Ex Libras’ influences are as varied as their music, “alternative music with groove” as the band says. Their new album “Suite(s)” is out next week on Wirebird. 3 tracks to stream, one free download and a bonus interview below:

What are you up to at the moment?
Currently, we’re sorting out our launch party / gig (at Ram Jam, 46 Kingston Road, London on Nov 30th). We had an interesting idea at the very last minute and we trying to get it all to work properly… Which is funnily enough how we started out doing this together in the first place!

What are your main musical influences?
All three of us have diverse tastes in music, but we bonded over a mutual love and respect for the sounds that are made by artists like Battles, Cinematic Orchestra, Mogwai, Godspeed (YBE), Jill Scott, Sigur Ros, Q-Tip, Rage Against The Machine, Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Radiohead, Nina Simone.

We all come from varied musical backgrounds and even though we used to play very different types of music from each other, there is always a musical bridge that at least two of us meet on.

Do you think your music should ‘belong’ or ‘fit in’ to a particular musical family or genre?
I can understand why genres exist and why, sometimes, they are necessary. However, we don’t think about our music in those terms. Sometimes it can become limiting, especially as we’re still discovering our ‘sound’. It’s like someone telling you who you are when you’re only 12. There’s still some growing up to do first. Part of you wishes you should have the freedom to decide what you want to be, but the other part kind of likes that people are trying to define you. In a funny way, it suggests that you are worth talking about and worth trying to categorise. A tag we’ve been throwing around is ‘Post Break-Beat’ – and it’s funny how many people find that an accurate description!

You are releasing records in a difficult time for the music industry: how do you see the future for it?
Music was there long before industry came along, and it’ll be there long after too. The nature of the business is changing for sure. It sometimes feels exciting because people / consumers have so much more accessibility and so much more power, and they’re taking the initiative; Napster was designed by a student in a university dorm room and it changed the face of how we share music. That’s a phenomenal bit of history and I think people forget that

As far as releasing records, we’re looking for new ways, new ideas to get our music out there. The monetary value of music is evolving too. How much is an MP3 really worth? Look at something like ‘creative commons’ to see just how forward thinking some people are trying to be. Even you guys – Fairtilizer.

If anything, with the amount of creativity this issue has created, I’d say it’s a fucking interesting time for the music industry right now. I’m glad we’re slap bang in the middle of it. Sure, everyone seems to have it harder financially at the moment and it is difficult to justify doing this as a career choice, but then, we were never in this for the money.

Could you you tell us what is the most important source of income today ? Records, syncs, tours, merch…?
Anybody would say that most of the money is coming from playing live and selling merch, for sure. There seems to be a growing trend in bigger artists doing ‘special edition’ copies of their albums with a bonus DVD, special artwork, documentaries, live versions, bonus tracks etc., all in an effort to shift physical copies, and it works for them. I’d heard that Radiohead made not an insignificant amount of money from ‘In Rainbows’ – with the pay-what-you-want downloads and the £40 jumbo prize edition. They bypassed the industry completely and because it was a success, it’s a good example of a band’s ability to have control over their output.

But then they’re Radiohead and they can do what they want – they’ve earned it. For a small-scale band like us, we put our faith in good old fashion touring and promoting. Driving around in a rented van, playing for new people, shifting a few copies of the album, getting our name out there… Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

As an artist, how do you use & see the web today? How important is it for you and how do you see it evolving in the coming years?
As a tool for connection or promotion, as a method for sharing music, pictures, videos, the internet is incredibly valuable. Already, though, you can see the control being inflicted upon it. Streaming video’s now have unavoidable adverts – even in progressive music applications like ‘Spotify’, the freedom comes at the cost of adverts interrupting your playlist (unless you pay). The web was (and to a degree it still is) a place where you had access to all information, without limitation. It was brand free and devoid of ownership. It belonged to the community. I sort of miss that.

What’s really crazy is the generation of children being born who will have this high-speed Internet as an expected human right. The rate at which they’re learning the technology is also amazing. All it takes is one good idea (or a bad one) and everything will shift once again.

You have some buzz in an emerging country but no way to monetize it, would you give away your music for free to keep growing it ?

There are trade-offs. By giving away your music for free, does that devalue your work? Will the listener appreciate the amount of effort that went into making it? If you start giving it away for free does that create an expectancy to do the same for the rest of your career? Or do more people hear it because it’s free?

Answers on a postcard please.

What do you expect from a label in 2009?


I think labels should try to find a way to be more pro-active. Bands and indie labels seizing the opportunities this new landscape is offering. The idea of what a label ‘is’ needs to change and it has to be a mutually beneficial relationship between artist and label. There are some really good labels out there that value artistic creativity and others that really know good music. With so many bands now self-releasing under there own labels, it’s hard to see what the value of a label today is. The majors still have the good deals, and they still maintain control over the mainstream music, but they’ve been through a bit of a shake and it’s taken them a while to get their hats back on. This is, however, only the beginning. As long as people champion artists they believe in, then the gap between indies and majors will only get closer.

