Foals‘ frontman Yannis Philippakis recently discussed the band’s evolution from their rock roots to a more experimental sound in an interview with NME. He shared his thoughts on the band’s journey and their upcoming release, a dub remix of their critically acclaimed 2022 album ‘Life Is Yours,’ produced by Speedy Wunderground label boss Dan Carey.
Philippakis expressed his excitement for the new remix, stating that it was one of the most intriguing and dub-heavy tracks on the record. He mentioned how some songs have a more electronic feel while others carry a sonic-heavy dub vibe. Carey’s involvement in the remix played a significant role, as his experience working with the legendary Lee Scratch Perry has influenced his approach to music production.
This background allowed Carey to take Foals’ core material and explore new sonic territories, giving the music a fresh and innovative feel. The frontman went on to describe how the remix of ‘2AM’ showcases a darker, late-night swagger compared to the original and how the dub version of ‘Under the Radar’ made the lead melodic hook feel like it was meant for a dub or dancehall record.
The singer also reflected on the creative possibilities that the remix unveiled, revealing how it demonstrated the numerous ways a musical idea could be presented. The band’s evolution felt natural to them, despite the drastic change in sound, as if they were listening to their own music from a completely different perspective, like King Tubby’s.
Here are Philippakis’ words on the evolution of the band’s sound:
“This is the most interesting version. It’s one of the most full and dubbiest moments of the record. Some tracks are slightly dancier and in a more electronic place, while others sound like full, sonic-heavy dubs. The whole thing was about Dan pulling up all of the material and then doing live dubs on the desk. Dan did some sessions with Lee Scratch Perry when he was younger, and it left quite a formative impression on him.
He’s always had that ability to really free himself on the desk. As he’d produced a lot of ‘Life Of Yours,’ we had the idea that it would be fun for him to take a lot of that core material and goes off in space – via his studio in Streatham. Because ‘2AM’ is one of the biggest tracks off the record, it’s interesting how he managed to subvert it and have the lyrics take on a different flavour. It’s got more of a darker, late-night swagger than the original.”
He continued:
“The ‘Under the Radar’ dub is really exciting. The lead melodic hook now feels like it was made for a dub or dancehall record. What I liked about being confronted with this is how it shows you how many different avenues there are for the presentation of a musical idea. The one that we take within Foals is the one that’s natural to us, but the ideas could be alien. I felt like I was listening to our music but from a King Tubby but thinking, ‘Oh, I wrote that!'”
Yannis Philippakis’ statements highlight the band’s willingness to explore new musical avenues while staying true to their artistic identity. The shift from rock to a more experimental sound may have been surprising for some, but it shows Foals’ ability to evolve and push the boundaries of their music. With the upcoming release of their dub remix album as part of 2023’s Record Store Day, fans can look forward to experiencing Foals’ music from a fresh, exciting perspective that feels both natural and adventurous.
