A Heart Is A Spade Interview: El Perro Del Mar

Pale Fire will see daylight shortly. Stream Pale Fire via Hype Machine. Watch ‘Walk On By’ here. Visit El Perro Del Mar at her official site. Like El Perro Del Mar on Facebook. Purchase El Perro Del Mar items via Insound.

1. How would you describe the direction, inspiration and recording process for Pale Fire?

Pale Fire has been very much about me wanting to break rules, going against both myself and others – both thematically and musically. When I started writing the songs they all felt very dark and hopeless and I soon realized that’s not what I wanted to make. I wanted to speak about hope and love despite the darkness so I kind of forced myself to do that. Because in the end, deep down, that’s what I believe. Musically, I’ve also followed the line of breaking rules, being playful in allowing all the different influences I’ve got shine through without worrying so much about what that would do to my music. I’ve worked a lot with analogue synths, drum machines and samples which in a lot of ways have been a new experience for me. That’s also allowed me to be more free in the way I’ve been writing and recording.

2. At its core, Pale Fire is seemingly a collection of unabashed love songs. Is that a fair statement? The songs appear hopeful and joyous. Can you explain the lyrical content of “Pale Fire” as it compares to your earlier releases?

I guess you could say it is, yes. Or at least that’s what the songs are TRYING to be. I think of them as dark songs being turned around by love. In many ways that’s what Pale Fire is about. Love as the light in the darkness. Lyrically, I’ve also moved outside of myself more than I’ve ever done on previous albums. I’ve been looking around at what I see around me, at the world at large. I guess that’s where the gloom comes in. The world seem a dark place in many ways.

3. What’s the greatest pop song of all-time?

If I only could choose one… It wouldn’t be fair to the other greatest ones.

4. What are some of your favorite albums of 2012?

Mature Themes – Ariel Pink, Channel Orange – Frank Ocean, Visions – Grimes, Kindred – Burial.

5. What are your plans for 2013? Will there be a North American tour and/or any special releases?

Oh gosh. I’m having a baby in January so I feel like I’m about to embark on a completely new and unknown journey with the new year. I’m hoping that I’ll be feeling psyched about heading on a North American tour shortly after the baby’s arrived. Can’t wait to bring it along with me on my tours.

MP3: El Perro Del Mar – Hold Off The Dawn