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Livewire's One on One
By Andy Argyrakis
Shiny Toy Guns Interview with Jeremy Dawson

Shiny Toy Guns usher in
new wave of electronic rock 'n roll

June 26, 2007

While the days of Motown's soul days are long gone, the debut disc from Los Angeles' Shiny Toy Guns on that very label does develop with groove laden dance sounds. But rather than recalling Smokey Robinson or The Temptations, the alt-pop foursome resides much closer to the synthesized sweetness of New Order or Depeche Mode with hints of Yaz. Much of the luster on the new We Are Pilots comes from the shared male/female vocal responsibilities between the dark and brooding Chad Petree with the sunnier Carah Faye. The pair's winning combination first made waves on compilation albums like Goth Electro Tribute To Depeche Mode and Goth Electro Tribute To Prince and continues to unfold on the road with tours supporting The Sounds and Mute Math, plus headlining dates overseas. Livewire's Andy Argyrakis recently checked in with the group's Jeremy Dawson (synthesizers, bass) via cell phone from the Tampa Bay airport to discuss the band's intriguing amalgamations, its fervent dedication to fans and somewhat random but comedic spare time activities.

Livewire: What was it like putting out your album independently and then having it re-released on Universal/Motown?

Dawson: The very earliest versions of the record came with different artwork and no guitars- strictly electronic. But as we geared up to re-release We Are Pilots on a major label, we had already toured the U.S. seven times, along with England and Canada, and could feel the impact of being around people. Between that, playing live and playing loud, it's turned into what we have now. The final version is the realization of what we wanted to do with the means and resources of being able to do it.

Livewire: Who are your rock influences and what about your electronic interests?

Dawson: We did a lot of moody soul searching and Pink Floyd is definitely number one. It's all Chad and I would ever listen to strangely enough! But in terms of [electronic artists] there's The Orb, Radioactive Goldfish, Enigma, Lush and we're very big Depeche Mode fans.

Livewire: Do you feel like there's been a rebirth of electronic music in recent years?

Dawson: I think it was like when everyone said rock music died circa the late 1990s. It never died, it just wasn't popular at that moment. Now everybody has a computer and they have complete authority on their iPods. The average music lover can now have Jerry Lee Lewis, Britney Spears and Taking Back Sunday in their play lists at the same time, so whatever's popular doesn't really matter anymore. People aren't being spoon fed anymore, so everything's gray and that's good!

Livewire: How has Shiny Toy Guns benefited from this more open minded attitude?

Dawson: We don't have to be careful or worry about being sent home if we do something too weird! We can do whatever we want as long as we're writing the best songs we can write.

Livewire: How does the mixture of live instrumentation and programming translate to the stage?

Dawson: We rotate instruments all the time, use computer programs and run samples that are layered behind the actual instruments. We take a lot of equipment on the road to be able to perform as if we were back in the studio.

Livewire: How do you deal with technical difficulties in concert?

Dawson: When it all goes down, it's a nightmare! We had a show in England once where all the power went out, so we plopped down on the floor and played the whole set acoustic. We brought everyone to the front of the stage with drum sticks, tambourines, and electric guitars with no amps, but everyone was singing along.

Livewire: So it sounds like your fans were still cool with the unique type of show?

Dawson: Yeah, but we still felt bad and crammed the whole crowd on tour bus afterwards, went out to eat and had a party in the parking lot. We felt so bad because the show had been promoted for weeks, people paid to get in and we traveled thousands of miles to get there. The promoter hadn't hired the proper sound system, but we always take our listeners into extremely important considerationŠWhen we returned five months later, we sold out a gigantic venue from the word of mouth. That wasn't the initial point, but when you give, you're given back. That's just a life thing. I don't know why, but we believe people need music like water because it stirs emotions. For us as artists, it's worthless without the fans. We're a marriage- a 50/50 relationship where we have to meet dead in the middle. We hang out before and after shows unless we have to travel, but we'll literally be there until the lights come on and security says everyone has to go home.

Livewire: I'm sure free time is hard to find, but what are your hobbies if you ever get a break?

Dawson: Every year around the first of April, Chad and I return home to Oklahoma and we study severe weather patterns. We don't do it in a nerd way where we analyze the date, but we get in this black van and chase an F4 torrential tornado, watching everything that passes and filming the entire time. I would really like to have a contest to have a fan come with us, even though I doubt our label would go for it. But it sure does beat two tickets to a show or an autograph! I really want someone to win the opportunity to see a storm so powerful that it digs a trench fourteen-feet wide and two-feet deep for three miles and then get to experience the rush of hydroplaning down the highway with sideways rain and softball size hail belting into the van! It would be amazing, but I really don't think the legal department will let us do it...

Check out more of Shiny Toy Guns at www.shinytoyguns.com.

Watch Shiny Toy Guns' - "Le Disko V2" video!

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