Check-Up: Caroline Polachek (Chairlift)

Jun 7, 2012

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A couple weeks back, when we were at Le Baron for Dossier Journal's ninth issue release party, we bumped into Caroline Polachek, the spectacular lead vocalist for Chairlift, one of our favorite bands around right now. We reconnected with her a little later on, right before she embarked on another tour, and threw a few questions her way. Read on for the full interview, the latest in our series of Check-Up Q&As.

What have you been up to since the album came out?

We've been touring nonstop since it came out―we just got back from a tour that took us a complete 360-degrees around the world. I've started writing new music a lot recently on my computer, which is a new thing for me; I used to only be able to write at home, or at least in a peaceful place, but little by little I'm finding how liberating it can be to go mobile and start scratching down fully usable ideas whenever you want.

What was the biggest change you went through between the first and second records, either on a personal or professional level?

I learned how to produce. When we made the first album, it was all a bit of a mystery to me, although I was a good arranger. But all that stuff on the computer was something I left up to the boys. On the second record, knowing Pro Tools and Ableton Live completely changed the game; production became part of my writing process, and allowed me to put my soul into the texture of the whole recording as much as into my voice and synth.

What's your favorite lyric on Something?

My favorite lyric is a bit from the end of "Amanemonesia":

"There's a system of symbols that no one can vouch for / Everyone uses and no one believes / There's a dog in the yard with a manner that's ruff / Yet there's something about you that he understands / The girl at the window covered in ashes / Smiles grotesquely in the light of the day / Singing in German a cold summer warning / But I can't remember what I meant to say..."

What was the funnest party on concert (not your own) that you went to within the last year or so and why?

A few weeks ago we played in Vienna, which was absolutely surreal. Chairlift played right before Ariel Pink, one of my very favorite bands of all time. During the show, Bradford Cox and I jumped on stage uninvited and danced as though we were Siamese twins attached at the skull. That was fun.

What's something you've been listening to a lot as of late?

This week I've been listening to Julia Holter, Motor City Drum Ensemble, and Cat's Eyes.

What's something you're looking forward to in 2012?

New electronic music. And summer.

And, finally, what was your favorite gig you played in the last year or so and why?

So far, my favorite concert was in Barcelona, two nights ago for Primavera Sound Festival. I still can't get over how fun it was. I got food poisoning in the afternoon, and all evening I was in the ninth circle of hell (as anyone who's had food poisoning knows), vomiting and shaking in my manager's hotel room. But I refused to cancel the show since it was our first time playing in Spain and the line was already three blocks long―and it's such a good thing we didn't, because it was an incredible night. Sometimes the worst days make for the best shows, 'cause you're so broken down that you're actually free. I felt my entire body transform with adrenaline right before going on stage, the nausea melted away, and the crowd was so excited and singing along. Right there with us. We started adding songs on the spot and changing the set list, the sound was good and loud, some good friends from other bands were there to run around with―it was a dream show.

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Check-Up: Caroline Polachek (Chairlift)

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