Hopeful Danish foursome Treefight For Sunlight have a love for pitch-perfect vocal harmonies and Californian West Coast pop. Their self-titled debut will be released on 14th February on Bella Union. The band is currently in the UK for a few shows (they played last night at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen). You can still catch them here:
Friday 21 January – LONDON – The Barfly
Monday 24 January – LONDON – Bull & Gate
Tuesday 25 January – LONDON – Shepherd’s Bush Empire (supporting The Walkmen)
Wednesday 26 January – BRIGHTON – Concorde 2 (supporting The Walkmen)
Clash met the friendly Danes a few moments before their recent Eurosonic Noorderslag show and took the opportunity to ask them a few questions.
How did you guys meet?
Three of us went to elementary school together – in Northern Jutland.
How’s the scene in Northern Jutland?
Well there are a few successful bands from Northern Jutland: Oh No Ono and Figurines…
How did Bella Union approach you?
Our friend Ole from The Kissaway Trail introduced us to Simon Raymonde.
What’s the idea behind your band name?
Do you know Dymo label writers? They make these small labels with your name to put on a lunch box. When we were making demos for the album I was just sitting around making weird word combinations. And then that one came up…
Does it mean anything?
Why do trees grow tall? Because they’re fighting for sunlight. Photosynthesis! The survival of the fittest. I think also that it’s a beautiful thought that trees fight so slowly. You can’t see it, but it’s there. It’s a beautiful fight.
When was the album recorded?
It was recorded over a long period of time. We finished recording it back in February. It took us about 3,5 years. We spent half a year only on the choir arrangements!
Did you achieve sonically what you wanted to?
The album came out completely differently. Our ideas evolved into something else along the process. It’s the sum of different periods and inspirations.
What albums were you into at the time?
We have always listened a lot to the Beatles and Beach Boys. They are at the core of our musical beings. But also MGMT, Animal Collective and Arcade Fire.
What inspires you to write music?
Childhood pictures. Nature and love. A lot of films too, for instance: Human Nature, The Science of Sleep. Some old Danish Cartoons too.
An artist you’d like to meet?
Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney.
What are your upcoming plans?
After playing in the UK we will tour Europe and Denmark and start making new music.
Words and photo by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos
