they possibly can, before the tour it was making the best record possible. When on tour their equipment tends to break, not making their life easier. As a band they really live hand to mouth, some of them don’t even have bank accounts anymore. In their eyes it must cost about $5000 a month just to breathe. The record label does not care about them eating, it is only interested in the band selling albums. Another hard thing for them is self-discipline, getting up to write when at home for a week.
Lately they have been listening to: Adam Sky, Bjork, Bloc Party, Bon Jovi, Death Metal, Jazz, Jimmy Eat World, they don’t listen to Old County (ok Johnny Cash they are cool with), or Opera. When asked whom we should stay on the lookout for they mentioned following bands: Paper Route who they toured with, and are a more electronic version of Coldplay, or could be said to be a different form of Band of Horses. 3Oh!3 who are going on their first UK tour opening for Katy Perry, which will most likely boost their popularity. And finally Friendly Fires who don’t really need a shout-out, but ISP really like them.

Interview by Solveig Werner

Innerpartysystem Interview by Solveig