El Perro Del Mar (aka Sarah Assbring) has had worldwide critical acclaim, most recently with her third studio album Love is Not Pop. But don't be fooled by the title. Assbring's love of experimental folk-pop songs is what has brought her to our fine shores in support of her "great love". She talks to yourGigs about the process of being and becoming the legend that is El Perro Del Mar.
yourGigs:(yG) Your album was co-produced by Rasmus Hagg from Studio, what was your working relationship like?
El Perro Del Mar (EPDM): It was my first really good collaboration experience. It's funny because I'd been wanting to work with him for some time without really knowing what it would be like, if we'd be good together and so on, but I think we both immediately understood we would be a good match. We'd both been used to working on our own so the communicative process was something we both were a little afraid of but at the same time, I think we longed for it too. With him I just felt I just wanted to keep working and doing.
yG: This is your first Australian tour, what are your plans for when you are not on stage?
EPDM: Oh well, I love getting lost in cities, just walking around or taking cabs and experience the not-so-obvious places. My friend Jens Lekman also talked about taking me on a car ride along the Great Ocean Road. It sounded quite beautiful. But it's all about time and there's not much time to do casual things when on tour.
yG: You say that the album revolves around the notion of "the dream of a pure love in a dirty world". Would it be safe to say that you hold true to the notion that "great pain makes great art?"
EPDM: Mm, not necessarily ... at all. I believe in being true to your heart though - and that that in turn makes pure love or great art.
yG: How would you describe your music to a deaf person?
EPDM: Blue, cascades of pink and yellow to the beat of your heart.
yG: Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?
EPDM: My newfound love.
yG: Legend has it that you conceived your stage name in Spain while sitting on a beach with a random stray dog?
EPDM: The legend never lies.
yG: Who are your biggest musical influences?
EPDM: Elisabeth Fraser, Bob Dylan, Edith Piaf and Stanley Kubrick.
yG: Your music has been described as almost Phil Spector-esque, do you agree with that comparison?
EPDM: I would. A few years ago.
yG: What's next for El Perro del Mar?
EPDM: After Australia I'm spending some time in New York before my US tour starts in November.
Alex Hahn
|
|