The surreal mind of My Federation
- Posted on May 15, 2007 11:28 AM
- 0 comments
Interview - Lee Muddy Baker
By Katie Spain
It’s Monday morning; the outside world is overcast and my mood is getting progressively darker. A music video lands on my desk - the song is ‘Honey Bee’ by Brighton psychedelic, electro rockers My Federation. I absently flick it on. The next few minutes are a blur of stunning animation, infectiously catchy music, a stunning woman and a hell of a lot of bees. My morning is saved and I’m inspired to find out more. Who is My Federation?
The only way to find out is from the front man himself. I manage to corner Lee Muddy Baker for a chat about the band, their mind-bending website and the upcoming Great Escape Festival. In doing so, I receive an infectious dose energy from a man with one hell of a personality. A chat with Lee is like hurtling through Wonderland (minus the Alice). Yep, by comparison, even the Cheshire Cat would look depressed. I’m sure Lee’s singing dog would agree…
Were any insects or humans harmed in the making of the Honey-Bee Video?
Laughs – Yeah they slaughtered about 2,000 bees… obviously one by one and I have to apologise about that. After killing all the bees we only had about twenty minutes left to film the video.
No, the whole thing is totally animated – this poor guy spent weeks animating the bees in the video.
Are any of you allergic to bees?
They went to an apiary and filmed some bees on a green mannequin and had to have an adrenalin syringe on hand because Chris, the director of the video is totally allergic to bees! If they stung him man, he could have died so someone just waited nearby to stab him in the sternum.
I was waiting for a phone call to tell us the Director had died making the video but it never happened.
Can you give me a quick summary of the band – there’s five of you right? All guys so I assume jam sessions are testosterone-packed?
Basically, it’s done in my studio which is a pretty small affair so it’s pretty hot and sweaty – there’s a lot of man love going on.
Greg, the synth player is bald, too old for the game and is definitely getting chucked out of the band very soon. Then there’s Neil who is my right-hand man on stage. He’s on bass and is absolutely awesome – he should have been in The Who. He does backing vocals as well. Dylan is a veritable Keith Moon on the drums – I’ve never seen anyone sweat so much on stage. Then there’s Robin who is possibly one of the most talented keyboard players and singers I’ve ever come across. That sums us up really…
Oh, and then there’s me of course, who’s just a hairy Iranian.
Humour is obviously prevalent with you guys…
I don’t know what you mean!
Your site is hilarious and there’s a lot of references to the Greg’s baldness on the site… have you reached a stage of friendship where you can pretty much say what you think?
Oh my God, if we haven’t we’re in trouble. We’ve never argued… we’ve been in too many bands where there’s too much tension and too much is taken seriously. We don’t want to take it seriously you know? When I say that, I mean I take my fun very seriously and when the band is together there’s just so much good feeling – it just comes out in the music.
It sounds a bit cheesy actually, but it’s true. There are so many times when we’re rehearsing and we just laugh our heads off because someone’s made a joke or the music we’re playing is really good. We just get on really well.
Is that reflected when you’re live on stage?
Absolutely. There’s so much energy on stage and it’s all good energy. You can just feel it – it’s palpable. I hope and am pretty convinced that if we take off, we’re going to spread the love – that’s how it feels on stage and in rehearsals.
Band I have always really respected for that are Supergrass and Super Furry Animals. They project a sense of good will and that’s kind of where we’re coming from.
I’m sick to death of musicians who think they’re God’s gift or just want to project a dark attitude because it’s the cool thing. I’m not really interested in that to be honest.
Ah, the old monotone ‘one-word’ answer scenario. I know it well…
I’m a producer too and work with a lot of musicians and it’s true to say that a lot of musicians are expressing something from within because they find it hard to express themselves any other way. Maybe they see interviews as something they have to do or just as a load of bollocks. I actually think it’s a good way of getting things across… as long as you’re not talking to a journalist who’s a tosser!
You’re quite creative by the sounds of things. Tell me about your history as an artist.
Blimey, I got into art by customising cars when I was about sixteen and also by copying album covers. Then I went through art school and realised they were all a bunch of ponces and I really just wanted to make money as an artist.
