Posted on May 26, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Making Filmstars

The soft ballad “Hospital Ward” (and its video) really touched my heart, like wasn’t since the brit-pop-war era and Blur’s “Coffee and TV”. Can’t remember how I got in touch with this terrific band known as “Beatnik Filmstars“. Was it thanks Dan’s listening? Not sure, but since I’m addicted to their songs now I’m in big trouble. If you don’t wanna start being obsessed just like me just read this interview avoiding to listen to their mesmerizing istant classics. I warned you!

Mark Zonda: How did Beatnik Filmstars come to life? Main influences?

Andrew: This will show how just old we’re getting! Beatnik Filmstars started life way back in 1991, after the indie-pop, garage noise band I was in, “The Groove Farm”, finished. I wanted to be in a band that had no restrictions, so I could do whatever I wanted to do and not worry what other people expected of us. The only way to do that was for me to start a band. So I did. And I’m pleased to say we’ve always done exactly as we wanted as we’ve gone along, which we know sometimes makes it hard to be tagged so sometimes we’ve been over looked, because people don’t understand us. The main influences back when we started were “The Modern Lovers”, “Hank Williams” and “The Velvet Underground”. Nature and animals were and still are a big influence.

Mark Zonda: The greatest Velvet Underground song?

Andrew: Tricky question as there were a lot of really great ones, but I’d probably pick “Foggy Notion”. My favourite LP by them is “White Light White Heat” Even though it’s one of their more noisy records, it just seems to be quite perfect, and for the time it was originally released, I would imagine, a very brave record to make.

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Mark Zonda: When a guitar is allowed to have chours effect?

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Andrew: Probably never. Sorry.

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Mark Zonda: Best guitar effect, then?

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Andrew: Distortion. I had the best distortion pedal ever, made by DOD. It lasted years, and travelled the world with me, but it eventually broke, and I’ve not found one as good since. It had a real Pavement sound to it.

Mark Zonda: “Hospital Ward” is such a great song, Blur meeting Lambchop. What guest would you like to have had on this song, and what would you change of it now that is done?

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Andrew: Thank you, It is one of my personal favourites. I like your description of it. “Blur meets Lambchop” –That’s genius! And I can even see what you mean! We had hoped that Kurt from Lambchop might have helped out with the vocals on the song, as I have met him a few times, and he has told me he likes the band, but sadly I couldn’t get in touch with him in the time we had. If I could change anything about it, you know what…I wouldn’t. I think it’s the most perfect thing we have ever done.

Mark Zonda: Vocals from Kurt would have been the cherry on top of the cake. Can I try instead?

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Andrew: Well, if you’d offered before we recorded and released the song…you never know, we’d might have said yes.

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Mark Zonda: WOW! Thanks! Well… Tell us about the Bristolian scene. Ever met Santa Dog or The Aliens or played at Ruby Studio?

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Andrew: I really don’t know a lot about the current Bristol music scene. Actually, we have never been involved from day one, in any Bristol scene. No one wants us to be part of their special gang!!! I have heard of “Santa Dog” and “The Aliens”, although I couldn’t tell you what they sound like!

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Actually, sorry, just remembered I did see “Santa Dog” once at an out door event a few years ago. They were very professional, as I recall. The worst thing about Bristol, is that if you don’t know the right people, you’re left out of the party. The best thing about it is, it has always been very diverse, with loads of bands just getting on with it and doing their own thing

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Mark Zonda: We played with Santa Dog, and they seemed the nicest person in the block. Is being nice a Bristol feature?

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Andrew: I think probably being from Bristol does generally make people nicer. Maybe because it’s such a great city to live in. It’s big enough to be busy, and have things to do if you like going out and stuff. But it’s also very laid back and mellow. So perhaps that’s why bands from here are nicer than a lot of places. Perhaps on the other hand they were just very nice people! Who knows for sure?

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Mark Zonda: I heard that a new “Mini Album” is coming up soon. What fan do have to expect?

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Andrew: Well we think it’s very good. It is called “Broken Bones” It is a little more Lo-Fi than the last one. There are really good songs on it. “Back Up Plan” would be an international hit record if anyone else released it. The album is going to be available as a download only, which is something we’ve never done before, so we hope people will bother to download it. The sleeve design we will email to anyone who wants it. The booklet, and the tray part. So you can burn your own disc, and print the artwork. We figured it would be a cheaper way for many of our overseas supporters, where we sell most of our records, to get an album. Without having to pay postage costs and exchange rates. It’s got a bit of everything, it’s mellow where it needs to be, and it rocks in all the right places. Let’s just say it’s like Blur meets Lambchop!

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Mark Zonda: If you get close to an oasis do you think you’ll deserve Meatloaf at least?

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Andrew: Well… as a strick non meat eater, we’d have to go for the vegie option! Big as Oasis? That will never happen. We’re too old to be “discovered” and too independently minded to play the “fame game”. Although being a bit more popular would be nice, just to make things easier for us. I honestly don’t think there is anyone in the Beatnik Filmstars who would really enjoy their lives being turned into a media circus. We’re not that kind of people.

Mark Zonda: Let me wish all the best for you with total and devoted fan boy faith. In Anyway.

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Beatnik Filmstars – “Rats”

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