Ou Est Le Swimming Pool? An Interview with Tom Artrocker

Ou Est started life as a 3 piece when founding member Charles Haddon moved to Camden in 2008 where he met locals Joe Hutchinson and Caan Capan. Within a month of the trio's paths first crossing, 'Ou Est Le Swimming Pool' was born. The band had just started to make music together when they met production wizard Anders Kallmark who was instantly spellbound and asked if he could come aboard. They have built up a reputation for being one of the most exciting live bands of the moment; their passionate live shows bursting with energy and chemistry as they jump about the stage. New single = These New Knights - is released April 5.
Tom Artrocker asks the questions, Charlie and Joe answer them:

Tom Artrocker: Is there a French word for 'swimming pool' or is it one of those words they've borrowed, like 'computer'?

Charlie Ou Est: They usually like to use the word "piscine", but we weren't too keen on that. Didn't want to go the whole hog with the french name. So we mixed up a little bit. Also, it's probably not the greatest idea to have the word "piss" in a band name. I reckon that'd definitely be asking from heckling!

Joe Ou Est: It's 'la piscine', and, if my B at French GCSE is still serving me correctly, computer is l'ordinataire??

Tom Artrocker: You seem to like living in Camden, I live in Brixton, which is a fairly bonkers spot, but it doesn't compare with Camden. What is it about Camden that makes it so...scary / crazy / awful?

Charlie Ou Est: Camden is full of some strange folk, but realistically there's crazy people everywhere in London. Last year our studio and label offices were in Notting Hill and there was plenty round there as well! I think Camden has a lot of musical people around, so they're a bit more eccentric. But Camden's great, if you know where to go then it's great, and there's no trouble.

Joe Ou Est: Lots of crack addicts. Especially at night. And drunks. We kinda feel at home here!


Ou Est Le Swimming Pool/ These New Knights

Tom Artrocker: Are you fans of 'soft' synths or do you prefer the hard stuff?

Charlie Ou Est: Much prefer the hard ones. I have had a lot of fun with some soft synths, but in the end, they just don't sound quite the same. It's like why people buy old guitar amps, the valves make them sound warmer. Obviously the old synths are not as good for doing remixes and they can be quite unreliable at times. But if you keep them in the studio then they're perfect.

Joe Ou Est: Propellerhead's 'Reason' is unbelievably useful. 'Reason 4' has a soft synth called Thor which really is top draw, and the RPG8 arpeggiator is great fun and so simple to use. BUT, we're suckers for the real things. Between us we're building up quite a collection of antique synthesizers/ drum machines, including, if you're interested.. An Oberheim OB8 and OB Expander, a Roland CR-78, an Emu Drumulator and a Roland SH101 to name a few.

Tom Artrocker: What's your favourite synth?

Charlie Ou Est: I've personally always loved the Oberheim OB8. I think it's on every Ou Est track somewhere.

Joe Ou Est: A Roland Jupiter 8. I've seen them pop up on Ebay, but sadly never had the cash. We did some recordings at RAK Studios in St. John's Wood a while back, and they had one which we borrowed. We had a large studio at RAK with a huge live room that we crammed full of synths, a grand piano, organs etc.. and all the while Kelly Roland was recording down the corridor in a tiny box room that looked like a Janitor's closet. Ha!

Tom Artrocker: Least favourite?

Charlie Ou Est: I don't really to be honest. I've always managed to find something I like in an instrument. I wouldn't really like to say I dislike anything without properly trying it out. Basically just can't think of one!

Joe Ou Est: We've got a Roland JX-3P that often decides to start playing random shitty arpeggios really loudly in the middle of gigs! gotta love that.

Tom Artrocker: What do synths bring to the party that guitars leave at home?

Charlie Ou Est: I think there is so much more you can do with synths. Don't get me wrong, I love guitar as well, but once you get computers involved you're in a completely different world. Sequencing, using arpeggiators, midi controlling, etc. There's endless things that you can do.

Joe Ou Est: Fun sounds. I suppose you could turn a guitar into a synth if you had a large enough pedal board? But we can really shape any sounds we want, from euphoric pads to gritty bass and almost everything in between. And they're really fun to use.. And they look super cool

Tom Artrocker: It's 2012 and you've been asked to play at the opening of the Olympics, you can pick any cover version for your performance - what is it and why?

Charlie Ou Est: That's so tough. Was thinking this morning of doing a dubstep cover of I Want It That Way but I reckon, firstly it would be awful and secondly it wouldn't really fit with the whole Olympic feel. Though anything got to be better than the Winter Olympics one this year. It was so obviously mimed and Bryan Adams actually missed his cue. Classic. For us though I reckon "Go West - We Close Our Eyes". My dad always played it when I was young and always pictured it as a sport theme. Probably because he sings about winning games.

Joe Ou Est: Probably 'You can get it if you really want' by Jimmy Cliff. Another favourite artist of mine that I've picked up from my dad! I saw him play Glastonbury a while back and he got so into 'Many rivers to cross' that he started to cry. Sounds tacky, but really was quite beautiful.
Why? I think it has to be the perfect message for the Athletes.

Tom Artrocker: And you can have anybody you like guesting with you - who is it and why?

Charlie Ou Est: Whitney Housten on backing vocals would be pretty funny. Stevie Wonder as another keyboard player because he's awesome and just found out he's playing at Glastonbury this year. Right Said Fred as dancers to make us look good. And maybe Amy Winehouse for the same reason.

Joe Ou Est: All of Die Antwoord. Cos they are fucking hilarious. Check them out on Vimeo. A bunch of white South African art students who make bad ass rap music!!



Tom Artrocker: To return to 2010, what are your immediate plans?

Charlie Ou Est: Well the release of our second single is upon us, so that is taking up all our time at the moment. Especially as we've just been able to start up our own label, Fire & Manoeuvre Records. It's been great as we've been able to employ an amazing team of people to work with, so we have high hopes for the next releases.

Joe Ou Est: World domination! We've just set up a record label called 'Fire And Manoeuvre' and will be releasing our second single on it on 29th March. There'll be a big single launch party at The Big Chill House in King's Cross on 26th March in association with last.fm, which will of course be free entry to all.

Tom Artrocker: These New Knights - who are they, what do they want and where in Camden can they buy their swords?

Charlie Ou Est: Well, we're the knights and "These New Knights" are the pesky wannabes trying to take our town, our time and our girls. I reckon there are quite a few places in Camden that you could buy a sword. Whether be a toy, replica or illegal...

Joe Ou Est: They are Chazz, Caan and Joe. They're pretty bad ass! They want to shamelessly endorse as many products as possible so as to never have to pay for anything again!! Swords? There is a gun shop that opened recently in Camden. It claims only to sell replicas, but I've personally seen it raided by Police three times already! I'll give 'em a call and see if they do swords.

Tom Artrocker: Will you be voting at the general election?

Charlie Ou Est: Still undecided on that as both the front runners are not ideal. I just want to move to Ireland, where musicians aren't taxed. Paradise... And there's no one-eyed Scotsman or an Etonian running there.

Joe Ou Est: Always. And I will be voting Labour. Gordon Brown's going to have a tough time though as David Cameron is a bit of a PR dream. A good looking guy who delivers great speeches, he's Tony Blair reincarnated as a Tory! I would urge everyone who's eligible to to vote.

Tom Artrocker: Ou ets la plume de ma tante?

Charlie Ou Est: I don't know. Hopefully exactly where she wants it to be.

Joe Ou Est: Sur la table?

Tom Artrocker: That's it - Thanks guys