21 SAUCES OF INSPIRATION - UNKLE

We all know UNKLE from their genre defining video and 1998 tune with Thom Yorke, 'Rabbit in The Headlights'. But UNKLE's history in the music scene runs very deep and from all angles. Wiki lists UNKLE in four different incarnations, one that has included at different periods, electronic maestro DJ Shadow, Tim Goldsworthy and Japanese hip-hop crew Major Force.

They have worked with everyone from Richard Ashcroft, Josh Homme from the Queens of the Stone Age and Mike D from the Beastie Boys. Now, UNKLE are just James Lavelle and Pablo Clements, and have released a new album titled Where Did The Night Fall, which is their fifth studio album.

We sat down with James Lavelle to talk inspiration, graffiti and his love for the street artist Basquiat.

1. What gets you going in the morning?

Mornings are not my best time as i'm always working late but if I am up it tends to be when I have time off so I love the feeling of time and space!

2. What five records would you take to a desert island and why?

This question is always impossible especially now with iPods and computers I would hope I could take a library of music!

But 5 albums that spring to mind are:

Massive Attack – Mezzanine

Radiohead – In Rainbows

Queens of the Stone Age – Songs Are For the Deaf

Beastie Boys – Check Your Head


Beatles – Revolver

3. What inspires you to create?

People, music, love and hate, heaven and hell, the environment, the arts, my daughter to name a few creative juices

4. What book or piece of literature are you reading at the moment?

Timothy Leary – Flashbacks an Autobiography.

5. Favorite piece of literature and why?

I have never been that well read; music and film were more inspirational growing up but I suppose one of the most important books to influence me was ‘Spraycan Art’ and ‘Subway Art’, the first books on graffiti. They were the bibles as a kid if you were into hip-hop and graffiti. Also early magazine culture were so important then, magazines such as the Face and ad and I loved soul underground, and the two books that had a major impression in my later teens were ‘On The Road’ by Kerouac and ‘Junky’ by Burroughs.

6. Favorite club?

I loved the Blue Note when it was around and that’s how it is at Bar Rumba was an amazing time, then Fabric happened which is still one of the greats, Womb in Tokyo is amazing and currently one of my favorites, the Sound Factory in NYC was amazing, I loved Space in Ibiza before it became over run by the English, and there are so many spots in Berlin and Eastern Europe that rock!

7. What one historical figure inspires you or would you like to meet?

Difficult question but those who spring to mind would be Stanley Kubrick, Jean Micheal Basquiat, Joe Strummer, John Lennon, my grandfather Gabriel Lavelle whom I never met he was an opera singer in the 50’s, and Jesus to see what all the fuss was about!

8. List five movies that you couldn’t live without?

Blade Runner, Apocalypse Now, Godfather 1 and 2, 2001 - A Space Odyssey

9. Favorite director and actor?

So many – Kubrick, Terance Malik, Michael Mann, Ridley Scott, James Cameron and as actor... Sean Penn is definitely up there.

10. Favorite piece of architecture or building?

Too many again: the night time view of Tokyo is amazing, the churches in Rome, the drive over the bridge as you enter New York, temples in mountains in Nepal.

11. Favorite combination of food or recipe?

Japanese is my favourite and Korean BBQ with Kobe beef.

12. Favorite musical genre in the last 100 years and what would you mix it with if you could?

I can’t answer this!

13. Favorite Internet site?

I frequent sites generally in relation to events, i.e.: when a band’s new record is out, etc rather than a favorite, I use Spotify and eBay the most!

14. Who has had the biggest influence on you in your life?

My daughter and my band members.

15. What is one record you should never mix into a set or be seen dancing to in a club?

I would never DJ Europop – that type of shit I hate!

16. Favorite 5 music artists currently listening too?

The National, Radiohead, Tame Impala, Autolux, Mark Lanagan and Isobel Campbell.

17. Favorite piece of art or artist and why?

Basquiat is my favourite artist, and currently Jonas Burgert is rocking my world. It’s hard to say why it’s just how they take you to a different world and let your mind drift.

18. Artist you’d most like to collaborate with?

So many people that spring to mind are-Jonas Burgert, Bill Viola, I love working with Warren and Nick, James Cameron, Jon Glaser, Brian Eno, Nathan Coley to name a few.

19. One obscure band you think should be more popular?

Us!

20. What’s your ringtone?

No ring tone I have it on vibrate.

21. Does UNKLE have a favorite sauce?

We like to mix it up!