Love Is All Mixed Up (What's Your Rupture?/Parlophone) is the most recent release featuring the music of Gothenburg's electro-new-wave-pop-punkers, Love Is All. It is an incredible collection of remix tracks on one album which was put together by their label Parlophone with the tracks being selected by the band themselves, including two brand new tracks; the first provided by Isle of Wight's, The Bees--and the second remake contributed by Swede experimental DJ duo, Studio. The rest of Mixed Up's tracks consist of remix contributions by some of the underground's most current visionary DJs and artists such as Hot Chip, Fryars, Metronomy, and Tapedeck to name a few. The band's lineup is five strong, and as for their incredibly exciting live shows? Josephine quips, "All I can say is that we get louder and tighter, day by day." Consisting of Markus Görsch on drums, Nicholaus Sparding on guitar and backing vocals, Johan Lindwall playing bass guitar and backing vocals, åke Strömer their saxophonist, and rounding out the group is lead singer, and keyboardist, Josephine Olausson.
Girl About Town: Who initiated the original sound of Love Is All - you seem to use a lot of creative layering in your music and it definitely takes that late 70s/early 80s sound of punk and new wave while still forging ahead with your own unique vision (the creative use of saxophone, for instance, takes the listener quite by surprise)--where do you see the band going from here--is the new album bridging from this sound or utilizing it in the same respect?
Josephine: Hm. I'm not sure there ever was a moment of us discussing what type of music we'd play. There are a few bands that we all have in common, but plenty more that we don't agree on. I think the way we sound is really just a result of the personalities in Love Is All; we're all trying to incorporate our own thing into each and every song. I think that is also part of why we're so slow--whereas a lot of other bands have a main song writer, and a band playing along, we are all very much a part of every little second of each song. I'm not sure I could describe how the new album is different from the last...
What has been the most exciting thing that's happened as a group so far?
Oh, I'm not sure I could point out just one thing. I guess overall, just being able to quit your job to spend all your time making music is pretty insane. Also, all those shows in places I would never dream of going, and playing to people who know the words to your songs to playing songs you love with some of your best friends... It's a ridiculously great way of living--crap, I'm sounding almost religious or something; I'm just trying to say that I really enjoy being a part of this whole thing!
If you had to break your band down into stages of growth, what would you say version 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 were?
1.0 would be when we first started jamming together, making a bunch of songs without having a clue on what to do with them. Lots of beer in the practice space, a 4-track recorder and whoever felt like it behind the drums. These were great times and many of the songs later turned into "proper" Love Is All songs.
2.0 would probably be when we started putting out 7"s and playing shows. I think this is when we started taking things a little bit more seriously... Working on songs a little more, sticking to your own instrument. but we'd almost always be wasted playing live. This is also when we added the saxophone; probably when we first realized that some people actually liked listening to our songs.
3.0 would have to have started when we put Nine Times That Same Song out and we decided to do this thing full time. Not being drunk on stage that often, rehearsing more. playing better. traveling places...
For your mix album "Love Is All Mixed Up" out now on What's Your Rupture? and Parlophone, how did the artists become involved and these tracks become finalized--who chose what went onto the finished collection of songs?
Most artists were approached by Parlophone. Then, after the mixes were all done, they were sent over to us and we were asked to pick out our favorites. I can't remember how many we chose, but all our choices plus a few others ended up on the actual album.
Love Is All Mixed Up Track Listing:
01 Felt Tip (Fryars Remix)
02 Spinning & Scratching (Metronomy Remix)
03 Busy Doing Nothing (An Optimo [Espacio] Mix)
04 Make Out Fall Out Make Up (The Bees Version)
05 Turn the Radio Off (Maps Remix)
06 Busy Doing Nothing (Tapedeck Remix)
07 Make Out Fall Out Make Up (A Chicken Lips Malfunction)
08 Turn the Radio Off (Studio Remake)
09 Felt Tip (Hot Chip Remix)
Download This: Make Out Fall Out Make Up (The Bees Version)
How did you become involved with the labels What's Your Rupture? and Parlophone?
Kevin from What's Your Rupture? is an old friend of ours, and he'd put out a 7" by Girlfrendo (which was an old band that some of us were in). To be able to work with him was really just the most obvious thing to do, he's always been very supportive of everything we've done. Parlophone approached us after the record was out in America, and they came across as great people--and gave us an offer we couldn't resist.
Who are you recording the new album (A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night) with and where--what can we expect of the new tracks?
Such a difficult question. Some songs are faster, some slower. I think, overall, the instruments are tuned a little better compared to the last record. It's still been recorded in our practice space, but this time, we used some better gear and also had the help of Wyatt Cusick in setting the levels. We haven't really decided to go in a new direction, in whatever way they might sound different it's something that's just happened naturally in the process of writing and recording. I guess, possibly, there are a few more details on the new album.
You seem to write very stream-of-conscious when it comes to lyrics; what has been your favorite track in the way that it's turned out so far and why?
Most of the lyrics are really just little stories... things that annoy me, fascinate me, or scare me. I'm not sure I could pick one song that's turned out especially good, or bad. I'm trying to avoid writing things that are too sincere, or emotional, because I don't think I'm very good in expressing those emotions. It's hard to explain, but when it comes to love songs, for instance, it seems a lot more interesting to write it from a different perspective. I'd much rather be a crazy stalker, than someone who's just hopelessly in love with someone.
Will Love Is All be touring again in the US soon?
Yes. Nothing has been booked yet, but we should be over some time before the summer. I can't wait!
Having toured the US before; what's your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
Philly cheese steaks! From the place that doesn't have a lot of pro-war propaganda in the window... [Pat's] I can't remember what those places are called. But I like the one where all the seats are on the outside, know which one I'm thinking of? Also, I recall there being a lot of people riding bikes in Philadelphia. I like that!
For more Love Is All, including new track previews and hype on their upcoming album, A Thousand Things Keep Me Up At Night--check out the band's myspace and web sites below!
Love Is All - band site / what's your rupture? / parlophone / myspace
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