Effigy on the Radio"Oz Music Show" Interview by Francis Leach April 1997 PART 2: ABOUT THE FROCKS [ Music: 'I Give In' ] Francis: So, are all Effigy songs honest accounts? Are they very much 'laying your heart on the line'? Pete: Oh, they start off like that I guess, but, um... Francis: What - what happens? Do you, all of a sudden, pull back a bit? Pete: No. I get angry! And start theorising! Most of the things...well, nothing really nasty ever happens to me. I just...um....get angry and speculate about what people might be doing behind my back. I don't know... Francis: So you're a paranoid! Pete: Maybe... Francis: Paranoid type of person? Pete: Good lyres though! (laughs) Francis: Sure. If you're just a happy bumble bee and writing mundane lyrics, no-ones going to be interested. Pete: No - no. I guess...um...there's a little ambiguity in there. Enough to disguise me from retaliation from the people I'm talking about. Francis: Well, we heard 'Lovers' before. 'Lovers' is pretty ‘out there' for a song. What about that one? Pete: Well, that's...that's kind of a nice song, I suppose. Yeah, well, it...the words started off in the chorus actually. Its just about having a crush on a girl who likes girls, and its...um...and the frustration one feels, but then it... Annie: That's what we liked about the song in the first place. That's why we thought it was cute. Pete: I guess so... Francis: Isn't that funny, because I've listened to that song in a completely different way - I won't go into it now - but there's a certain androgenous image behind Effigy, isn't there? Is that something that you've fostered? Is that something that you like? Annie: Yeah - definitely! Pete: Well, its...I guess, with my voice its ambiguous to whether its a girl singing about another girl, or a guy singing about girls, or whatever... Annie: Yeah, its a general crowd-pleaser. Something in it for everyone! Pete: Yes, yes! We're swinging. Francis: That's what Bowie used to say. Yeah - Bowie was covering all the bases as well. Pete: The verses - where it goes into a sort of suicide story - its just melodrama. Its as if the....um...impetus for this suicide attempt was this frustration and ...um...from not getting the girlie... Francis: Are we talking about 'Lovers' still? Okay. Pete: That's right. The verses and the chorus are on different tangents, but I think I tied them up okay. Francis: So you like character acting - sort of putting yourself in a position that's not necessarily your own? Pete: It is a little anomaly that I prefer speaking in the first person. Er...its about the only song I've ever written that is...almost a narrative. Francis: Okay. Let me just read this quote out as well - "I want a perfect blend of cynicism and sincerity." Pete: ?! Francis: "A perfect blend of cynicismand sincerity." Annie: It sounds good, doesn't it? Francis: It sounds great! Pete: I guess it comes from studying...I don't know...Geoff Coons in art school and stuff. Its a post-modern attitude, I hope. I like deconstructing pop music and then adding a ‘bit of heart' to it, maybe...I don't know. Francis: Okay. I mean, because there's a hell of a lot of cynical bands out there. Do you think so too? Pete: Oh, I think so, and when I think its appropriate, I think we can be one, but its not always that way. Francis: So - Annie - do you think its like a case of a certain pessimistic element within...well, there seems to be a pessimistic element within good music these days. Are you trying to add some optimism to it as well? Annie: Yeah, I suppose so. But these...its happy tunes, isn't it? With a combination of...kind of... Pete: World-wariness, as well. Annie: ...paranoid schizophrenic, lyrics as well. Pete: But its mainly that sense of...I guess...the cynicism comes from the futileness of aiming for originality in music too...I don't know. But I'm starting to get more positive about it. I don't know... Francis: What? You reckon there are new territories to tread? Pete: I don't know. Maybe I can convince myself, or the record company can lock me away and convince me...I don't know. Francis: Its worth struggling for. Whether it can be done or not is completely irrelevant. Its just worth trying for, anyway. Annie: You've got to have goals. Pete: Oh? Francis: Do you have big goals? Annie: Wembley, of course. Francis: (laughs) The Stadium or the Arena? Now, you're got to do the Arena! Pete: No - the suburb. Annie: The train line... Francis: The suburb? Just the local pub - the Wembley Inn will do? Alright, Effigy are with me tonight on the Oz Music Show. What about the frocks? We should just quickly talk about the fashion sense that Effigy has. You guys must spend everything you earn on clothes. Annie: Hmm... Francis: You're a very well dressed bunch. Pete: Thank you, but... Francis: Annie, you're obviously having a night off, but we won't go into that because it is radio and we can sort of pretend. Pete: No, this is...I think I'm... Francis: Come on - how much did that suit cost, Pete? Pete: No, its part of...I'm reviving a persona I worked on last year. I think ‘right-wing Pete' is how we refer to it. Francis: Straight off Wall Street, is it? Pete: Yes. ‘Yuppy Pete'. I quite dig it though, really. But...um...we borrow lots of money, I suppose. Francis: You're in debt! Pete: Well, actually my last costume, I suppose - if you come to the gigs - you can see a slightly more ‘trashy' look, and I made that myself. Should I tell people that? Doesn't sound so professional... Francis: A man of many talents! Or though I haven't seen that, so it could be completely trash. Pete: Yes, yes - I put my 4-track aside and got out my Singer... Annie: And the Supaglue... Pete: ...and was up all night, by candlelight! Francis: Well, if you go along to the shows, which I have in front of me. Actually, we'll hear another track and then I'll give them a quick plug. So, this track 'I Found Hell'. The dates to come for Effigy in a moment. Is this a prank phone call too? Pete: Its a real prank phone call. Francis: A real prank phone call! |