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Fanfarlo: The Walls Are Coming Down

Simon tells us about recording in Connecticut, playing in a park and his avocado addiction.

London-based five piece Fanfarlo were founded in 2006 by Swedish musician and multi-instrumentalist Simon Balthazar, and following on from numerous singles, split-singles and EPs they released their debut album 'Reservoir' a couple of weeks ago (pick it up here).

We caught up with Simon to find out a little about recording in Connecticut, playing in a park and his avocado addiction.

Hello Simon! How are you today?
Very good. We're plotting and scheming. Coffee and cakes in Finsbury Park.

You went over to the US to record your debut album 'Reservoir' - do you think this distance from home was necessary to the creative process? Or was it more a case of the people you wanted to work with were there, so you had to go over?
It was both. The producer we wanted to work with, Peter Katis, has an awesome studio in his big old house in Connecticut where he records all his bands - but it's a very special experience to go away as a band, living together, cooking together, working 12 hours a day. To complete immerse yourself like that is almost necessary, or at least beneficial, and we will definitely try and work in a similar way with our next record.

You've made a few limited edition special copies of the album for Rough Trade - how important do you think these more boutique-y editions of releases are? Do you think they help to strengthen a band's fanbase by making it seem exclusive? Does it make the music seem more interesting than it may have otherwise?
It was something we wanted to do, and we knew that people would be into the idea of something beautiful and handmade. Also the only version of the album we've been selling so far has been very basic, and even though we like the idea of minimal packaging everyone loves a nice box right?

It must have taken you ages to do - did you ever regret agreeing to do so many? Was it worth it?
It was a pretty big job but it was really fun and definitely worth it, especially when we saw how much people liked the finished thing - all 500 went in a few days.

Similarly, you recently took part in some Bandstand Busking (http://www.bandstandbusking.com/), a great idea - how important is it to keep taking part in all these new interesting things technology allows you to do? Is it something you enjoy, or do you see it more as a necessity?
We love playing to small crowds and doing intimate shows, and it doesn't really get more intimate than playing completely unplugged in a park. But what you're saying about technology is true - it's lovely how democratic music has become thanks to it.

At the end of last year Mark (guitar) left the band - is it strange putting out a record that he had a part in creating, but won't have a part in releasing?
We have really moved on from that, so it's not weird to us. We've been going for a little while and it's natural for people to come and go in bands really.

Has his departure due to 'musical differences' strengthened the concept of the band, if the remaining members are all more in agreement of where the band should head?
Being holed up together for weeks recording was a really intense experience and I feel we came out of a really tight knit family with a clear vision of what we're doing.

And finally: you're playing at a few festivals yourselves this year - are there any other bands you're especially looking forward to seeing? Will you be attending any festivals you won't be playing?
London has an insane amount of really good shows all the time, so we'll have summer filled of going to that when we're not playing. Tonight we're going to see Dan Deacon which should be awesome. I would have liked to go to Primavera but we were away playing that weekend.

Do you have any other Summer plans?
Record an EP hopefully. Nurse my avocado addiction. Ride bikes.