A Chat with Coffee House Anarchists (30.04.21)
Drawn together with the aim of conquering the world with music, Coffee House Anarchists blast through your headphones with their own breed of indie-pop. Based in France, the trio have released six albums, four singles and toured in various European countries gaining a loyal following along the way. We speak with frontman Justin about their new album Simon Says Party, favourite gigs, musical achievements and future plans.
OSR: How did Coffee House Anarchists come about?
Justin: I’d played and toured in a couple of bands with William the bass player over the years and we wanted to try something new, so I spent six months trying to convince Alex to join us in the South of France as our guitarist. I think it was the promise of living rent-free with a big brother that did it in the end.
OSR: What can you tell us about the new album Simon Says Party?
Justin: The idea is that the whole album is the soundtrack to a party over one night with everything that goes with it from the joking, drinking, dancing and going home slightly worse for wear at the end of it all.
OSR: What was the writing and recording process like?
Justin: Fun! We record and mix everything ourselves from start to finish so that really allows you the freedom to spend more time trying things and go in any direction you chose. As it turns out, we went in all of them.
OSR: If you could change anything about Simon Says Party what would that be?
Justin: Nothing. Not because the album is perfect, far from it, but I’ve always seen an album as documenting and representing a period of time. For us, it is our 6th album, so when I listen back to the others now it’s very often the imperfections I like best.
OSR: Which gig has been your favourite to date?
Justin: We have been lucky to play some crazy gigs in so many different places so it would be hard to pick just one. That said, I remember playing a Rum bar on an old canal boat near Béziers where the atmosphere was just amazing with people dancing on the tables and going for it in a big way. All in a days work.
OSR: Describe your music in three words.
Justin: We always change.
OSR: What is your greatest musical achievement to date?
Justin: I think the fact that we still love playing together after making so much music already. When you really enjoy what you do it comes through in the music.
OSR: Who or what inspires you to make music?
Justin: Everything, because there is so much to be inspired by.
OSR: How do you think Covid-19 has affected the music industry?
Justin: For us, on a short-term basis, it’s really simple, our gigging income became a big fat zero. After that, for the long-term, I think people in the music industry are being forced to look at how unfair the current streaming model is for artists, songwriters and producers. At the moment, Daniel Ek is more concerned with buying Arsenal than actually paying musicians more than 0.000006p per stream. If he keeps up that approach I can’t see Aubameyang showing up for training that often.
OSR: Do you have future plans?
Justin: For sure, I’ve got the shopping to do, some guitar strings to change and last night’s dinner to finish.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Justin: Give the album a go at your next party, you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks to Justin for speaking with us. For more from Coffee House Anarchists check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