I then got into copying paintings – just as a way to make money to begin with, and then realised I was really good at it. Honestly, the only thing that stopped me getting into professional criminal forgery was a lack of contacts with the underworld.
Later on, I realised I wasn’t happy unless I was doing music and became determined to be a producer so that I could work with as many musicians as I could. I got into a bit of music for television and then got a break writing and producing an album for Tim Booth from James and then a lot of other artists. I’m actually about to start producing their next album.
I tell you, working with musicians is a really lovely way to live your life. It’s a lot of hard work though.
The website is amazing – did you have a lot to do with that?
Completely, yeah. I designed it all and worked with a guy called Malcolm who is a web builder. The premise for the website was really weird – I went for a Dada/Surreal approach where I had to do the first thing I thought of for every page of the website. So, for the logo on the news page, the first animal that came into my head had to be the animal on there. I didn’t have a lot of time to design it, so I kind of gave myself a ridiculous palette before I started.
There are some crazy looking kangaroos on the site… is there an Aussie influence in the band there somewhere?
Noticing your accent, I’d absolutely love to say there is but there’s not. You know, kangaroos are beautiful animals, but it has to be said – the kangaroo image just entered my head!
You hail from Brighton… what’s the best thing about the place?
You know what; it’s just a chilled place. Even on a hot day, there’s always a cool breeze… I feel privileged that I get to walk down the beach at eight o-clock in the morning to walk my dog and there’s no one else on there. It’s this big, bustling town and at that time of the morning I get to sit and chill out before going to work.
There is a downside though – there’s a tendency for people to talk about all the things they’re going to do with their life and end up not doing it because there’s another coffee bar to sit in and chat about it all…
It’s just a brilliant town. I know a lot of people may slag it of for being “The cool place to be” but I’ve been here for about thirteen years now. I was here when it wasn’t the cool place to be (it was a shit hole) and it was still a great place… now everyone’s just cottoned on.
You’ll be playing the Great Escape Festival there soon… what’s it like in Brighton when the festival hits?
It’s bloody amazing to be honest. Every venue is absolutely rammed. It’s really exciting. We’re playing at a place just down from the station called ‘The Albert’. It’s a dive of a venue but it’s a great place to play. It’s got a real tiny, sweaty little pub atmosphere about it which is great because the gigs are really filthy.
Do you have a strong Brighton following?
Yeah we do now… I think the tendency is to feel a bit safe in your own town. We’re going down really well here now and have a good reputation but you kind of have to climb out of your comfort zone and play throughout the rest of the country. It’s really easy to gig here because people are always well into it – and so they should be!
Do you have any suggestions on where to stay during the Great Escape Festival?
That’s a bloody good question… shit, you can come and stay at my place. I’ve actually got a spare room - you’re perfectly welcome!
So what’s coming up? Can we expect music world domination?
We’ve had to work quite hard to get all our gigs – even The Great Escape. There’s such a long way to go for us. Between where we are now and world domination there’s a little bit of a pathway.
For world domination, I give it a year and a half and I’ll be shaking hands with the American president. That goes without saying. In the meantime, we are going down to Real World Studios to record a couple of new tracks we’ve just written. I’m looking forward to the Great Escape Festival… other than that we’re doing bugger all.
At this point Lee’s dog starts barking… obviously he knows all too well that his owner is one musician who does anything but relax. Lee winds up by telling me his pooch actually reacts to saxophones. Apparently, he even howls along to them in tune. Things are certainly surreal in the My Federation camp and somehow, it works to a tee.
Honey Bee is just the beginning of what looks certain to be an music industry buzz. If you get a chance, see them at this year’s Great Escape Festival, and if you manage to spot Lee Muddy Baker at the bar, have a chat with him. You’ll come out of the experience smiling.
As for accommodation, the hotel I booked was flooded over the weekend. Maybe his musical four-legged friend fancies sharing his kennel…
My Federation released their debut EP ‘Honey Bee’ on 30 April 2007, through Eye Industries.
Catch them at the Great Escape Festival…
18 May 2007
20:00
The Great Escape Festival - The Albert - Brighton Brighton
19 May 2007
16:00
The Great Escape Festival - Horatio's - Brighton
In the meantime, check out their psychedelic websites.
www.myfederation.co.uk / www.myspace.com/myfederation
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