5th Feb, 2009
For Yves Klein Blue, the past 12 months has been a whirlwind.
Hold on to your hats fellas, the next 12 months look set to offer much the same.
In the last year, the Brisbane four-piece released their EP ‘Yves Klein Blue Draw Attention To Themselves’ and saw their single ‘Polka ‘being used in a Lancer car commercial.
Not bad for a band yet to release their debut album.
This year will see the band release their much anticipated debut album. However, before this happens, Yves Klein Blue will head back to university for The Big O music festival.
Teaming with UK outfits The Music and The Fratellis, The Big O Festival kicks off later this month.
Before Yves Klein Blue headed off on tour, singer and guitarist Michael Tomlinson took some time out to chat.
How have things been going for your guys in 2009? Has it been a busy year so far?
It seems like it has been non-stop! There has been so much to do in preparation for this final leg of recording, and with so many wonderful bands touring the country at the moment! I leave sleep too long but you have to keep on when opportunity knocks I suppose.
You have had a great response to your single, Polka, which has been used on the Lancer car commercial. How did this come about?
They asked us if they could use the tune for the ad and we thought it was pretty cool. Our buddy Darren is on screen, maybe he had something to do with it (if he did, we owe him a drink).
Would you have thought that a song called Polka would suit a car ad? If you could use your music to promote a product, what would it be?
Well actually no, I hadn’t considered it – it’s strange when you consider the subject matter. But actually I think it’s a fairly neat fit – after all music is about more than the words. Perhaps it could have been used to advertise a Greek Restaurant, everyone could be doing that dance you do a Paniyiri (a greek festival in Brisbane with EXCELLENT haloumi and octopus) and the jingle could go “if you’re feeling that way now, or if you ever feel so inclined….Get down to Chris’ Souvlaki Palace! Discount for students and pensioners! Etc! Actually, now that I think about it the car ad is probably better. That’s why I’m not in marketing anymore (it was my first calling). Perhaps the best fit for our music promoting ourselves (OH ROFL! HOW DROLL.) (Sorry)
You probably get this question all the time, but where did your band name come from?
There was a French artist called Yves Klein who, inspired by the ocean he grew up beside in Nice created a colour of blue in conjunction with chemists that he patented International Klein Blue. The colour is remarkable as it looks the same dry as it does wet, and does not fade over time like other paint. We named our band after this colour as we have aspirations that our music will have the same lasting quality, just like all of our favourite music that is still listened to decades after it was first dreamed of. We’re certainly not saying we do, but we give it our best shot.
Incidentally and incredibly we were lucky enough to see one of Yves Klein’s paintings in the MOMA in NYC, and we were all very glad that we chose this weird, weird name! If you get the chance to find out a little of Yves Klein, he is a very interesting man. Aside from being a great artist he once threw thousands of dollars worth of pure gold into the Seine and was a black belt in judo.
You’re playing The Big O series of shows. In line with touring the Aussie universities, if you could chose to be taught a subject by The Music or The Fratellis who would you choice and what subject would they teach you?
The Fratellis, they could teach us the natural sciences.
If you could suggest a subject to be taught at Aussie universities, what would it be?
I don’t think there is anything the arts faculty doesn’t teach! In all seriousness I don’t know, I kind of feel like the amount of subject at university could be reduced – I find there is a lot of repetition between subjects within faculties which seems at times just to serve to extend the length of time you are there. Some others I find are ill equipped except to deliver a view on things with a particular slant that only allows for a fixed interpretation of the material – especially in subjects concerned with fiction. I found the established faculties like the law school to be very well run and there the failing was in myself, however I do feel there are some other things you just can’t teach in a criterion based marking schedule. In reality though nothing is perfect and everyone does their best, I imagine a university is a very difficult thing to run.
If you could cover a song or an album of a band either living or dead, what would you chose?
A whole record? Wow. Ok, well it would need to be something incredible. If we could play Exodus by Marley or Born to Run, or Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” (that live release). Something with vast and beautiful sounds and verve. It must have been so overwhelming to have all that sound exploding around you.
What’s the next big thing for you in 2009? (ie new album, international tour)
We’re going to be releasing our FIRST ALBUM (whoa), which is daunting and exciting. It’s so strange to think, my buddy has a salary and another a child and we’re about to have a record – you never think it but life seems to make you ready for these things sooner or later. We will go overseas again, just to give the airlines another pass at flogging our guitars.
If you weren’t making music, what would you do with your time?
Right now I’d be entering my final year of Arts/Law at UQ, It’s scary to think all my friends will soon have their degrees, I’m in awe of that. So I’d be working someplace part time and looking for work experience and just daydreaming about making music.
See below for The Big O music festivals tour details. Tickets available through qjump, ticketek or oztix.
The Big O
Thursday, 26th February, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne
Friday, 27th February, University of Sydney, Manning House
Saturday, 28th February, University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus Amphitheatre, Brisbane
Tuesday, 3rd March, Australian National University Bar and Refectory, Canberra
Thursday, 5th March, University of Wollongong, The Great Hall & Uni Bar
Friday, 6th March, Newcastle Uni, Bar On The Hill & Outdoor Surrounds
taken from: http://elevenmagazine.com.au/2009/02/05/interview-yves-klein-blue/
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