Accessible:Noise

When HEALTH released their debut album in 2007 it had a polarising effect on the most eclectic areas of the world’s music community. The little known band from Los Angeles quickly became recognised as a band pushing the boundaries, twisting and combining unconventional noise rock elements and making music that was so unique that it seemed almost incomprehensible.

However, long before their first album was released HEALTH were doing things their own way; a fact that was later recognised by recording their debut album during off-license hours at LA venue The Smell. The band has a strong connection to their early nurturing and still remains strongly attached to the culture that helped them develop and grow as a young band. John Famiglietti, the band’s bassist, speaks very fluidly of the time and situation, explaining, “Way before the first record came out we were DIY touring all across the states playing shows, so we’ve always been pretty close to that culture.”

Even after the first record came out HEALTH’s impact was only felt within a small niche market, but it was those fans that helped the band deliver a clear message, that HEALTH was a band with few restrictions and guidelines to which they structured their music. It wasn’t until Crystal Castles released a popular remix of the HEALTH song ‘Crimewave’ that the band started to gain traction with a wider musical audience.

Speaking about opportunities to expand their fan base and become more widely known, HEALTH was generally not a band that got offered good support slots. On the topic, John says “when we were a young band we actually didn’t have those opportunities really. We sorted out DIY shows and then we did tour after tour after tour headlining before anyone really knew our name and I guess the first big support tour where we really started to break through was with the Crystal Castles tour we did.” They later went on to tour with Nine Inch Nails which was slightly less successful, although John says “we had a lot of fun doing it.”

The Crystal Castles remix actually appeared on HEALTH’s own record, titled HEALTH//DISCO. After releasing their debut album the band became heavily entranced with dance music and decided to release a remix album. John remembers “when we did HEALTH//DISCO we were really obsessed with bloghouse and the explosion of all that type of music. It was a really exciting time, we were just glued.” And the blogs later embraced HEALTH’s disco album, as well as originals from their first album. “We were extremely, extremely grateful for that. The entire reason we did remixes was for the blogs; we just wanted to be active in that world.”

“I think that’s pretty much what separates us from most other bands of that ilk, is that we’re always thinking of the fans”

Going back to making original music, in 2009 HEALTH released their second album. Titled Get Color, it had a much stronger dance element than their first record, perhaps reflecting the unusual situation of following on from a remix album. Before Get Color was released the band had expressed concern that some fans might find the record a little too mainstream, but as John explains, it wasn’t the case at all.

“I think the reaction was really good and surprisingly drove a lot of people who I thought were die hards, or you know, liked our first album better, which of course some do, but they definitely weren’t disappointed and they definitely don’t feel betrayed and they basically enjoy all the different things that we do, you know, they’re pretty open-minded people.”

HEALTH has always had a very strong connection with their fans, and where some noise bands can get a little self-indulgent, making music that’s often almost inaccessible to the human ear, HEALTH is very conscious of making music that can be enjoyed. “I think that’s pretty much what separates us from most other bands of that ilk, is that we’re always thinking of the fans,” expresses John. “You want it to be gratifying, edit and reign in all kinds of those dark desires because you try and be listenable and you want it to effect someone emotionally.”

Satisfying their loyal fans was also a defining reason behind why they have decided to do a second disco album, remixing the songs on Get Color. They tried not to make Get Color overtly dancey knowing that the following remix album would hopefully embrace that section of their audience. Combined with a general love of dance music, it seemed like an obvious choice to continue the remix theme.

“We’re always listening to a lot of dance music and stuff like that. That’s the reason why we did and we’re going to have a disco two. We want to sort of continue that thing we’ve got going.”

“definitely some people have come back from the HEALTH//DISCO album and there’s a lot of new people”

“We see ourselves as a rock band, but yeah, what we’re trying to do is not of a new genre but our own view is that we want to be as detached and forward-thinking as some other genres that are doing things electronically.”

The band is now working on the new remix album, but New Zealand fans will be especially excited to know that the band already has new material, which may be played live. “We’ve got new HEALTH material now but we’re also working on the remix album. It’s really difficult to sort of get a theme going with so many different remixes and it’s really difficult to get a lot of really great remixes in a row. We’re in this very strange position of having to follow up a remix album that we really want to deliver on. So we’re really working hard to try and get a good sequence and a good vibe going on the record.”

John is unable to confirm any artists who have submitted remixes, but it was only due to the fact that the track listing is not confirmed. He did however add that “definitely some people have come back from the HEALTH//DISCO album and there’s a lot of new people. We usually like it when people are hungry, when people are hungry they really put something into it and you usually get something really great. The thing is I can’t confirm anybody because we haven’t decided on the track listing.”

HEALTH is playing four shows in New Zealand in February 2010 

February 19, 2010- The Transmission Room, Auckland (all-ages)

February 20, 2010- San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington

February 21, 2010- Otago University Orientation, Dunedin

February 22, 2010- Canterbury University Orientation, Christchurch

 HEALTH- Die Slow: MP3

 HEALTH- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under California, Los Angeles, U.S.A
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