INTERVIEW: Pivot
- Posted on August 15, 2008 12:39 PM
- 0 comments
Interview by Katie Spain
Laurence Pike is a likeable guy. From the moment he enters the Old Blue Last pub in East London, I know I’m going to like this one. Talk soon turns to Pivot; the band that Pike, his brother Richard and Dave Miller formed in Australia in the late 90s. The new line-up and their physically explosive live sets have come far and their sounds are going global. Recent gigs with the Yellow Magic Orchestra, a debut Glastonbury Festival appearance, a new album launch and upcoming Sigur Ros support dates make great gas-bag fodder. Laurence however, is just as happy to chat about flower arranging, Bjork and Bowie.
When did your musical journey begin? Any early memories?
Neither of my parents are particularly musical, I think I should re-phrase that, neither of them played any instruments, although music does run in the family beyond that. My dad took it upon himself to teach himself to play the violin when I was around seven or eight years old. He would do it when we would go to bed and often it would keep me awake. He has a really brilliant memory for stuff so he would memorize Mozart and stuff. Rich and I became so enthusiastic about music at such a young age that it was all we wanted to do from the age of nine or ten. In some ways, I think the absence of it in our house was what drew us to it. Our parents were always extremely supportive and wanted us to play. It took us years to discover music that a lot of people grew up with.
Did you both have any phases with bands that you were obsessed about?
I think we were very curious and desperate to play music. All I wanted to do was play drums. I wanted to learn how to do every thing on the drums. The first real music that I got into was British Heavy Metal which I got into through my eldest brother. My first entry into Rock music was Iron Maiden was I was like, eight. I heard one of their records recently and I remembered all of the words.
You are going back home soon, and straight into a show with Sigur Ros.
Yeah, we have a couple of days off and then we have some big shows with them and our own tour.
Life sounds like an adventure at the moment.
Yeah, it is a bit. Music has taken me to some really wonderful places in the last few years. A while back, we played in Italy supporting The Chemical Brothers. That was a really strange slot for us because we didn’t expect to be supporting them. We ended staying on this hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean and playing to this football stadium of Italian people. We had never really done a gig that big.
Are your parents inquisitive about what you’re up to when you go back?
Parents always want to know what you have been up to. They only understand it to a certain degree though. My parents have always been supportive of us, even though they haven’t necessarily understood the music that we make. I think the dedication to it has always encouraged them.
I hear that you recently stayed in Hackney across from a crack den.
I don’t know where this crack den story came from, I think someone made it up. It was really funny. Dave’s dad read it online and was like, what’s all this about you living in a crack den? I didn’t put my son through school for him to become a crack head.
Is the UK audience a hard one to impress?
I don’t know. I don’t think so. I found audiences in Melbourne and Sydney harder to impress. We have had a really good time.
Do you have a question for The Queen?
I would be curious to know what her thoughts are on the Australian Republic. My dad is actually English so I don’t know how he would feel about me saying that. I heard that my uncle actually met the Queen. He is English too. He was really impressed about how down to earth she was and how chatty she was. But, if you are the Queen and you are not good at meeting and greeting, you’re doing something wrong.
What about a question for David Bowie?
Why are you so f****** awesome?
Do you have any non-musical aspirations?
I would like to learn how to do Japanese flower arranging. I don’t know why, but I really love flowers. Every time I go into the florist, I find it really soothing and could sit in there all day. If I ever gave up music, I would become a florist.
Was your new album a long time in the making?
Spiritually, yes. In the course of time…not really. We have a blotchy history of the band. It began a long time ago. This album is almost like a debut because we feel like we have got the album that we wanted to make a while ago. It only took about six months which is quite quick for us.
What is your favourite tune to play live?
I think the title track is always fun to play and it is a favourite with the audiences. We normally play it at the end of the set, but I get quite tired and it takes a lot of energy. We are trying to pace ourselves a bit more. Sometimes we want to go full on all the time.
In your well-rounded musical opinion, what is the best festival out there?
I think good weather makes a good festival. I think the best festival I have ever been to was in Sydney called The Great Escape. It was quite boutique but has now grown. We played there in the first year to about six thousand people. It was on a perfect summer down, loads of people and a great line-up in a place that we have lived in all our lives but never been to.
What is the most memorable gig you’ve been to as an audience member?
Recently, I saw a gig that blew me away. I went to see Bjork while we were here. I am a big fan and have been for a long time. She just floored me. Everything about the show was exciting: the sound, the band, the lighting and the ideas. Everything was challenging.
‘O SOUNDTRACK MY HEART’ album is out August 18th
Album launch: 20 Aug Roundhouse Studio, London
Pivot begin their UK tour on October 1st
Related links:
Buy or sell Pivot tickets.
Pivot's MySpace.
Watch the video for In the Blood
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