AN INTERVIEW WITH KASABIAN

The boys of Kasabian have been busy. Their new album, Velociraptor!, is getting positive reviews from fans and critics alike. They are currently in the middle of a four month long world tour. They recently just played their first show in America in years. They released a ten-part documentary about Velociraptor! via their website. Busy may have been an understatement.

The album that has been keeping Kasabian so busy (and putting them back on a lot of people's radar) was produced by hip-hop producer Dan the Automator, something that guitar player Sergio Pizzorno said was very helpful. "It's really nice to have someone to talk about and bounce things off. Its just a nice feeling in the studio to double check your not going insane," he said. Dan's influence is heard throughout Velociraptor! which is full heavy beats, hooks that warrant repeat listens, and songs so catchy that they will stay in your head and drive you mad.

But going insane seems to have been a motif for Kasabian. Their last album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum was described by Pizzorno in interviews as "a descent into madness." Unfortunately, not all listeners were not willing to follow the band down that particular rabbit hole. The album, though somewhat successful overseas, was largely swept under the rug in America without many taking notice.

"God bless our American label, but they just weren't into our last album. They weren't prepared to promote it," said Pizzorno, adding that Velociraptor! is a change from the band's previous effort, calling it more coherent. "There can be advantages in having a nice cohesive record," he added with a chuckle. "It all certainly sounds like Kasabian."

It seems that a change of labels seems to have helped Kasabian get back into the hearts of Americans. They recently played their first show in America in close to five years and will be playing shows extensively across the U.S. in the coming months. Pizzorno said that he has missed touring in America and is excited to be back, but the break may have been good for the band. "We've been getting played on radio stations which is amazing. There's something exciting about going back. It's nice to shut the f*ck up for a bit and come back."

Now that Kasabian is back, it doesn't look like they are going to disappear again for a while. Check out their new video for "Switchblade Smiles," and hop on over to their official website for a look at their upcoming tour dates.








Article By: Ed McGarrigle