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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Bag Raiders
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 21 April 2011
Chris Stracey and Jack Glass, otherwise known as Australian electro-house duo Bag Raiders, released their eponymous debut EP in 2007, going on to remix for the likes of fellow antipodean beat-pushers Cut Copy and Midnight Juggernauts. Their 2009 anthem ‘Shooting Stars’ apparently became a hot fave with supporters of Aussie soccer team Adelaide United, with the song later receiving a rework at the hands of previous SSQ subject Kris Menace.
Having signed a deal with Modular, their also eponymous debut LP emerged in Feb of this year. It was promptly named as Mixmag’s electro album of the month, spawning several singles including ‘Way Back Home’ and ‘Sunlight’. In anticipation of a lone UK date at London’s go-to venue XOYO on 29 Apr, we approached Jack Glass demanding answers to our Same Six brand of questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
We’ve both been into music since we were kids; classical stuff at school. I played piano and Chris the violin. We used to hang out during orchestra practise – sneak out and smoke heroin. Nah, just kidding. We bonded over mutual tastes in music, we both loved Warp Records and Ninja Tune stuff as teenagers. I guess all the talking about music naturally progressed into us mucking around in the studio trying to make it.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Lots of things – not necessarily musical. Travel, food, Bill Murray, nature documentaries.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It’s always different. Sometimes one of us will have an idea that we’ll bring in, other times we’ll jam something out together in the studio. There’s no set pattern. It’s the same with how long we work on songs. Some we can do in a couple of days, others we sweat on for weeks, months even!
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Old funk and soul stuff like Gap Band, Earth Wind And Fire, Dynasty, Imagination. Current artists? I really love Beach House, Four Tet, Hot Chip and Holy Ghost!
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Sit back, close your eyes and enjoy. Unless you’re driving.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
Right now we’re pretty focussed on touring. We spent the end of last year touring Australia and did a few festival tours at the beginning of this year, then it was straight on to the US, then UK and Europe.
MORE>> www.bagraiders.com
