Cut Copy Interview

Melbourne DJ duo, Cut Copy, have been touring non-stop and releasing record after record for the last 10 years, and this June long weekend, they’ll be doing what they do best at Around The Way in a secret warehouse location in Melbourne. Here, Tim Hoey looks back on their career with us, from ‘1981’ to Boiler Room Australia, and travelling across the world to returning home to Melbourne.

Looking back into the archives to start off, Cut Copy’s first single ‘1981’ was released only on vinyl, what was the reasoning behind this?
Oh man, it was so long ago I can barely remember… Probably so people could make money off it on eBay or discogs or whatever? I guess everyone in the band are big vinyl people… there’s something nice about a vinyl-only release. We’ve actually done this a few times. On the last record we released a song by setting up a record lathe at a music festival and actually cut it right there and then for whoever was the first to approach and ask about what the hell was going on. I think we produced about 100 copies. The song only existed for the people that had been there in person to take the vinyl home with them.

You’ve worked with directors such as Keith Schofield and Emile Sornin for your music videos. They’re definitely obscure and contemporary. Do you have any say in the concepts and development of these videos? What was your choice behind working with these directors for your videos?
Mainly we were big fans of their previous work so we were excited to work with them. Occasionally we’ll give directors some input into what some of the themes of the records are, but generally we just let them run with it.

Cut Copy have released four albums now; is there a favourite? ‘Zonoscope’ won an ARIA in 2011 for Best Dance Release so surely that has to be up there? Do you think Cut Copy’s style has evolved over the years?
I’m not sure that I have a favourite. They all represent a certain time in our lives. I guess maybe the first one will always hold a special place (‘Bright Like Neon Love’). Just because it was our first record and we had no idea we were even making a record. Hearing those songs on the radio for the first time was a trip. I think our style evolves as we do as people. Each record we try to find a new entry point, to try and go somewhere we didn’t go on the last record. This may be as simple as using new instruments or introducing a new band or sound to one of the other members who hasn’t heard or seen it before. But we always like the idea of the A-Z record, meaning that it’s supposed to be something that is put on and listened to from start to finish. There’s often a story arc to each record.

Personally, the track ‘Corner of the Sky’ from ‘Zonoscope’ is a huge favourite. Is there a particular Cut Copy song that you like to perform over the rest?
Oh cool, glad you like that one! I always really enjoy performing ‘Strangers In The Wind’. It’s a nice mix of something mellow and euphoric at the same time. We don’t play it that often.

What about when it comes to your DJ set? Is there a particular song you wish you could always play out?
Metro Area ‘Miura’… I’m pretty sure we actually always still play it out.

Is the material you use in your DJ sets similar to the sort of songs you’d listen to privately?
For me, not so much. I listen to a lot of dissonant free form guitar music at home. Not sure how that goes down on the dance floor.

Listening to your DJ set from Boiler Room Australia, your choices heavily feature funk and disco tracks such as Nile Delta’s “Dance to the Rhythm’ and Todd Terje’s remix of ‘Nothing Gold’, whereas I would describe Cut Copy’s original material as electro-pop. Would you agree with this? What do you think the biggest difference is between your DJ sets and Cut Copy originals?
I think at the end of the day it’s pop music – sometimes on the weirder side of pop music. I guess we like our music to be able to exist both on the dance floor and at home on your stereo. Even when the context changes, it’s still enjoyable… At least we hope it is.

Being Melbournians, what’s it like returning to Melbourne for a gig after being away for long? What do you miss the most? Is there somewhere you like to go or something you like to do when you return?
Certainly miss family and friends. That’s definitely the hardest thing about being away on tour. Generally when we’re home we just like to be home. We don’t really go out that much as we spend the majority of our lives in clubs and theatres. I like to be near the ocean, that’s about it.

What has been your favourite experience overseas so far, either performing or being a tourist?
Everything. We’ve experienced so many amazing things touring as band. It’s a very unnatural way of living. You certainly see a different side of travelling touring as a band and we’ve been to a lot of places I never thought I would visit as a tourist, let alone with the band. A lot of the time it’s a blur. One experience blends into the other. I can’t remember on what tour what we did or where we went. One day we’ll sit down and look at the photos and reminisce.

Finally, is there any work going on for a fifth album at the moment or any other big news you’d like to share?
We’ve started but it’s still very much in the early stages. We’ve basically gone from making a record to intense touring for the last 10 years without really stopping, so we’re taking our time a little more. It’s nice to step back from things to give you a perspective. But we’re constantly working on stuff. Whether it’s new Cut Copy material or stuff for the label. Most recently, Dan released the ‘Oceans Apart’, which was a compilation of young exciting producers from Melbourne. It’s definitely worth checking out for those who haven’t yet.

See Cut Copy at Around The Way on Saturday 6th June. Tickets on sale at www.moshtix.com.au.

By Isabella Oliviera