October 24, 2023
BLIGATORY team member Peter got in touch with Vince (guitar/vocals) from Unschooling, to talk about the band’s debut album, New World Artifacts, what he’s been listening to lately, and what to expect in Unschooling’s future.
Q: Where did you look for inspiration during the creation of New World Artifacts? Was there anything specific that caught your attention/imagination?
I think we took a lot of inspiration from our daily experiences during our previous UK and European tours.
Lack of resources, fatigue and relationships between each member offered a breeding ground for that. I also started listening to Women a lot again as well as movie soundtracks of the 50s/60s. I really like the sound from that era. It’s often distorted and kinda fuzzy but everything is in its place. We wanted to pay homage to that in a certain way. We also created a Spotify playlist of what inspired us during NWA’s recording here.
Q: The guitar sits at the forefront of your material. Was this always the case, or something that became more of a focus as you moved forward as a band?
It has always been the case with Unschooling: intricate guitar work in the foreground. Probably because it’s the instrument that I master best but also because the vast majority of our influences come from ‘guitar groups’. However I consider the rhythm section to be just as important, it’s just often a bit behind in the overall mix maybe. It’s quite logical to my ears since I want melodies to be in the foreground.
Q: Are there any notable records that you have been listening to as of late? If so, what makes them notable?
‘No. 1’ by Etran de L’AÏr. Desert blues for polyrhythm nerds. They come from Agadez in the north of Niger and they sound incredible. I love this album in particular because the production is modest and you can hear the crowd all around singing, clapping and dancing. It’s very precious. They usually play for events such as weddings or baptisms but had the opportunity to play all across Europe and the United States recently. Such a shame I missed them!
Q: Are there any French bands/artists that you think should be on the radar of your listeners?
Yes! Les Agamemnonz, syqlone, BLANK\\, Dick Voodoo or Fishtalk, to name but a few.
Q: Do you have a favourite place - city/venue etc - to play live shows? If so, why do you consider this place to be your favourite?
The Netherlands and Germany are really great places. The overall vibe and the after shows are always out of the ordinary. People there are very welcoming, respectful and passionate about discovering new things. It’s the case with England too but we never really had time to hang out after the gigs. We’ll do our best to fix that!
Q: Do you guys have any hobbies outside of the music world?
Personally I love to go for a long run through the forest, reading and flight simulation. Damien is really into video games, action role-playing gems such as The Elder Scrolls or Fallout. Paul is a Pokemon nerd. Marc and Thomas are really into sports too.
Q: What can fans of Unschooling expect in the near/distant future?
They can expect a new collection of songs, more pop and a bit less complex along with a rather more modern production but I don’t know when. For now we’re going to tour the UK & Europe a bit and we’ll see what happens. We would also love to play in North America if time and money permit.
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