What Im
Seeing
Los Angeles indie band LANY + film fest picks.
LANYs Paul Klein talks making music
The indie-pop boy bands lead singer chats ahead of their Auckland show
Malibu-based Paul Klein (above centre, with
Les Priest at left, and Jake Goss at right) chats
on the phone about music, the power of the
internet, and his personal style.
INDIA HENDRIKSE: Give us a summary of
your music in one sentence.
PAUL KLEIN: With indie-pop, you can tell
that the sound and the song is coming from
the artist. That they wrote and produced that
song themselves. Its a sound thats a little less
polished; its different to your watered-down,
formulaic, commercial radio pop song. We
wanted to give people a universe to live in and
dwell in.
Your songs talk a lot about love. Do they
draw on your own experiences?
Yes, a million percent. I dont know how to
write about things that I havent personally
experienced, Im not into writing fiction. And
furthermore, last year we played 117 shows.
This year well play over 130, and for me
personally, I just cant imagine getting up on
stage and singing about something I know
nothing about. The only way I can stay sane
and grounded and even enjoy myself, is the
On now My Best Dead Friend although a little grim in its title is a one-woman comedy that takes us to 1990s Dunedin, Q Theatre Loft, until Sat 22 Jul
6 1 3. J U L .17
fact that what Im saying, I know and Ive
experienced and Ive walked through. I could
probably even tell you what it smelled like in
the room and the way the light hit things in
the room, or what I ate after writing the song.
The internet has been a large part of your
success. What are your feelings about the
internet as a medium for connection?
I think the internet is the strongest tool in
the world. If its used correctly you can really
get a lot out of it. The only reason Im on
the phone with you right now is because
of the internet. Thats the only reason you
know were a band. I cant even imagine how
difficult it must have been pre-internet to be
an international act.
Personal style-wise, is there a musician
youve always looked up to or wanted to
epitomise?
Thats a good question. I think Pharrell is
an amazing dresser. Mick Jagger, absolutely
timeless. Frank Ocean and Tyler the Creator
I love the way Tyler dresses and puts things
together.
See LANY at the Powerstation,Wed 26 Jul
Writer and film buff
Alexander Bisley picks
apart the NZ International
Film Festival programme
What will be the most spine-tingling film
this year? I Am Not Your Negro. Decades
after the mighty intellectual James Baldwins
passing, his questions about race, justice
and social cohesion remain urgent and
rousing.
Your pick for the most important New
Zealand-made film? Waru tackles
child abuse in New Zealand. Tough, but
important.
Up-and-coming director to watch? New
Zealands Best 2017 showcases six talented
short film directors, including Amberley
Aumua, and Catherine Bisley (my sister).
If you could only see three films at the
festival, what would you see? Loveless,
from the Russian master Andrey Zvyagintsev
(Leviathan and Elena); We Dont Need a Map
by indigenous director Warwick Thornton
(of the extraordinary Samson and Delilah),
who understands Australia like few do; and
The Square Swedish cinema fresh from
Cannes Film Festival acclaim.
A documentary you want to see?
Theres too many for just one. Quest is about
hip-hop and hope during the Obama years
in a big, broken American city. Also, The
War Show, about the Syrian Civil War.
New faces you cant wait to check out?
Ildik Enyedis On Body and Soul, set in an
abattoir, introduces us to Hungarian actors
Alexandra Borbely and Geza Morcsanyi.
Bangkok Nites unfamiliar stars come
recommended by the reliable critic Tim
Wong.
A drama you want to see? A horror? A
comedy? Wind River, the writer of the
incendiary Hell or High Waters directorial
debut; A Gentle Creature no one
approaches horror like Russians; The Other
Side of Hope Aki Kaurismaki marries
distinctive Scandinavian humour with heart.
Do you see any overall themes in the
content of this years festival?
Immigration stories are a 2017 highlight.
The NZIFF runs Fri 14 JulSun 6 Aug, see
nziff.co.nz for the full programme
i PA PE R B OY