French Style Furs will finish out their June residence at The Satellite June 16 and 23
French Style Furs’ Is Exotic Bait LP succeeded through a compilation of fate, artistic vision and the spontaneity of three long time friends: Nathan Willett, Matt Maust and Nathan Warketin. Throughout frequent stops in New York City, Cold War Kids rekindled with an LA compatriot from We Barbarians and now are playing 2 upcoming shows at The Satellite in Los Angeles on June 16 and June 23.
Is Exotic Bait lent itself to beyond the voices and instruments of its three creators. Producer Nick Launay possessed the group’s ideal sensibility to mix the album. Launay’s work with PiL, Grinderman, Nick Cave, and Yeah Yeah Yeah’s was the final touch.
French Style Furs’ Is Exotic Bait is the final product that can only result from a band that is clearly having fun while pushing itself. The OC Concert Guide had the opportunity to speak with French Style Furs about their origin, latest LP and LA residency.
OCCG: How did you guys form your group and how did you guys all meet?
FSF: We are longtime friends from college; and our bands have toured together a bunch over the years.
While Cold War Kids had some days off in NY, Maust and I went into my studio to do some recording for fun. We had no real plan in mind, just a vague idea of recording bass and drum tracks. There was an immediate synergy and we wanted to roll with it, so we asked Willett if he wanted to come by and sing. He came with no lyrics, but a book of Thomas Merton poems. Using existing words from one of his favorite poets really opened things up for Willett, creating a fresh and exciting process. After finishing a couple full songs, we knew we had to make a whole record. We tried to fit in as much recording as possible between touring schedules and throughout 2013 we completed the album.
OCCG: How did you come up with the name French Style Furs? Where did it come from?
FSF: Maust and I saw “French Style Furs” on an old storefront in Greenpoint, Brooklyn as we were walking to my studio. It instantly became the band name.
OCCG: What do you want your listeners to gain out of your latest LP, Is Exotic Bait?
FSF: This record is basically one big art project, so our goal is really just for people to encounter it and be prompted; to be affected in some way. I don’t think everyone is meant to walk away with the same thing.
OCCG: What was it like working with producer Nick Launay?
FSF: We produced and recorded the album ourselves, but Launay was our dream pick to mix the record. He has worked with so many great artists from PIL to Nick Cave to Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Launay and his partner Adam Greenspan really brought this record to life with their mixes.
OCCG: How was the transition from Cold War Kids and We Barbarians to French Style Furs?
FSF: The way this project came together was a breath of fresh air for all of us. With no set precedence or expectations, we were totally freed up to simply create and collaborate. We have all been in bands for years and know how rare moments like this can be, so we just went with it.
OCCG: Which artist or producer would you like to collaborate with one day if you could choose anyone?
FSF: Really the whole spirit of FSF is collaboration. We were privileged to do so with some amazing people on this record… With each other to create the music, using the words of Thomas Merton, additional players and singers from Haley Dekle (Dirty Projectors), Stephen Hodges (Tom Waits) to Nick Kinsey and Wyndham Boylan-Garnett (Dearland). Then again collaborating with Nick Launay and Adam Greenspan to mix the record. We wanted a lot of fingerprints all over this thing. I’m sure the live shows and the next record will have some fun surprise collaborators as well.
OCCG: What are you most looking forward to for your LA residency at The Satellite?
FSF: These are the first ever FSF shows. Since we made a record before playing live, we are just looking to share these songs with people and define what our live show is as we go. In the same way we made this record, it will be fun to see what it becomes.