Progressive rock band The Pineapple Thief are back with a brilliant new album, Magnolia, out now on Kscope, and ready to tour Europe. We had an interview with the band’s leader Bruce Soord on music, touring and inspiration.
Q: First of all, why “The Pineapple Thief”?
A: I’ll have to rewind my brain to 1999. I’d just written and recorded some songs as an experiment. My label called me to say ‘yes, we’ll put it out but what’s it called?’. I was watching a film called ‘Eve’s Bayou’, there is a scene where a girl steals a pineapple and is branded a ‘pineapple thief’. If I thought I would be telling you this story 15 years later I would have laughed…
Q: Second, congratulations for your new album, it sounds amazing. Tell us about how ‘Magnolia” came to life and where did you take the inspiration from?
A: Thanks, I’m glad you like it! Inspiration for TPT songs always come from life experiences, and almost exclusively the darker ones. There is nothing particularly exceptional about these experiences, this is why I believe it resonates with our fans. So much happens in life that people find impossible to express in words. That’s where it has to transcend into music.
Q: How do your songs come to life?
A: Once inspiration is dished out by the cosmos, I rush to pick up my acoustic guitar and ‘hum and strum’. It’s usually pretty clear if there is any magic going on. If there is, I would record it into my iPhone, sleep on it and refine it before taking it to my studio to demo up. Then the band gets involved. If it gets through their QA then it’s through to the shortlist for the recording.
MORE ON THE PINEAPPLE THIEF NEW ALBUM MAGNOLIA >
Q: Any particular artist you take inspiration from?
A: It’s always difficult to cite a specific artist. What Beck did with acoustic songs and string arrangements on ‘Sea Change’ was remarkable.
Q: What kind of emotions would you like your audience to feel when they listen to your music?
A: Somewhere between heartbreak and euphoria.
Q: Which do you like most, life in the studio or on tour?
A: I have realised that the two must coexist. I love studio life, but when something great happens it’s a lonely feeling high-fiving yourself.
Q: Name the one thing an artist/musician should never forget in their career.
A: Believe in yourself, especially on stage. Don’t let the folded armed nonchalant punters get under your skin. Or the internet trolls for that matter.
Q: And, as usual, our last question: pick 3 albums you would take with you on a desert island
1) Crime of the Century (Supertramp)
2) Sea Change (Beck)
3) Tales of Mystery and Imagination (The Alan Parsons Project)
Order Magnolia on iTunes:
