Interview: Tiffany from the Givers
Posted on December 13, 2011 by L&G
Ladies&Gentleman: Hey Tiffany!
Tiffany: Hello! How are you?
Not bad, not bad. To be honest I think I’m getting the flu actually.
(Laughs) I didn’t get your name!
Oh yeah, sorry about that. My name is Ladies&Gentleman, and I am from PRIMO! magazine.
Oh nice. It is very nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too, babe! Thanks once again for doing this phone interview with us. Let me start it with a simple question of how did you guys meet to form the Givers?
Well, it’s kind of funny because it was a really natural process as we had known each other through high school and college. We were all musical in a very small, tightly woven music scene (Lafayette, Louisiana). If you go around town on a Friday or Saturday night to watch music, you would probably run into all the same people you run into all the time, you know what I mean?
Yeah, definitely. I am actually from a small town as well so I get you.
Yeah, so we knew each other and ended up playing a show at a local club where I got a call to fill in for the night. We ended up improvising for maybe like 2 hours, and after a while of just playing different instruments (all band member playing instruments that they didn’t usually play) it felt like we had never been involved in anything like this before. I wasn’t doing much singing back then, and to be honest, I never really ever sing in public either, so it was so much fun singing and playing different instruments. The club we were at actually thought it was great too, so we came back a couple of weeks later and quite a few people had showed up. And it was something that we thought was really cool so we talked about actually going out of our way and booking a show and give ourselves a name. But yeah, it mostly just started out of improvisation.
That is actually a cool way of getting together. You hardly ever hear of a band getting together this way.
Yeah.
So hypothetically, say you meet someone who has never heard your music before, how would you describe it to someone?
Well, it’s always really hard to describe something like this as we all have such a diverse range of influences. I’d say it’s whatever you need to feel in the moment, like there is a serious side to it, but there is also a celebratory of life side. Stuff where you can free your mind for a moment. Its not something you can place it down into a couple of words or genres.
Nice way to describe your music.
(Laughs)
Back in June, you released In Light, your first full-length album virtually months after signing with Glassnote records. Had you begun writing that album before you signed, or did you just smack through it like bawses?
We had been working on the album for a year prior! We had it recorded, mixed and mastered before we meet with Glassnote and started talking with them. They offered after we signed to mix and master the album, and if we like, we could add another song so we ended up doing that. That was all ready to go then. We did it all in our own time, paid for all with money we had saved up. We practically did it all on our own.
Woah, so you did it all on your own?
Yeah, its crazy!
To be honest, I first heard you guys on the game FIFA 2012. I think it was your single ‘Up Up Up’. Have you actually played the game?
I don’t actually have a game console, but if there was one game that I would go out and buy, it would be FIFA because it’s the only game that we could all imagine ourselves being in because soccer is the most world renowned, coolest, most energetic sport in there is. Its something else. It represents somewhat of a community and we’re are all about it! When they told us, we were all like “OH YES!”
(Laughs)
Im serious! I think there is a lack of appreciation for soccer in a way.
Yeah! That’s where I first heard you guys and when I did, I was like: “Who the fuck are these guys?!” And not in a bad way of course. It made me start to research the band. It actually brought me to finding out that you guys performed for Jimmy Fallon, am I right? I am actually a massive fan of that bro. What was that like?
Oh yeah, Jimmy Fallon! Jimmy Fallon is one of the best shows you could be asked to play, especially for a first timer on TV. He is super sincere and made us feel comfortable. He was very open to us being involved in the mixing of the sound, and yeah, he is just a very jubilant music lover. I’ve heard other stories of hosts that don’t really care for it, but Jimmy actually really loves bands and music, and really goes out of his way (for them). So that was really awesome seeing that side of him. It was really an amazing experience. It kind of went too fast, and felt like a dream so it still kind of feels like it didn’t happen, you know?
Yeah, definitely. It would be heaps cray. (Laughs) Ok, now for something which is a little more serious; How would you describe the music scene at the moment? Are you happy with it? Do you have any grips?
As far as the music scene, I think a lot of it is kind of polluted. It is so easy for kids to make music nowadays as kids can just jump on their computers and make music to look cool, and do it for the wrong reasons. I think that we have kind of strayed away from music being spiritual and giving. I don’t know if it’s purely because there are so many more people doing music for the wrong reasons, but it just feels like it has been kind of polluted. It’s hard to punch and see what music is being sincere, you know?
Yeah, I get you.
Its hard to find that. I feel like everybody is more competitive and doing it for some really weird reasons that I would never have done it for. Like for example, being rich and famous. I mean it is amazing to make money doing something you love, but some people do it so that they can make a cover of a magazine, be really famous, and have tons of money so that they can do nothing. Like whenever I hear my favourite bands, I like listening to them because they draw different emotions out of me. I think we have lost that as a whole. I mean there are lot of people out there that are saying that this is the apocalypse or end of the music industry. I think there is however, a new growth of a community of artists that are soulful, and emotional and uplifting that is really stretching the music scene because that’s what people want. They want to see real people that they can feel. I think that’s where we are getting.
Fair enough, Tiffany. Are you excited about your 3 month tour you’re about to start in Dallas?
Oh my God, yes! Im still trying to figure out how I will be in Australia in a few months!
Yeah, you’re going to be at Laneway Festival in February, right?
Yeah, I know! I can’t wait.
You sound excited. Or am I reading this wrong?
It is something I guess we have always dreamed about, but it seemed like such a far distance away being the other side of the world and all.
Yeah. (Laughs)
I didn’t think I would get to Australia till I was in my 40’s. (Laughs)
Well, mate. Just a few months away and you will be here!
I know, right! Its going to be unreal!
Good times. (Laughs) So what do you guys have in stall in the coming year?
Firstly, what I need to do, is look up what to do in Australia!
There is heaps to do over here. You can trust me on that. Ok, so the most important question; burgers or burritos?
Which I prefer?
Yeah.
Why, do you guys have good burgers over there?
We do actually! But we need to know what you prefer.
Well, a few in our band are vegetarian, so I think ill have to go with a burrito.
YES!! Great answer!
You guys eat kangaroo?
Of course! It’s actually tastes amazing.
Shut up! Oh My God! What, does it taste like chicken?
It’s kind of chewy. Tastes similar to beef. Really nice actually.
That’s crazy, they’re so cute!
Don’t be like that, you’re making me feel bad!
That’s ridiculous. Maybe ill have to try it when I’m over there.
I think you should definitely try it. You will probably enjoy it. (Laughs) Anyways, thanks heaps for doing the interview today with PRIMO! magazine. I’ll catch you soon.
Thank you for the interview! Ill see you soon!
