Members of Toyko Police Club, Dave Monks, Graham Wright, Josh Hook and Greg Alsop are to returning to Dallas on Feb. 1 at the Granada Theater. (Photo Courtesy Canvas Media)
Keyboardist Graham Wright of the indie-pop buzz band Tokyo Police Club took some time out of an acoustic jam session on the band’s day off to answer some questions for The Daily Campus. Here’s what he had to say:
SB: If you had to describe “Champ” to someone who never heard you guys, how would you?
GW: Well I try to shy away from describing the album. I just want to say it’s fun, we had fun making it. I’d rather just let everyone make their own impressions from there.
SB: How does your music translate live?
GW: When we get in the studio we just go crazy, and end up putting like 72 guitar tracks on it. Obviously live that’s not possible as there are only four of us.
So it’s definitely a little more stripped down, which makes it a little rawer or rockier live. But it definitely keeps that element of fun, kind of a celebratory exuberance.
SB: What is your song writing process like, and has it evolved over time, or has it been the same from the very beginning?
GW: It’s definitely evolved but has stayed the same in key elements: It’s pretty collaborative. Dave will come in with a bit of a song which sometimes is very fleshed out and sometimes it’s really not.
From there we just hole ourselves up in a room and bang it out from there. Basically when something excites you, you just really run with it.
SB: I’m a big fan of Elliott Smith and Beck as well, what was it like working with Rob Schapf in the studio?
GW: He was amazing, he is brilliant. He’s great at looking at the big picture which is totally necessary. Sometimes when you get in the studio and you have been working on the songs for six to eight months. He was good about reminding us that the big picture is to create a good, enjoyable song, rather than worry so much about the nitty gritty details.
SB: It seems like y’all have spent a lot of time on the road—do you write there, if so—is it hard to keep focused or does it come naturally?
GW: Mostly, we just have to wait. It’s just tough when you’re on the road because you don’t really get actual time to play with the band other than sound checks or some acoustic jamming here and there.
SB: What are you listening to right now?
GW: I have listened to a lot of “This American Life” podcasts and I downloaded this movie “Score” I’ve listened to a couple of times.
SB: What advice do you have for young bands you maybe wish you knew early on?
GW: The most important thing that we sort of caught on to early on is what I credit to our success. It’s one single thing: challenging ourselves and holding ourselves to a high standard. I think not a lot of bands do it, and all the successful bands that I know did just that.
When you start writing music it’s such a blast, because you just created something. But it’s when you go back and have to look at the songs critically, and go in with a scalpel to cut them up and make them better—that’s not always the most fun.
SB: Well thanks man, I’m looking forward to seeing you at the Granada!
GW: Thanks! We really do love the Granada, we played there a few years ago on St. Patrick’s day—it was just a blast. So we’re looking forward to coming back!
Tokyo Police Club will be playing the Granada Theater Tuesday, Feb. 1.
The Daily Campus will be giving away free tickets to this show Friday at 3 p.m. on Facebook; just be one of the first two people to comment when the contest goes live, and you’ll win two free tickets.
