Let's talk about feelings...
Chief have been bubbling under the surface for a couple of years now. The band formed in 2008 when brothers Danny and Michael Fujikawa were studying at NYU with Evan Koga. After a few months of touring, bearded and bass-less, the band recruited Mike Moonves as their fourth member.
Now signed to Domino Records, they have released their first album, are halfway through a world tour and have all the tools needed to slot themselves into a melodic indie niche. The band seem to be content to play what they feel sounds good – melancholic and worldly vocals with an honest charm. Luckily for them, a growing number of people think it sounds pretty good too.
First of all... How was playing Reading and Leeds? What do you prefer – a crowd full of northerners or southerners?
Playing Reading was incredible. The show was smooth and the audience was excited to hear us. That always makes the show infinitely better. I hate to say it on the record, but as of now, playing for the southerners is a lot better than the north. But maybe that'll change eventually. Hopefully.
Did you get to see many other bands while you were there? Any stand-out performances?
At Leeds we barely got to see anyone. If I remember correctly, we showed up a bit late and were pretty burnt out. At Reading, we saw a few bands, but I think the one that really stood out was The Walkmen. I've seen them a few times back in LA, and hadn't heard from them in a while, so seeing them back in action and sounding awesome was a very cool thing.
Would you guys be mortally offended if I compared you to a pre -'Sex On Fire' Kings of Leon? More in terms of look than sound – you guys do have an interesting set of facial hair...
Not mortally offended. However, I know that we wouldn't exactly be thrilled hahaa. I guess the beards make sense in that way, even though, these days, I'm pretty much the last guy standing in the beard department. When we got home from tour, everyone brought out the shears and went to town. I'm the only man left who remains a grungy beardsman.
My first taste of your music was from the 'Mighty Proud' single and the album material seems to be more melodic – especially vocally. Is this just a case of you growing as a band and experimenting a bit more?
A lot of the songs on the album were written around the same time as 'Mighty Proud'. I think what you may be hearing is a clarity in the sound of the tunes, which has a lot to do with having more money to spend on the record and having a legit producer (Emery Dobyns). We had a lot of time to spend on perfecting and experimenting with vocal parts in a way that we were always a bit rushed to do in the past.
Many of the songs seem to have a melancholic feel to them. Who is the sombre soul that writes most of the material and what inspired these mellow tales?
Well, the two main writers in the band are Evan and Danny. But I'd say the sombre soul to whom you're referring is probably Danny. He's a very emotional dude and really knows how to get his feelings out in his songwriting. I
t's a poetic form that is pretty straightforward in the language, but still ends up feeling symbolic, which I think is pretty unique. Evan's songs are a bit more descriptive and vague which I also enjoy greatly.
You have been together as a band for a couple of years now and you're starting to get a bit of recognition. With tour dates here, there and everywhere do you feel you're on the verge of something big?
You really have to take it all day by day at this point. We have to be ducks on the pond; legs moving a mile a minute excitedly and a calm, cool exterior on top of the madness. This could all end any day just based on the way the industry has been recently. We're just taking it all in and working as hard as we possibly can, while we can. Hopefully everything works out alright, and if it doesn't, I want to be able to say that it wasn't for lack of trying.
Chief's album Modern Rituals is out now on Domino Records.
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