Like a dream...
Local act aspidistrafly clues us in on its music.
aspidistrafly's sound reminds us of cotton candy and beautiful skies. It's wistful, surreal, and gently evokes memories and emotions kept hidden. Comprising April Lee and Ricks Ang, the duo, who are into both design and music, will open for Japanese electronic artiste Piana come May 25. We grab them for a chat.
I-S : We heard the name aspidistrafly is derived from George Orwell's Keep the Aspidistra Flying. Why the draw to that novel?
Ricks: April mentioned to me about the book and i felt a connection with the title to the kind of music we wanted to do.
April: The name is a play on words. Ironically it's the novels by Banana Yoshimoto which inspired us.Her stories dwell on communication and relationships people, coupled with events like death or estrangement - these can be heavy themes, but she deceptively projects her stories as part of everyday life.
I-S: Doing anything different in your upcoming album i hold a wish for you?
Ricks: Previously we prided ourselves with crafting songs using only processed guitars but we have moved on with this release and listeners can expect a blend of acoustic tones and subtle electronics to create a warm sonic environment for our songs.
I-S: Any story behind the title i hold a wish for you?
April: It was inspired by the shop house rooftop at our design studio. Sometimes we bring a camera, guitar or a harmonium up as the mood there is really inspiring.
Subsequently it led Ricks to compose a haiku...
Rooftop excursions
in sundown light
I hold a wish for you
I-S: That's sweet... And Ricks, you once said that aspidistrafly "composes songs as to how a photographer composes a photograph". Can you elaborate?
Ricks: i think our photography is hardly what you call technical. We experiment a little here and there to create a certain effect to express a certain mood. It is a combination of choice, the things you choose to shoot and happy accidents. the same can be said for our music.
I-S: Talking about experimenting, aspidistrafly worked with lights, videos and visuals before. How do multi-sensorial shows compare to those that showcase only music?
Ricks: The visual element is important to us. Sometimes, we wouldnt even consider ourselves pure musicians. Although music is still our main focus, it is sometimes an excuse for us to create many things from it. Writing music alone wouldnt be as fun for us if we do not create this entire package that surrounds it.
--Ng Hui Hsien
