A couple of hours before their return to Leeds Festival, we caught up with Deftones in their dressing room to chat about the festival weekend, touring, their latest album Diamond Eyes and their plans for the rest of this year.
-How was Reading?
It was pretty cool, I think. We went out there and did our thing, what we do. I enjoyed it. Once you get your head around the mud, you have fun hanging around at night in the VIP area, drinking. It's a fun festival, a lot of fun.
-What are you hoping to get from Leeds today?
I think we're leaving really fast, so we're just trying to have a really good show. We'll have a good time.
-Is it hard keeping it fresh for yourselves on tour?
Not really. We have a lot of songs, there's a big discography. There are those songs you like to play and people like to hear, but we'll bring out things here and there. They're usually in different cities or special cases, but we like to adapt to the situation. It's almost like setlists have a life span.
-Are you excited to be back in the UK this weekend?
We love being here.
-Do you noticed a difference in crowds?
What I noticed is how much people are similar. Yeah, people have their distinct things like fashion, but people just want a good time. Out here, you guys have been doing these festivals crossing genres for years. In the States, it hasn't had that longevity I guess, but it's no different. Maybe people are more willing to brave the elements out here than in the States.
-These are your only festival appearances this year. Is there something special about Reading and Leeds?
Yeah, cos it's Reading and Leeds! We all grew up hearing about it as kids when you're in a band. It was pretty much logistical. We were here anyway, so we hit the ones we can en route.
-You played a similar slot a couple of years ago. Would you prefer playing higher up on one of the smaller stages?
Yeah, that's where we would do best. That's what we'll try to do next time. It makes more sense for us. It's fun being on the Main Stage, but we want to taste the tent, you know? We can pretty much guarantee how that's going to taste.
-Do you prefer more intimate shows?
Not necessarily. It depends on the time of the day, the elements, the festival in general, the line-up. Tents are fun, but they're also hot. It all depends.
-Does playing a festival differ to your own headline shows?
Not so much with the playing, but more the social component. You're going to come across so many people, different bands, crew, and some of the staff. You'll remember somebody from the last time. It's definitely a social thing.
-Today you're playing alongside bands like The Offspring and Rise Against, and you've got a fairly diverse sound. How do you think you'll fit in?
I don't think we've ever really tried to fit in. We just do what we do and try to enjoy it. We like sticking out like the thorn.
-You had your tour around Europe and the States. How was that?
It was awesome, lots of good shows and good memories. It's just been really good. We had awesome tours and great comradery with other bands.
-Do you prefer that to being in the studio?
No, that's fun too! It's all part of it. It always seems like just about the time you've been doing one long enough, you're stoked to do the other. They work hand-in-hand. It's awesome.
-Do you separate them in a cycle, or write on the road?
We've pretty much always had it separate. We tried to write on the road, and it's not like we can't. It just doesn't seem to have worked yet. There's something to be said for just coming together and creating something from nothing. Sometimes it works fast, sometimes it works slowly - there's no formula to it all.
You never know. In all honesty man, we didn't think we'd write another record, so it's all organic. As cheesy as that sounds, that's why it's really special.
-How was the reaction to your latest record?
It's been really good. If people are reacting well and it's fresh, you're into it too. Your contemporaries who are making really good music, and if they like it, it makes you feel good. When you take a chance on yourself and succeed, it feels really good.
-How has life on the road changed over the years?
I would say it's easier now, I guess. You're older and can make it work for you. When you're younger, you can make it really hard on yourself. You can get your bag-size right, the little things.
As you travel the world, you'd be like...I'm going to a festival in Europe, I need to pack my wellies and s***! You appreciate different food and different cultures. You take in the art, that you may necessarily have done. That makes it easier, because you're excited in a whole different way.
-Going back to the record, how does it compare to your earlier work?
As cheesy as it sounds, I would hope to say it's mature. I hope it's much more progressive. After playing together for so long, we're all self-taught in what we do. We just want to get better at it, in way that's not contrived or pretentious.
If anything, we realise that we're really good at taking our influences and making them ours now. It's taking all those elements and just morphing them. I think we're getting better at that.
-Where do you draw on for those influences?
