Caribou roams to Cat's Cradle

Dan Snaith is hard to sum up. A humble man of few words, Snaith has become an indie-electronic sensation under the stage name Caribou (originally Manitoba). His work never seems to end: Snaith just released his seventh album, Andorra, last September and has been has been performing almost daily since. Somewhere in between producing and performing, he also found time to get a Ph. D. in mathematics. In a recent interview with recess' Jessie Tang, Snaith discusses his latest album, how he got into electronic music and why he loves being a nerd.

You guys are touring in Canada right now, right? Is their music scene different than the one in the United States or U.K.?

I mean, not so much. I'm always struck by how similar the people are that come out to the show, and how easily cultures fuze rather than being different (Laughs). We've been flooded with your all-pervasive American media, so in a way it won't be too different out here.

I know you guys put on really great visual shows. How do you think that adds to the music?

It's hard for me to say, because when I'm on stage I don't get to look at it. It's exciting to add because when I'm recording, there's no visual component. I'm not a very visual person, and I'm not picturing things in my head when I'm recording. Playing live, obviously there's that visual element. When we're playing live, there will be patterny things going on that are synched up with our music. It hopefully reinforces the music.

Do you go back after you write the music and imagine what type of visual scheme to produce?

When I'm recording the music, it's just me working by myself. I'm not thinking at all about how it will this translate into a live show. I'm just thinking about what's exciting to listen to and what's melodic from a production point of view. When we get together to plan out the live show... if it's exciting for us to play, then hopefully it'll also be exciting for people to watch. That's the reason I want to play drums on stage. That's why we have two drum kits on stage. It's exciting for me to play drums, but hopefully the physicality will translate into being exciting for the audience.

I saw the two drum sets in your Pink Room videos. Can you tell me a little more about the concept behind the videos?

I love a big melody in the song, an emotive melody. The reason I enjoy making music so much because I get this sense of euphoria and happiness just in the process, and that ends up in the music.

Are you exploring other concepts for future albums?

I don't think about that until I get home and start recording and see where it leads me. The reason I write music is whatever is exciting me. You know, there's always something in music I haven't tried, and it makes me want to spend all my time doing music. I let myself be led by that.

What were your musical influences growing up?

I started playing the piano when I was five, but I didn't really start getting into it until I changed teachers later, and emphasizing the improvisational way of hearing by ear, and making my own music. I spent all my time playing piano after that. All sorts of things, the real entry way was recording music. My friend introduced me to electronic music when I was 16 or 14. I realized it wasn't made in a million dollar studio, and as soon as I figured it out, that's all I wanted to do. I guess I've been continuing on that process ever since.

I was reading through other interviews, and I noticed you recorded everything in your own studio.

(Laughs) It's not that ridiculous. It's a room, with speakers, a pile of records and a couple computers.

Do you think the low production value adds to the appeal of your music?

It means that I have to try and figure out how to do things differently, a lot of times. I can't rely on having every piece of equipment that I want. I have to figure out my own way of getting the sound that I have. It's different than other music, maybe. I mean, there are lots of people working that way. It's becoming more and more common.

Does your band do anything to set itself apart in the booming indie scene?

I mean, I don't know. I'm definitely not the person to be objective about my own music. I do genuinely think that it's a great climate trying to get their music out there and get people's attention. For the big pop bands you definitely need a huge media machine, but any kind of indie band can get their stuff up on MySpace and people will gravitate towards that.

Congrats on getting your Ph. D. Have you felt the effects of "being on your high horse?"

To be honest with you, I got it a couple years ago, and I don't use it too much, and I don't use it too much in any way. It's not like, having a piece of paper and having the word "Ph. D" on it. It's a process, and I'm a big nerd-I enjoy learning, and trying to figure out things that I didn't understand. And that's what I like about studying.

Can math processes of trying to solve equations and understand concepts be applied to the concepts of music?

Definitely. They're both a struggle to do something that is difficult to understand at first, and you must be able to paddle through and work on it. It's a mental challenge that forces you to do it the way you want.

Any plans post-tour?

We're going to do a few festivals in North America and Europe, so we won't be playing every day, which will be good. I'll probably start recording again. I'm already dying to get back to my music.

Caribou will be playing Cat's Cradle on Tuesday, April 1. Tickets are $10.