The WNEW Interview: Noah and the Whale

For some artists, all you need is to be featured on a commercial. Four measures of a catchy tune on an ad sends people scrambling to their computers asking “who sings that song in that commercial, that was awesome!”. Admit it, you’ve done it – are at least you thought about doing it.

Noah and the Whale’s 5 Years Time became the soundtrack for a Saturn car ad and there’s been a buzz about them ever since. They’ve got a strong fan base in the UK where they’re from and with good reason – folk rock that encompasses everything you love about indie rock with a sincerity that hits its mark in the listener. The guys stopped by our studio on their first day in the US to chat with us and play a few songs. The first thing I had to know about was the song that made me run to the computer to hunt it down 5 Years Time:

Here’s the official video for the song... you gotta love their Wes Anderson style video (he’s their favorite director)

While hanging out in our studio, the guys performed three songs for us – here’s two from their debut album Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down:

2 Atoms In A Molecule

Give A Little Love

It is important to note that the drummers of the band usually sit quietly over the corner either upset or relieved that they aren’t playing. In this case though, Doug improvised and began banging on one of the chairs in their studio providing some much needed percussion that sounded great (and stirred up quite a bit of dust in the process – who knew our plush interview chairs were so dusty?)

While you can go and get their LP Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down, you can be ready for another album soon:

Here’s the other track NATW played for us, it's was the B-side for 5 Years Time when that song was released as a single in the U.K.:

If I Die Tonight

The guys have an interesting plan for the next record which involves a film that goes with it – it’s kind of a concept piece. I’ll let lead singer Charlie Fink explain:

Noah and the Whale is on tour right now - check their tour page for a stop near you. Upcoming U.S. dates:

Sep 25     Av-Aerie (ALL AGES)                     Chicago, IL
Sep 26     Reckless Records (Instore)             Chicago, Illinois
Sep 26     Empty Bottle                               Chicago, IL
Sep 29     Chop Suey (FREE SHOW)               Seattle, WA
Sep 30     Doug Fir (FREE SHOW)                  Portland, OR
Oct 2       Amoeba Music (Instore)                San Francisco, California
Oct 2       Pop Scene at 330 Ritch                 San Francisco, CA
Oct 4       Detour Festival                            Los Angeles, CA
Oct 6       Spaceland (FREE SHOW)               Los Angeles, CA

Comments

[Tim]

I love these guys! Can't wait till they get to LA.

[Nacho]

Wooohooo! Spaceland here I come!

[Lacie]

Only two weeks till they come back to NYC. Bowery Ballroom - yeah! Noah and the Whale rock, these acoustic songs are great!! Thanks WNEW!!