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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Foster The People
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 21 June 2011
Formed in 2009, LA-based trio Foster The People caused an online stir shortly after their inception with hook-heavy flagship track ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, which led to press coverage, major label attention, and a string of much-hyped live shows at such local hubs as The Viper Room.
Comprised of namesake Mark Foster, bassist Cubbie Fink and percussionist Mark Pontius, FTP then became one of the most talked-about acts at this year’s SxSW, having signed to Columbia imprint StarTime International for first album ‘Torches’. The band made their UK debut with lead single ‘Houdini’ earlier this year, following up soon after with an official release of ‘Pumped Up Kicks’.
With ‘Torches’ due out on 27 Jun, and a distant-seeming handful of live dates scheduled for November, the band are also slated to run through their summery setlist at the Glastonbury, Lovebox, Latitude and Reading & Leeds festivals. With all this yet to come, vocalist Mark couldn’t help but find time to address our now infamous Same Six Questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I was two or three years old when I started playing piano. My parents saw me playing the Davy Crockett theme song by ear and got me into lessons. Growing up though, I never thought of pursuing it as a career. It’s always just been a really good friend.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
This album was really cathartic for me. A lot of the songs are about isolation and being the underdog. It was nice to get them out and take ownership over the things that I wanted to run away from.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
Usually I’ll just sit down in my studio and pull up a bunch of sounds and start hitting the keyboard. Sometimes it takes a while to get something down that I really like, but once I do, the song just kind of finishes itself.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
The Beach Boys are probably the most influential artist. That was the first time I heard something as a kid that I fell in love with, without the influence of anybody else. I’ve always loved quirky pop – ie Blur, The Clash, Bowie, New Order.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I don’t know. I hate being in the room with someone when they’re listening to my music for the first time. It’s always awkward.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
If I had any ambitions for this album they are set in stone now because it’s done. I’ve got huge ambitions for the second record though and hope to start writing for it in the next couple weeks. I won’t say much about it but my goal is to involve Kenny G in some way, shape or form.
MORE>> www.fosterthepeople.com
