New Rave, New YorkSynth ‘n’ skins duo Shy Child is Pete Cafarella and Nate Smith. Together they comprise one of the live scene’s hottest acts. Formed in advance of their time back in 2000, Shy Child no longer need wonder how soon is now?
I’ll begin by wondering what’s in a name. “We just thought it sounded good, but if, like Interpol, we were named after nicknames we gotten called as kids, we’d be called ‘She’ or ‘Shitty’”, laughs singer Pete.With their impressive catalogue, “our songs are sometimes apocalyptic, sometimes celebratory”, muses Pete, Shy Child can’t commit to a single type of sound fully. It’s something of a constantly reworked idea with labels such as prog-punk adhering to the band one minute, then electro-clash sticking it to ‘em.
“Not because we want to confuse people, or that we’re prententious jerks who’ll go with whatever description’s the most cool”, explains drummer Nate. “No that’s no us at all, it’s just we don’t say we’re going to only be this type of band, as that would be far too restrictive.”
Unconfined and ever-ready to experiment, not just with their own electronic sound, but as successful remixes of Editors (‘Munich’) and The Futureheads (‘Decent Days & Nights’) have shown, they’re not shy of reworking what else is out there.
Proving they’re no one-trick guitar music phonies, Nate explains, “We’d like to mix for Lady Sovereign next. The English press are getting really hard on that girl, but I still think she’s pretty awesome. So we’d like to mix her, or the next successful female rap artiste this fickle industry throws up.”
Talking industry, tonight the music press is about to implode in on itself down Muse’s supermassive plughole at the prospect of the first televised Brit Awards in nearly two decades. Word has got out to Shy Child about Brand and Oasis giving Fiona Bruce something else to talk about come 10 o’clock.
“You guys are absolutely crazy for the Brit Awards, so much excitement over another Eurovision”. Nate’s deadpan sarcasm aside, Shy Child profess their fondness for multi-nominated Lily Allen. “We wanted to make love to her sass on the tour bus en route to Glastonbury 2005. Hell, we want to work with her next – Lily, if you’re reading this: Give. Us. A. Call.”
If they do get that call from Ms Allen, and considering electronic music has never been as big in the US as it has in Europe, does Shy Child think they’d be better suited relocating?
“I like being the tourist over here”, objects Nate. “However if you’re talking food, then English bacon’s just the best. But what difference does it make? It’s all so expensive for no fucking reason. I mean six dollars for a frickin’ beer – come on England!”
Two days after that Valentine’s Day interview and Shy Child is headlining Fabric. Once through the wall of people, Wall of Sound records’ potentially most lucrative new signatories dart me a glance and then it begins. Albeit slowly, owing to their demure Nu Yawk cool laid-back, and almost detached stage personae. It betrays the maelstromesque sound that’s about to coerce even the most ardent detractors into believing that this duo has finally wrested new rave from musos’ mere sounds of oh seven brain farts.
The band translates incredibly well live; it’s a magisterial assault on the senses. This is the band that’s elevated the guiboard (or the keytar) into the cool. Pete plays the waist-level slung instrument prodigiously, every electronic sound emanating via his dextrous digits, whilst still remaining free to kick and jump about onstage whilst Nate hammers out each hyperkinetic beat. The dance freaks just can’t get enough ket to last the set.
Shy Child is supporting Klaxons on their sold-out UK tour in May, which sounds off at the Carling Academy, Birmingham on May 7. “We’re totally looking forward to hanging out with Jamie, James and Captain Strobe, and playing in front of so many fucking people”, enthuses Pete. Expect to see them play all the big festivals this summer. And the one they’re most psyched for? It’s unanimous: “Bestival.”
Not Worthy Farm then?
“Hell no! Just look at that awesome name, we wanna play Bestival just cos of the goddamn name. But of course it’s called that cos it’s the best, right?”
New single ‘Drop The Phone’/'Down On Yourself’ is out February 26, co-produced by Paul Epworth. Their new album Bright Matter is released May 21.
Photo: James Russell
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