October 03, 2005

Interview with Felix

Head honcho of thecatempire.info, Casey, was given the opportunity to interview Felix about the latest album Two Shoes the album, and Two Shoes their latest single. Members from the forums assisted Casey with the questions, with Felix giving some comprehensive answers.

Casey: Hi Felix, thanks for taking the time to talk to us here at TCE.info! You must be enjoying your time at home before the next tours (USA and then Australia) - how are you spending your time?
Felix: It's been lovely to have some time in Melbourne again. It's something like catching up with all the things you've thought and seen while on the road in the previous expeditions. I've had the chance to write some songs, and start some short stories that popped up. Also, my little sister and my mum are back from Austria after a year and a half, so it was good to catch up with the family again. I put a matress under the family piano and slept there for a week.
The next single, Two Shoes, is about to be released. Can you tell us a little about the video clip? Is there anything that we should look out for particularly in the video?
The clip was written and shot with a one week turn around before we did our last Europe/UK stint, and it references a lot of people and things that have been part of the history and music so far. Also, it was good to do something that had a slower more moody feeling to it. Things to look out for:

1) Believe it or not boxing was a good parallel to rhythm in the early days, and i used to train 5 days a week then go and play at this bar when i was teenager. Also, i wanted an excuse to mess around in the ring again, and if there wasn't some action in the clip it would look dangerously like a commercial for aftershave.

2) All the random characters are friends or people we have worked with over the last three and a half years.

3) There are elements within the clip that reflect certain elements of the music. The dancers [hip-hop vs flamenco], the flame juggler/sideshow performer.

Two Shoes is a song that's been with the band a long time (how long?), although wasn't really released until the most recent album. Have your feelings about the song changed over the years?
It was written in 2001. It's changed tempo, and the arrrangement has taken form. Also, the song has settled down and become more finished. I think the middle section and the end horn line wraps it up. My feelings towards the music has changed over the years and some songs i feel are outdated in comparison to where the band is at now, but this song - even though the lyrics are very basic - has maintained a strength over the years.
The song's chorus talk about the "Bobby Marley legacy". What do you think of as his legacy? What do you think will be the "Cat Empire legacy" in years to come?
Ha! Actually that line comes from various Bob Marley lyrics where he goes on about bare feet and freedom. I also liked the word legacy because it's a bit like 'legs' and legs are attached to feet. That line 'my feet are my only carriage' is also a good one, because i love travelling and moving through the world finding a few stories to give my grandchildren. I like Bob Marley because his songs are still being sung by people, and that is something a great song does. I would like to write some songs that people can sing and enjoy for a long time, and in terms of a TCE legacy, perhaps it's a subtle one that comes to life in those people who find it.
You guys spend a lot of your time on the road, and you're famous for your live shows. What are the chances of seeing a CD (or DVD) of live recordings, either a single concert or a collection?
Definitely. It's gotta happen. There's so much stuff that isn't expressed on the current albums that we've got on all the gigs we've recorded so far and in the future. And hopefully it's going to be something entirely unique.
Finally, what band's version of "Two Shoes" would you most like to hear, and why?
I think the most recent version is the best one. It came to life in Cuba, and i think it's one of the stand outs on the record. Though I don't really listen to the recordings much. I think which ever one you guys like is fine with me.

Many thanks to Felix (and the rest of TCE) for taking time out of his hectic U.S tour schedule to answer those questions.

Posted by strawberry at October 3, 2005 10:51 AM
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