It's just life. The things you do, see, everything. It's our outlet. Whatever you're absorbing gets filtered through. We've never been about "we've got to make a song like this", we're just trying to jam.
-What do you have planned for the rest of the year?
We have only a handful of shows left. I think we have one more festival in Paris, and then we're off to Helsinki, Estonia and then Russia St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Moscow will be our last show. Then, we'll go home for a week or two and reconvene at the beginning of October and start writing up until Christmas.
-Are there any ideas yet?
No ideas. I think maybe just sonically people know where you want to go. You can't really have an idea. That's too contrived in a way.
-What shout-out would you give to your fans?
We're glad to be here and hope to be back sooner than later. We're looking forward to touring Europe and everywhere else. Thank you!
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
A couple of hours before their return to Leeds Festival, we caught up with Deftones in their dressing room to chat about the festival weekend, touring, their latest album Diamond Eyes and their plans for the rest of this year.
-How was Reading?
It was pretty cool, I think. We went out there and did our thing, what we do. I enjoyed it. Once you get your head around the mud, you have fun hanging around at night in the VIP area, drinking. It's a fun festival, a lot of fun.
-What are you hoping to get from Leeds today?
I think we're leaving really fast, so we're just trying to have a really good show. We'll have a good time.
-Is it hard keeping it fresh for yourselves on tour?
Not really. We have a lot of songs, there's a big discography. There are those songs you like to play and people like to hear, but we'll bring out things here and there. They're usually in different cities or special cases, but we like to adapt to the situation. It's almost like setlists have a life span.
-Are you excited to be back in the UK this weekend?
We love being here.
-Do you noticed a difference in crowds?
What I noticed is how much people are similar. Yeah, people have their distinct things like fashion, but people just want a good time. Out here, you guys have been doing these festivals crossing genres for years. In the States, it hasn't had that longevity I guess, but it's no different. Maybe people are more willing to brave the elements out here than in the States.
-These are your only festival appearances this year. Is there something special about Reading and Leeds?
Yeah, cos it's Reading and Leeds! We all grew up hearing about it as kids when you're in a band. It was pretty much logistical. We were here anyway, so we hit the ones we can en route.
-You played a similar slot a couple of years ago. Would you prefer playing higher up on one of the smaller stages?
Yeah, that's where we would do best. That's what we'll try to do next time. It makes more sense for us. It's fun being on the Main Stage, but we want to taste the tent, you know? We can pretty much guarantee how that's going to taste.
-Do you prefer more intimate shows?
Not necessarily. It depends on the time of the day, the elements, the festival in general, the line-up. Tents are fun, but they're also hot. It all depends.
-Does playing a festival differ to your own headline shows?
Not so much with the playing, but more the social component. You're going to come across so many people, different bands, crew, and some of the staff. You'll remember somebody from the last time. It's definitely a social thing.
-Today you're playing alongside bands like The Offspring and Rise Against, and you've got a fairly diverse sound. How do you think you'll fit in?
I don't think we've ever really tried to fit in. We just do what we do and try to enjoy it. We like sticking out like the thorn.
-You had your tour around Europe and the States. How was that?
It was awesome, lots of good shows and good memories. It's just been really good. We had awesome tours and great comradery with other bands.
-Do you prefer that to being in the studio?
No, that's fun too! It's all part of it. It always seems like just about the time you've been doing one long enough, you're stoked to do the other. They work hand-in-hand. It's awesome.
-Do you separate them in a cycle, or write on the road?
We've pretty much always had it separate. We tried to write on the road, and it's not like we can't. It just doesn't seem to have worked yet. There's something to be said for just coming together and creating something from nothing. Sometimes it works fast, sometimes it works slowly - there's no formula to it all.
You never know. In all honesty man, we didn't think we'd write another record, so it's all organic. As cheesy as that sounds, that's why it's really special.
-How was the reaction to your latest record?
It's been really good. If people are reacting well and it's fresh, you're into it too. Your contemporaries who are making really good music, and if they like it, it makes you feel good. When you take a chance on yourself and succeed, it feels really good.
-How has life on the road changed over the years?
I would say it's easier now, I guess. You're older and can make it work for you. When you're younger, you can make it really hard on yourself. You can get your bag-size right, the little things.
Tagged in Deftones