Artist Interviews

Q&A: Dark Dark Dark

By | Published on Tuesday 10 May 2011

Dark Dark Dark

Based in Minneapolis, chamber-folk outfit Dark Dark Dark started out in 2006 as a collaboration between Nona Marie Invie and Marshall La Count. Drawing on various contrasting influences from minimalism to pop, the duo also borrowed inspiration for their music from the rich troves of Americana and Eastern European folk heritage.

They joined with a troupe of multi-instrumentalists to craft debut album ‘The Snow Magic’, which was released in 2008 by Supply & Demand Music. Second long player ‘Wild Go’ followed last year, and was re-released by Melodic last month as part of a package with EP ‘Bright Bright Bright’. The band are touring to promote said package, and will this week play Manchester’s Futuresonic Festival on 12 May and The Great Escape on 14 May.

We approached founding member Marshall with our Same Six Questions.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
We have always played in some way, piano lessons, learning Nirvana on the guitar, Smashing Pumpkins, ‘La Bamba’. We started Dark Dark Dark when Nona and I wanted to go to New Orleans, but had no money. We needed a way to make gas money. Well, we needed an emotional outlet, too. And friendship. We needed a lot of things, and found it together in music. That’s how DDD started.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Space, landscapes, relationships, friends, problems, inspiration, travel, pain and joy. Also a lot of our favourite music, which I would never reveal! Except, maybe at the time, Antony’s ‘Crying Light’ record.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It changes all the time. Sometimes I just sit down with Nona and it’s done. Sometimes Nona writes piano, I write lyrics, and everyone arranges. Sometimes we argue about something for a while.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Callers, Walter McClements, Village Of Spaces, Nico Muhly, Antony, Laurie Anderson, Wye Oak, Big Freedia, Swoon.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
A little attention in the beginning is worth a lot in the end. Listen to it on headphones, you’ll hear secrets!

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
I hope some of the songs will survive the test of time, and that people will listen to them in 30 years, 40 years, 50 years… It doesn’t have to be the whole album, just a couple songs – there is so much information out there. I have the idea that we will make a masterpiece next. It’s probably really stupid to claim that, though.

MORE>> www.brightbrightbright.com



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