INTERVIEW: Max Tundra

INTERVIEW:

PHOTO CREDIT: Jack Barnes

Max Tundra

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THE truly brilliant…

Max Tundra (Ben Jacobs) has recently caught my ear and eye with his unique and fantastic cover of Kate Bush’s This Woman’s Work (from here 1989 album, The Sensual World) – which is his first single in nearly fifteen years. It’s this beautiful very synth-heavy gem filled to the brim with incredible, rich falsetto! Max Tundra is a pioneer and one of the most influential artists of popular music right now. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with the likes of Arca, Daphne & Celeste and A.G. Cook. A born and natural musical predecessor to PC Music, Jacobs also sports a stocked and phenomenal remix roster which includes Pet Shop Boys, The Strokes and Franz Ferdinand! The release of This Woman’s Work follows the reissues of his first three studio albums (his 2000 debut, Some Best Friend You Turned Out to Be, 2002’s breakthrough Mastered by Guy at the Exchange, and 2008’s Parallax Error Beheads You) last year, as well as the must-hear Remixtape E.P. – which featured reinventions from the Max Tundra discography by the likes of Julia Holter, Katie Dey and Kero Kero Bonito. On Max Tundra’s lasting legacy, A. G. Cook commented: “Mastered by Guy at the Exchange’ is a true cult album - a playful monolith that sounds both nothing and everything like the 2000s. Stumbling across it as a teenager, it reinforced a hunch I had: that music is a place where anything could happen, and total chaos could be held together by the lightest of pop hooks. There’s an oddly British quality to Max Tundra’s work, a soft and polite maximalism - pioneering, eccentric and infinitely remixable”. It has been a pleasure speaking with the incredible Max Tundra about his reworking of a Kate Bush classic, why he has reissued his first three albums, and what comes next for him. Take a read below to the answers and thoughts of…

A musical master.

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Hi Ben. How has your week been treating you?

Very nicely thanks, Sam!

You have reissued your first three albums, Some Best Friend You Turned Out to Be (2000), Mastered by Guy at The Exchange (2002) and Parallax Error Beheads You (2008), plus new remix compilation entitled Remixtape featuring A. G. Cook, Julia Holter, Kero Kero Bonito and others. What was the reason behind that? How do you feel now they are out in the world?

It felt as though the time was right/ripe for these records to make their way back out into the world again, as they seemed to bamboozle quite a few people when they were originally released. It had become apparent that these albums has subsequently influenced quite a few people (or so I am told), so here they are again.

I wanted to talk about your cover of Kate Bush’s This Woman’s Work. I know artists like Maxwell have covered it and added a new dimension. Yours does too. What was it about this song that resonated? Is it a favourite Kate Bush song of yours?

I actually chose it because it’s not necessarily one of my favourites of hers - that is to say, it’s still utterly amazing, as are all KB songs, but there are certain of her songs I feel are unimpeachable - but I felt like I could bring something of myself to this one in particular. For one thing, I needed a new track to play at the end of my recent live shows, promoting the reissues - as I hadn’t released any new music in 15 years. So I thought a Max Tundra cover of This Woman’s Work would be a nice surprise at the end of a set of my hectic music.

This is your first single in fifteen years. Obviously, it is quite a big moment. Were you nervous recording the song knowing that, or was it quite freeing and inspiring?

I didn’t originally plan to put it out as a single, but it went down so well at the shows it seemed like a good idea to actually release it. At the time of production all I was thinking of was the live response, and I put it together fairly quickly, which is unusual for me, but maybe that’s something I should try more.

I like the video for the song. It is quite spacey, dayglo, dreamy and cool. What was the concept and direction behind it? What was it like working with James Hankins (director/editor/producer)?

I think this James Hankins quote sums up the whole thing perfectly: "About 10 years ago, I tweeted: 'In 100 years' time, will people look back and realise Max Tundra was actually the ultimate pop star?' I didn't know it then, but it seems like that was the starting point for this video".

“I love it! Always feels great to know I’ve had any impact whatsoever”

You recently spoke with The Quietus and talked about Bush being a hero. You also name-checked songs from The Dreaming. Is this an album of hers that you are especially drawn to and intrigued by?

Yep, that’s my favourite one - her most genre-free exploratory record.

Is there more material coming soon? What does the future hold?

Hopefully. Busy life!

You also mentioned in that Quietus interview that, although you get recognised infrequently, it does make a big impact. You have had a huge effect and influence on artists and fans alike. What is it like knowing your work has touched so many people in different ways?

I love it! Always feels great to know I’ve had any impact whatsoever.

To finish, I will put in here any song from your catalogue that you wish. Which should we go with?

Until We Die, from Parallax Error Beheads You – super proud of this one! Thanks for the chat.