Interview with The Operators
Exciting and energetic new band, The Operators, enlivened The Ship last weekend with an electric set. A star cast of performers, Dan Boeckner (Handsome Furs, Wolf Parade), Sam Brown (Divine Fits), and Devojka (solo superstar), came together to create a dance party synth pop band that set our feet on fire and had us begging for more.
The band has been touring North America for the past year, and just released its first album last August, but is attracting major attention and with good reason. When asked why the band played shows before releasing an album, Boeckner is quoted as saying that he wanted to focus on the event of music, on playing loud, sweaty shows up close with the audience—and that is just what happened at The Ship last Saturday.
I was lucky enough to sneak backstage and chat with Devojka about the inspiration for the band and how she got involved. Besides managing the synth board for The Operators, Devojka is a solo artist with a similar synth style, but more relaxed and a little dreamier. A big Buffy fan, Devojka is the tea bag to Boecnker’s hot water, infusing his music with the melodies to make his style pop.
K: When did The Operators begin?
D: The conception of the band began in 2012. That’s when Dan and I began to play music together. And then Sam followed. Sam and Dan had already been playing music and he joined the band shortly after.
K: How did you meet Dan Boeckner?
D: I opened up for him a few times with the Furs and he asked me if I wanted to be part of his new music project.
K: How would you describe the music?
D: That’s really hard for me, but I guess the appeal for me to play this kind of music was I loved the idea of getting people to dance and doing something that was more unifying rather than isolated. When I was younger I liked to listen to music that expressed a catharsis that was more related to how bad I felt, and as I get older I want to dance the bad feelings away. I want music that makes everyone get up and do the mashed potato or the locomotion, so that was the appeal. At the heart of it, it’s dance music.
Check out The Operators website, operatorsmusic.com, to hear their fabulous new album. It’s fun, it’s catchy, and it’s sure to be blaring at your next late night basement dance party.
http://themuse.ca/2014/10/30/interview-with-the-operators/
