Briton based psych-rockers Malachai make music that spans your mom’s, dad’s, older brother’s, and eighth grade English teacher’s record collection. Charmingly offbeat and incontrovertibly badass, their debut The Ugly Side of Love can dance, sing, head-bang, and is probably willing to buy cigarettes for you while you’re waiting in the car. Verbicide recently contacted the band’s two evil masterminds, Scott and Gee, and we talked about influences, musicianship, Portishead, and, well, I think we talked about soup, too.
So what’ve you been up to lately?
Scott: Getting through Christmas and the New Year, writing the second Malachai album demos with Gee, and gearing up for a hopeful Malachai onslaught in 2010.
Gee: I always say if you’re going to use onions, then shallots provide a bolder alternative, I don’t know why, maybe a denser level of acidity — is this the right interview?
Scott: No that’s Wednesday, this is the one for Verbicide.
Gee: Not Chef n’ Shepherd?
Scott: No .
Gee: What’s this one about then?
Scott: Our music, Malachai stuff.
Gee: Aw, not that again, why the music? Okay, I’m not a great shepherd but I’ve worked hard in that kitchen and it’s time I was recognized — my pastry alone shits on anything we’ve done in a studio. You wait, it’ll be “Ooh, you know Geoff bloody Barrow, don’t you?” or, “So, what does Banksy do when he’s not using all the milk or leaving the back door unlocked?”
Scott: You don’t know that; just smile and answer the questions.
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How long have you been making music as Malachai?
Scott: Since 2006.
Gee: Yeah, 2006 sounds about right, ’round the same time I spent a fortune on decent nonstick pans, but that’s not important right now, is it?
Scott: Gee…
Gee: It’s cool Scott, sorry, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions; yeah, 2006 I’d say, next question?
So, you’ve been working with the legendary Geoff Barrow, how exactly did you guys meet? Is he as aloof in person as he seems on TV?
Gee: nnggghhhh…
Scott: Geoff Barrow is an old mate of ours who I played the Malachai material to as we were writing it. He helped by giving us some advice and pointers along the way, as well as co-writing “Only For You” with us. I met Geoff through a mutual friend just before they (Portishead) were about to release Dummy. He wasn’t aloof when we bumped into him at the Anofilini Café in Bristol today was he, Gee?…Gee? Where’s he gone — to the car? Oh okay, yeah, anyway, Geoff has been a good soundboard you know, he saw a lot of potential there which vibed us up. For both Gee and I it was a kind of “guilty pleasures” project that we really didn’t expect to play around, much let alone release.
With all the reviews press reviews pouring in for your debut The Ugly Side of Love, you’ve seen your music called dub step, psychedelia, trip-hop, electronic — it can get a little exhausting — how do you personally define your music?
Scott: I’ve never seen it called dub step! That’s an interesting one! We just try to make the music which comes natural and organically to us. We never follow certain trends or fads, we simply keep our heads down and get on with it, what we do best. We have a mutual love of ’60s psychedelia as much as we do classic/golden era hip-hop, therefore the music we make ends up being some mongrel of those two things, done by two blokes from Bristol in their home studios.
Let’s talk about the name, Malachai, any distinct inspiration for that?
Scott: Gee can tell you about that when he comes back, carry on and we’ll return to that one.
Your song “Warriors” features a fairly obvious sample of the cult film of the same name, how did that come to about?
Scott: It’s not actually a sample, sir, that’s actually Gee doing that bit which you thought was lifted from the film! Pretty good, eh? Gee was working on the vox on that particular track and it was my idea to incorporate that into the breakdown section. We both remember that film as it was big in the B-Boy world.
I know it can be like choosing between children, but what is your favorite Malachai song?
Scott: “Hear It Comes” from the new album, but you peeps don’t know that yet, so I’d say “Another Sun.”
Your music seems like it was born out of an eclectic number of influences. Which artists have had the biggest impact on your music making career?
Scott: Brian Wilson, Madlib, The Beatles, Massive Attack (Blue Lines only) and Edan.
You said your song “Snowflake” was inspired by a bout of sexual frustration during a particular relationship — care to go into more detail?
Scott: Nothing to do with me, sir, this is the man to answer that one and now he’s decided to rejoin us. Over to you, Gee. Gee, what’s that in your hand?
Gee: Okay, this interview’s been jacked! I’ve been nice! Oh, I”ve been nice! But enough’s enough!
Scott: What are you doing?
Gee: Shut up! Scott, just let me deal with this, okay? Now then, mister interview person, you’ve asked your questions and it seems you want some information from us, so sit down and I shall begin. Now then, while most Americans probably view soup as a quick lunch item or long-simmered main course, soups are easy to make and are terrific first courses for shepherds on those long nights — broth-based soups fill you up without being high in calories or fat. Here are a few — sit down — here are a few tricks for upping the flavor of your soups while lowering their fat content. If your recipe calls for pre-cooked vegetables such as onions, celery, or carrots — stay there…
Scott: Better sit down, mate.
Gee: …use a very small amount of oil or cooking spray. If the vegetables start to stick to the pan add a tablespoon or so of water, wine, or broth to keep them from burning. Brown meats in a separate pan, yes? A separate pan, not a pan with Geoff bloody Barrow in but a different pan. Discard fat and pat meat dry — start the car, Scott — before adding to your stock pot. See, this is better isn’t it? Now stay there and don’t move until we’ve completely gone, do you hear? Fry your spices for a minute or so over a medium heat before adding them to your soup. Add dried herbs at the beginning of the cooking time — and don’t even look up until we’ve driven off, okay? And don’t go writing any rubbish about us, all you need know is we release our debut album The Ugly Side Of Love on the February 2, 2010, followed later in the year by our second album. [We’ll be] playing live starting in March at SXSW in Texas followed by a show in New York and many others to be announced…busy, busy…now turn around and count to a hundred, slowly…