What’s your favourite: digital and physical format and why?
Our favourite method of information transfer is Bluetooth! On our first ever gig, we gave away a free live recording of one of our songs – ‘Phat Knickers’ – via Bluetooth. It was great. Things of that nature are only possible due to the digital format. But there is something about owning a CD, the artwork, the ritual, the defined length…

I’m a collector and I like to have that sense of ownership. Something as simple as flicking through the spines of the CD’s with my hand, or shifting through vinyl. It’s a funny sort of satisfaction.

Recommended music sites?
I-Tunes radios
Last.fm
The 405
Glasgow Podcart
The Pirate Bay
Mininova
Spotify

And the billion-plus sites and blogs all dedicated to finding new music and writing about them. All highly recommended.

How’s the scene in London? Any good bands around? Do you feel the weight of the musical history of the city?
London is vibrant and has so many different styles of music growing within it, but the sheer volume of these acts makes it impossible to experience this diversity completely. Too much choice limits us. There are a few good bands like Gin Panic, Three Trapped Tigers, but there are probably a countless more. We’ll probably never hear them play because they’ll be playing somewhere in London the same night that we’re playing somewhere else. It’s a real shame.

Places of interest in your neighbourhood?
The wonderful fast food places that are open until 3/4am – Pavillon Rouge, Chicken Spot, Nas Burger, PKC (Pizza Kebab Chicken) – We are pigs!

Actually, in our local area we have Richmond Park, which is HUGE and protected as a natural reserve. There are deer roaming about the ground, big lakes, lots of space… It’s nice

Best thing that happened to you recently?
I (Ross) was best Man twice this year for two of my very good friends. It’s kind of scary being asked, especially with all the preparations and speech writing that goes with the role, but I’m pleased they felt confident in me to do so.

Number one junk food?
Late night hunger attacks, having played a gig and driving back at silly o clock are usually dealt with by stopping off at Chicken Spot.

Best venue?
There’s a little well known place that lives beneath London Bridge Station in London. A Red door within the station itself leads you down to the venue. Thousands walk past every day with not a moments wonder. It’s a huge space with classic beautiful blood red Victorian brickwork arching and swirling around to dizzying heights. There are a few different spaces for performance, and artists to exhibit their work. The space is run by Artists for this exact purpose. Do check it out.

A movie you would like to watch now, right now?
I would love to watch DiG! again. The antics of the The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols are just too cool for school.

Best place to live?
As long as you are happy living with yourself then whatever street you tread will be pretty sweet.

Last book you enjoyed reading?
‘Childhoods End’ by Sir Arthur.C. Clarke. The vision and scope of this book is truly terrifying. I believe all writers in some way are visionaries, whether they claim to be or not. You only have to look at authors such as George Orwell to appreciate that. I encourage all to experience.

‘Outliers’ by Malcolm Gladwell. It’s a great book that deals with a number of factors of success; one of the more interesting aspects is the influence of cultural heritage. Good read, easy to read, blow-your-mind kinda’ book.

Fave night drink and morning beverage?
I’m into red wine, I think it’s the closest you can get ‘drink wise’ to feeling stoned. It ticks all the right boxes as far as I’m concerned, and the middle classes cover themselves in it. I guess that’s why they’re all so liberal.

Morning wise would be filtered coffee. The trouble is, when you taste the good stuff, I find it very hard to go back to the instant. Life’s too short.

2009 top albums?
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
Pure Reason Revolution – Amor Vincit Omnia
Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing
Future of the Left – Travels with myself and Another
The XX – XX

2009 top tracks?
Bat for Lashes – Daniel
Fleet Foxes – Your Protector
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero
Radiohead – These Are My Twisted Words
La Roux – Bulletproof

Last album you enjoyed listening?
M.G.M.T – The album flows from start to finish and reawakens thoughts of romantic bohemianism and escape from my childhood.

Best TV shows (current and ever)?
There’re two BIG ‘Friends’ fans in the band. We quote lines and gags all the time to each other, leaving the other somewhat alone and confused with little solace other then that he has a life and we don’t.

EVER – Twin Peaks, Cities of Gold.

Best gigs?
OK, maybe not strictly one gig, but for me, it would have to be the time I was luckily enough to go to SXSW (South by Southwest). It’s like one gig that lasts 3 days, showcasing hot new acts worldwide in Texas. Those that have been, know, and for those that haven’t, beg, steal, borrow and cry yourself there.

www.myspace.com/exlibmusic
www.exlibras.co.uk

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