HEALTH

About to embark on a UK and Irish tour and with new single 'Die Slow' out later this month and album number two in the pipeline, HEALTH's bassist/noisemaker John Famiglietti talks Lovepump love, hating recording in the Smell and partying with Kevin Barnes.

So I take it you managed to survive the madness of South By Southwest then. How did the week go for you compared to last year?

John: It was incredible. This year was last year times 10. Last year was awesome. Law of accelerating returns.

I see you were headlining the patio stage at your label¹s showcase on Saturday night. Are there any other Lovepump United bands that we should know about?

J: Yes. The newest artist on Lovepump, Pictureplane. He has a new single that just came out on LPU. It’s called Trance Doll, and its an amazing single. We personally lobbied like crazy to get him signed to Lovepump.

What sort of relationship do you have with Lovepump? What was it about
them that made you sign for a New York-based label as opposed to one closer
to L.A.?

J: We never really shopped for a label. Lovepump began sending little emails about trading t shirts, and then asking to talk on the phone. We talked more and more, and they kept talking to us as if we had signed to the label. We never officially said yes.

Pictureplane have put together a remix for the B-side of your new single, Die Slow ­ is there a pretty close-knit atmosphere at the label? Are there any other collaborations in the pipeline?

J: There's a company slogan at LPU: "Lovepump is Family". It really is. The label is incredibly close knit and everyone is buddies. As for collaborations, there is definitely going be more remixes, and we’re going to have a real deal collaboration this year and hopefully more, there's a lot of people we'd love to work with, but I dont wanna spill the beans just yet…

Speaking of collaborations, do you still keep in touch with Crystal Castles?

J: Definitely. Ethan called Jake the other day in fact. We don't see ‘em in person often due to touring schedules but we’re still good friends.

By anyone’s standards you’ve had a fairly grueling tour schedule over the past couple of years. How much has this delayed work on the new record, or are you a band who finds it easy to write new stuff on the road?

J: A lot. Writing on the road for us is really not an option. Songs take us awhile but were getting faster at it. After this European tour we’re going to try to write a new record in the time we’re in LA, because it will be our only break for a very long time.

I’ve read that your new record (Get Color) will likely have a different sound to the first one, and also that it won’t be recorded in The Smell. Is this a conscious effort to maybe move away a little from the whole DIY L.A. scene, or is it more of a natural progression?

J: Recording in the Smell was hell. Not a fun experience. We just didn’t want to repeat that and our timeline wouldn’t allow it. It’s not a statement on the scene or anything. As for sound, the new record has subbass elements that weren’t on the first record, and it was recorded on analog tape, so it has a different feel, but I don’t think anything about the recording is going to disturb fans of the first album. It’s still brutal.

Will the zoothorns still be turned up to eleven this time around then?

J: We’ve gone as loud as we can without sacrificing too much fidelity. It’s all up to you to blast yr stereo, cuz this album is meant to be heard loud. Turn it up.

Moving away from the music for a minute, your artwork and merchandise is very striking. There’s a very direct, almost pop-art feel to it, particularly with some of the slogans. Who looks after that side of things?

J: That’s me. I started doing the artwork when we started as a temporary thing until we could find a real artist (one of the reasons why the art is so simple). But the reaction to the artwork was really strong immediately, and I ended doing all the design. A lot of the art is inspired by advertisements and product labels, things like that, so yr observation is super on.

You play Whelans in Dublin next month, having supported Deerhunter at the same venue last May. In terms of road-testing the new songs, are you happy with how they now feel live, or are they still evolving on stage each night?

J: They're now sounding very good live. The songs don't evolve so much as get good (we don't jam). When we first begin playing new songs, it takes several shows to play them well. Well definitely have our A-game by the time we get to Dublin.

Okay, so the new single, ‘Die Slow‘, is out in a couple of weeks ­ have you a release date for Get Color yet?

J: There is not an official release date but it will be arriving in late summer. Simultaneous release UK and US.

Finally, over the past twelve months you guys have had arguably the unique distinction of touring with both Nine Inch Nails and Of Montreal. So who parties harder, Trent Reznor or Kevin Barnes?

J: Well, I don’t know. I didn’t get to see either party. The NIN backstage was kept very dry because people in the camp are totally clean now and don’t want that atmosphere (but we did have beers in our dressing room), which is understandable, also the NIN operation was so professional partying didn’t even seem to fit in the mix. So nowadays I gotta vote Barnes, but the young TR has quite a partying pedigree.

'Die Slow' is released on April 13, the same day HEALTH's UK and Irish tour begins:

13-Apr Brighton, Prince Albert
15-Apr London, Tufnell Park Dome
17-Apr Dublin, Whelans
18-Apr Belfast, The Menagerie
19-Apr Glasgow, Stereo
20-Apr Newcastle, End Bar
21-Apr Nottingham, Chameleon Arts Cafe
22-Apr Manchester, The Deaf Institute
08-May Minehead, ATP: Fans Strike Back