SXSW 2014 Interview With The Last Internationale: Protest anthem rockers are one of the biggest draws for SXSW 2014.
As stated in my recent list of best acts for SXSW 2014, The Last Internationale will be one of the hottest tickets of the festival.
A bluesy power trio full of anti-establishment and protest anthems, they’re a sorely needed antidote to the current glut of empty calorie pop music.
The band is fronted by vocalist/guitarist/bassist Delila Paz, guitarist Edgey Pires, and drummer Brad Wilk, (formerly of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave; he was introduced to Paz and Pires via RATM guitarist Tom Morello, who counts himself as a massive fan.)
The band took time out of their busy festival schedule to answer an Q&A via email, the entirety of which follows below:
Please tell me how the Last Internationale came together. What was the catalyst?
The catalyst was a mutual interest in folk/blues music and the desire to use art as an instrument of social change.
So for those unfamiliar with your sound, how would you describe it?
We prefer people to form their own interpretations of our music. We wouldn’t want our opinions to influence or corrupt their first listening experience.
I know you recently did a Woody Guthrie cover (‘Deportees’) for a Bono’s Agit8 protest album compilation , and you’re one of the few newer acts included. Does it surprise you the lack of other bands doing protest songs given how much upheaval is in the world today?
We don’t think there is lack of socially conscious bands- we just don’t often hear them in the mainstream.
And to follow that up, does that anger you that more artists aren’t speaking out so directly, and was that perhaps an inspiration for you to do so?
No. Artists should express themselves however they please. We are more angered by the policies of our government and the exploitation and repression that working class people suffer under capitalism.
When I heard the band had Brad Wilk drumming, I was expecting a much more raucous RATM or Audioslave style sound, but this is more understated, at least the tracks I’ve heard thus far. So for Brad, was this interesting for you to switch musical gears for something not quite as bombastic?
I’ve been playing all types of music my entire life. TLI is a blues based band that feels like home to me as much as any other band I’ve been in.
What has the feedback been so far on the Trayvon Martin song and video? And when did you know you wanted to write a song about it?
We wrote the song right after the verdict was announced. Like most people around the world, we were outraged. The feedback was mostly positive and the negativity was always racist.
So I’ve heard you’re recording your début album with producer Brendan O’Brien. How has that been going so far, and do you have an idea of when the album will be released?
Recording with O’Brien was incredible. The album will be out in June 2014. We just released our first single “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Indian Blood” for free download and our song “Killing Fields” is on iTunes and will début on the FX show Justified tonight.
So I know you’re playing a slew of SXSW shows. Are you excited to be playing the festival?
Very!
As music fans yourselves, are there any artists that you’re excited to see while you’re there?
Thanks to the Last Internationale for taking the time out for the interview. You can catch them at the festival listings below, and you can download their new single ‘The Killing Fields’ at the bottom of the post.
