On New Believers, Minotaurs employ pastoral imagery and metaphysical musings to show swelling discontent with how the world works. It's an evolution of societal ideals as natural phenomenon, that resisting tyrannical (if democratic) government is as natural as a breeze feeding a fire. It's perfect for the politically minded lover of indie poetics who needs to get down to fat beats as often as they get down on fat cats. Minotaurs understand what agitprop musicians from Fela Kuti to Max Romeo and Public Enemy have grasped: that declarations of rights, anthems of discontent and the verses of resistance gather strength through giant horns. In this case, the horns belong to Minotaurs. (Static Clang, www.minotaursband.com)
New Believers is aware of the burgeoning resistance of the Arab Spring, Occupy and Idle No More, but were you conscious of the fact that this record will get you new fans, new believers in what you do?
Frontman Nathan Lawr: I hope you're right [laughs]. That is exactly what the record is about: responding to a tangible global awakening. You can feel that there has been a real serious challenge to the hegemony; it's not going away, despite the media's attempts to discredit the Occupy Movement and Idle No More. The best they could do with Occupy was to say that it's over; it's not over. I hear people say, "Idle No More is the new Occupy." Well, you can't be the new something if that thing is still going on. Nobody is the new Bruce Springsteen while Bruce Springsteen is still alive.
How important would you say funkiness is in trying political times?
Very important, because it's inherently liberating, and to get the most out of funky music you have to let your inhibitions go and drop the façade. Give it up, join the movement and let it take you along with it.
New Believers is aware of the burgeoning resistance of the Arab Spring, Occupy and Idle No More, but were you conscious of the fact that this record will get you new fans, new believers in what you do?
Frontman Nathan Lawr: I hope you're right [laughs]. That is exactly what the record is about: responding to a tangible global awakening. You can feel that there has been a real serious challenge to the hegemony; it's not going away, despite the media's attempts to discredit the Occupy Movement and Idle No More. The best they could do with Occupy was to say that it's over; it's not over. I hear people say, "Idle No More is the new Occupy." Well, you can't be the new something if that thing is still going on. Nobody is the new Bruce Springsteen while Bruce Springsteen is still alive.
How important would you say funkiness is in trying political times?
Very important, because it's inherently liberating, and to get the most out of funky music you have to let your inhibitions go and drop the façade. Give it up, join the movement and let it take you along with it.