Dananananaykroyd

Dananananaykroyd Interview

Dananananaykroyd… what an elusive name! but this wicked trick seems to have worked very well to intrigue us. Loaded with dangerously loud music and dual drummers (6 of them altogether), this is already something to be reckoned with, but also having identified themselves as ‘Fight-Pop’, this Glaswegian band successfully pull ahead of their contemporaries.
Subsequently to the release of their latest single ‘Black Wax’, they are due to release their debut album, ‘Hey Everyone’ on Best Before Records in April 2009.
The band has a toured the UK and Europe extensively with bands such as Foals, Johnny Foreigner, and Kaiser Chiefs. On top of their non-stop tour dates from now on, over the coming months, Dananananaykroyd are set to slay loads of festivals this summer! Their energy will surely ignite Japanese audience as well.

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- First of all, could you give us a brief sketch of the history of Dananananaykroyd?

Laura Hyde: We formed in early 2006 after the other bands we were all in split up around the same time. David wanted to form a rocking new band that was more fun than anything any of us had ever done before, and the rest of us gladly obliged. We played our first gig in March 2006 and released a couple of singles later that year. In 2007 our old singer Giles left the band and Calum stepped up to the mic. We released an EP in Japan and played lots of gigs. We also recorded an EP, which wasn't released until summer 2008, around the same time that we signed to Best Before records. The band then became a full-time occupation for us, and we have been touring like crazy rock machines ever since !

- The band name is quite unheard of... Don’t you think you are taking a risk of being misspelled or mispronounced?

LH: Yes, we came to realise early in our career that it perhaps wasn't the wisest choice of band name. It's always getting spelled wrong on posters and websites, etc (has nobody ever heard of cut and paste?!) and people do tend to mispronounce it. But it gets people talking, which is no bad thing.

- Is it anything to do with the Ghostbusters actor?

LH: Yes it is a joke based upon the name of the famous Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd, who starred in Ghostbusters, Coneheads etc.

- What made you decide to take up dual drummers?

LH: We originally wanted to have four drummers, but it turned out to be too much so we decided to cut back. Having two drummers just makes us a whole lot louder, and also makes the live show more exciting. It's a pain to have to shift two drum kits about all the time, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

- What’s the Glasgow band scene like? Is it different from, say for example, London?

LH: Yes, mainly due to the fact that Glasgow is smaller than London. The Glasgow music scene is eclectic and incestuous - everyone knows each other and helps each other out, but no two bands sound the same.

- You are often referred to as part of ‘fight-pop’, what is it like? Have the cops ever been involved in your gigs?

LH: ''Fight-Pop'' is just a stupid, oxymoronic genre name that we made up as a joke to describe ourselves. We're not into fighting, in fact quite the opposite. We'll always try to put a stop to any violent behaviour at our gigs, and touch wood, the police have never had to be involved.

youtube : Pink Sabbath

- 6 people are a lot in a band I guess. Do you take a role to share the creative process or production? How does it work?

LH: We all contribute to the process. David initiates it by bringing the monster riffage, Calum and John chime in with the singing, shouting and screaming, and the rest of us then try to shoehorn in our own parts and ideas. I don't know how or why it works but we've got an awesome album so far, so we must be doing something right.

youtube : Black Wax

- Choose one word best describes your sound.

LH: Umami. (flavour, the fifth taste sensation)

- You recently signed to Best Before Records. How did the relationship with them start?

LH: It's quite simple really. Anthony, who runs the label, heard our music and offered us a record deal. We gladly accepted, because it would enable us to make a record and go on tour to lots of exciting places.

- I heard you are going to Japan soon. What would you expect most from there apart from your work?

LH: Well, the gigs are what we are most looking forward to, because we know that Japanese music fans are the best in the world.

We're also just really excited to experience Japanese culture. Another highly anticipated aspect for me would have to be the food. I am excited to try anything and everything, except perhaps fugu (puffer fish). Although I'm not scared of being poisoned, I've just heard that it's very expensive!

- What else is up next for you?

LH: Touring, touring and more touring! We're playing loads of gigs between now and the summer, and then we plan on playing as many festivals as possible. No city, town or field will be safe from the onslaught of Dananananaykroyd!

myspace : myspace.com/dananananaykroyd

Website : bestbeforerecords.com

Written by Chika Aoki