an end of 2009 interview w/ Caroline Polachek of Chairlift
by Bill Pearis
Chairlift @ All Points West 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)
Synthy trio Chairlift spent most of 2008 on tour, following the release of their debut album from 2008, Does You Inspire You?, which got picked up/rereleased by Columbia Records in 2009. They hit the road with Phoenix, TV on the Radio, Peter Bjorn and John, the Killers, and played this year’s muddy All Points West Festival. Gearing up for another tour — this one to Australia (dates below) — singer Caroline Polachek answered our year-end survey. Her answers are below…
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What were your favorite albums of 2009?
Depreciation Guild – Dream About Me
Violens – 2009 Winter Mixtape
Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Telepathe – Dance Mother
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us
Favorite Singles/Songs?
It would be redundant to list all my favorite songs of the aforementioned albums, so here’s a recent Kuroma video.
What was the best show you saw in 2009?
John Maus, every night when we were on tour with him.
What was your most memorable musical moment of 2009?
Presenting Sebastian Tellier with a giant chocolate-covered penis-shaped doughnut in the middle of his show at Chop Suey, Seattle.
What about non-musical moment?
Not applicable
Favorite place to play in NYC?
Monkeytown (RIP?)
Best new NYC-area band?
Righteous toss-up between Violens and Class Actress… (does Celebrity Deathmatch still exist?)
What’s the best and worst thing about being in a band in NYC in 2009?
Best: realizing that every single one of your friends is also in a band.
Worst: realizing that every single one of your friends is also in a band.
Favorite Michael Jackson song?
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough. Patrick (Chairlift drummer) and I once played a halloween show back when we were in college together, where we got together a whole band to do a night of Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 covers. My favorite line to sing was “I’m melting / like hot candle wax”.
What is the proper way to incorporate “Meh” into your band name?
Chairmehlïft
Shitgaze, Glo-fi or Dark Wave?
Glo-fi
Plans/predictions for 2010?
Pop music isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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Chairlift – 2010 Tour Dates
Dec 30 Falls Festival Lorne, Victoria
Dec 31 Falls Festival Marion Bay, Tasmania
Jan 2 The Corner Hotel Melbourne, Victoria
Jan 7 The Manning Bar Sydney, New South Wales
Jan 9 Southbound Festival Perth, Western Australia
