Incubus-eng

Formed in the 1990s, Incubus has so far released seven albums, and sold more than 13 million records worldwide. In 2015 they released their new EP “Trust Fall (Side A)”, which is the first of the series. We don’t know many parts the band will release, but it will be at least two. Incubus is now touring around the world and visited Moscow a few days ago. Apelzin.ru met the frontman Brandon Boyd backstage at a ParkLive festival, Moscow to talk about his favorite albums, changes in the industry and much more. Check it out!

— Hey Brandon! Nice to meet you. The first question we’d really like to ask is: what is the most successful and adorable album of Incubus?

Hey, man! Our most commercially successful album is called “Morning View”. It came out in 2001 and we as a band still think very fondly of the experience of recording it. It was an interesting time of transition, excitement, fear and upheaval and it proved to help define us as a band and set us apart from our contemporaries of the time. Our most adorable album? I love that question. Though I think something is being skewed in translation here, I’m still going to try and answer the question literally. I’d say our most adorable album is our most recent release, “Trust Fall Side A”. In the lyric video for the song “Dance Like You’re Dumb”, it features cats, well… dancing. Isn’t that adorable?!

— Absolutely! By they way since you mention “Morning View” and the last release “Trust Fall Side A”. What has changed in the process of recording in the studio?

In certain ways, everything has changed. We are all pushing 40, first of all. Shocker, I know. And as anyone who has ever neared the end of their 30s could tell you, it’s such a wonderful relief to be a decade away from your 20s (laughing). In other ways, and perhaps the most important ways, not much has changed at all since we began making music together in 1991. We are still like children with their favorite toys rough housing in the sandbox, taking things apart and putting them back together. It’s such an incredible blessing to have the opportunity to make music and art as a way of life. It’s like a psycho-spiritual-emotional record book of your life. And in this case, a book that is now pretty densely packed and filled with stories!

— Many people will be jealous to read that. And why did you recently choose an EP instead of a full format album?

For lots of reasons actually. But let’s just say, for the sake of brevity, that by the end of the year, if you put both releases from Incubus together, it’ll be a super album! (Side A/Side B)

— We are sure it will be. At least, we liked the first part. And do you actually read the reviews on your albums? What do you think of the critics?

I have made a point of trying not to pay too much mind to reviews and such. But, in our day and age a lot gets through via social media and the like. I’m very sensitive and get my feelings hurt, so I try to keep that stuff to a minimum. I have awareness of the critiques we get from fans and critics, and sometimes they aren’t wrong! But I’m not making music to please others. I consider the attention around us making music as a blessing and a wonderful plus. But we do not make music for other people first. We are doing it first and foremost for ourselves and each other, as a form of creative expression and a celebration of love and life and art. If people beyond the walls of our band room like it or god forbid…love it (!) then that is even better!

— That sounds right to me. Incubus has been really popular since the late 1990s. What is the secret of success?

Vitamins? (laughing) Enough sleep most nights of the week? I honestly don’t know. I’m humbled by our longevity and so grateful for the opportunity.

— We are grateful as well. Since we are now backstage at the festival: what do you prefer more – solo concerts or big festivals?

They each offer something unique that I adore. On this most recent trip, we’ve been doing both and I’ve been reminded that I can’t live without either.

— Understand. There is a rock atmoshere all around. So we want to know: what are your favorite rock albums?

My favorites vary, but a few that I have been going back to for years have been the following: Jeff Buckley “Grace”, Refused “The Shape Of Punk To Come”, The Beastie Boys “Check Your Head”, Bjork “Homogenic”, David Bowie “Hunky Dory”, Led Zeppelin “Houses of the Holy”, Leonard Cohen (everything he does), PJ Harvey “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea” and “Rid of Me”.

— Oh wow! Good taste. Tell us more…

There are countless more that have literally changed my life, but too many to mention. A few modern artists that I have been adoring are bands like Hiatus Kaiyote, James Blake, London Grammar, Joanna Newsome, Grizzly Bear, Sia, Wild Belle, and Little Dragon. Just to name a few.

— Sounds like a great choice! Thanks a lot for conversation. And good luck with the tour.

Thanks so much! See you!