Was the decision to play in Argentina something to do with Diego's own expectations of making a comeback to his own roots?
"That was definitely a big part of it. Everything sort of lined up perfectly for the trip to happen. If we could have gone there on SMMP we would have, but that album was never released in South America. This time the folks at Universal Argentina, who were aware of Diego's ancestry, loved the record and were extremely excited to introduce us to the country at large, which took place back in July. It was an incredible experience! Universal Argentina did a fantastic job, and the people were overwhelmingly enthusiastic. It definitely felt like a great home-coming for Diego, which became a proud moment for all of us.
"What was it like to play live to those in Argentina? How do you feel this next time when you play alongside Patti Smith and the Beastie Boys?
"It was pretty ridiculous (in the best way)! The crowds are always massive and the kids are just going bananas! When we played the BUE Festival with Patti Smith and the Beastie Boys last month, everything just felt right. It was a big moment, yet we were all super relaxed and in the zone. I am not sure why, but we always seem to feel right at home on big stages in front of large audiences. Maybe, because our inflated egos can have room to breathe (j/k). :) I am not quite sure...it just seems to be our natural element. We can be as animated and retarded as possible all in the name of good fun. btw. Patti Smith sounded great, and the Beastie's put on the most entertaining show I have seen in a long time. When "Brass Monkey" started, I thought there was going to be a riot!
"The songs "Lolita" and "Brasil" from the Black Magic Show to me are the most interesting titles on the record. What inspired them?
"Diego's best songs are always inspired by women, and tumultuous relationships are always good inspiration. He was trying to express his inner anguish through the majesty of song (j/k)! Personally, I think too much attention has been paid to their literary and cinematic references. "Lolita", for example, only uses Nabokov's character as a loose construct, but is primarily about a personal relationship, not the character. The same is also true for "Brasil". The basic theme of the Black Magic Show is "temptation", in all its mediums; from causes to consequences."
Do you consider this album an evolution? If you consider it that are you adding some of your musical influences as well?
"Definitely. We are different people to some degree now than we were three-four years ago, and that reflects in the music. We have gone through a host of different experiences, not to mention extensive touring which inevitably makes you a better musician. We recorded SMMP in New York City and the BMS in Los Angeles. In regard to the BMS specifically, the songs are more advanced, yet subtly, in terms of song structure, rhythmic approaches, and layering than SMMP, and this comes from experience. On SMMP, less was more, and on the BMS, more was more. As to which approach is preferred is up to the listener. One guarantee I can safely assure, for better or worse, is that every Elefant record will sound different than its predecessor."
Have you considered making songs in spanish?
"Yes. We considered translating some songs from English into Spanish, but in the end we determined it would probably be better to just write a new song(s) in Spanish from the beginning. Translations, no matter how good, are always skewed to some degree."
