Ariel Bertoldo, Rockerilla Magazine, Italy

-  Let’s begin with the meaning of your strange band name, Pineapple Thief: what does it mean?  There’s a little story behind it or maybe, you know, it sounded just brilliant and nothing else...

I’m not sure what kind of brain would have plucked ‘pineapple thief’ out of the air!  It was stolen, back in 1999, from a film called ‘Eve’s Bayou’ – there is a scene where a young girl steals a pineapple and is branded a ‘pineapple thief’ (in fact, the DVD has a chapter called ‘Pineapple Thief’).  I added ‘The’ in 2002 as I was worried about confusion with the ‘other PT’.

- How does it feels to have a new record deal after all these years with Cyclops Records?
    In terms of work organization: which aspects you feel has evolved the most during last months?

To be honest, it’s wonderful.  Cyclops has been great for us and I still get on very well with Malcolm (the head guy at Cyclops).  But he always knew that he didn’t have the resources to push our music as much as he (and we) wanted.  Now all of a sudden, we are on a new label (Kscope) with a team of people who are opening all kinds of doors (of various sizes) for us.  I feel like a spoilt child at the moment.  It’s thanks to Kscope that I’m talking to you now.

- Recently you parted ways with guitarist Wayne Higgins. I bet your music is changing drastically (especially live) now that you’re a quartet...

It has, but not as much as you may think.  The sound is a lot more open now and I have to work a little harder to cover the guitar parts but overall, we’re really happy with the live sound.  For the moment, we’re keeping it as 4.

- Would you imagine “Tightly Unwound” as a sort of a concept album, a 59 minutes journey between shadows & light, dusk & dawn in which each song is part of a bigger picture?

Yes, I think you could class it as a ‘concept’ album in that sense.  There is an overriding sentiment – of love and loss, life and death.  Actually, you’re right – shadows & light, dusk & dawn is equally as analogous.  But I don’t really see it as a concept album in the sense of, say, War of the Worlds!

1. The recording/mixing/producing process for the new album was harder or more troubled compared to previous albums?

Actually, it was probably the easiest album I have produced.  The whole process is a lot more streamlined now and I find I can worry less about the technical aspects of engineering and concentrate more on the creative side of things.  I confess, 10 Stories Down was a tough time for me.  I was struggling at that point (hence the whole 12 Stories debacle) but I’ve definitely come out of the other side a stronger person.  I now feel I can do what ever I like, turn what ever idea I have floating around in my brain into a sonic reality.

- Did your song writing approach differ this time around?

Funnily enough it did.  Previously, I would go into the studio with a ‘blank canvass’.  Often this would involve me doodling around with synths, guitars and ideas until eventually a song would evolve (a bit of a long winded process).  This time, I left guitars lying around my house and wrote the basic songs on them.  Strumming chords, humming vocal hooks and keyboard lines.  It seemed to work really well and meant I could go into the studio with a clearer picture of where I was going.  Also, wondering around my home, if I found myself overwhelmed with inspiration,  I could pick up the nearest guitar and bottle the moment before it ran away! 

- Keep talking about song writing & arrangements: what do you think the new album has in common with the previous ones & what keeps it far away with them?

I’m always going to concentrate on songs and feeling above the technical aspects of song writing and for that reason, it has something in common with previous output.  However, I would never want to be like say, REM, and release the same album over and over for 25 years!  I always look to progress (hence the reason I would not hesitate to subscribe to the progressive musical philosophy).  With this album, I have pushed the song writing, the arrangements and the production much further.  I also think it’s a bit more guitar led than previous releases.  But in summary to you question, I’m not going to all of a sudden release an electronica album.  I write rock music, basically.

- Which kind of music, books & movies influenced you the most during the recording sessions?

That’s always a tricky one to answer.  I read a lot of historical non-fiction and found that inspirational.  The history of mankind is littered with tragedy – it helps me but also contributes to the ‘shadows’ you alluded to earlier.  Movies?  I watch all kinds to be honest!  I’ve never really considered how film influences my music, but I guess it must do, as it’s an art form I absorb on a regular basis.  I remember being very moved by the Swedish film ‘My Life as a Dog’ – anything that tries to grapple with ‘life’ always leaves a mark on me.  Now, for music?  It’s so hard to say.  When I am absorbed in an album I don’t tend to listen to much else, apart from all my old favourites – deus, radiohead, floyd, beck. 

1. With Pineapple Thief you began making music as a solo-project that gradually evolved into a full band. How did this change of musical scenery happen?

Purely because I found myself surrounded by a fan base.  They wanted me to play live so I figured, I better get a band together then!

1. You’ve very often got5 ten a lot of comparisons to Radiohead & Porcupine Tree. 
   Do you think those are still good points of reference for the music you’re writing now?

Yes and no.  I can understand the need for comparisons and I can understand why people mention the above bands.  If you ask any TPT fan, they will say we sound a million miles away from Porcupine Tree or Radiohead.  But if you ask someone from a broader ‘rock’ perspective, I guess we occupy a similar world. 

1. What do you feel you have in common with those bands, and what keeps you miles away from them?

The common ground is trying to write modern rock music, with eclectic influences encompassed by a playful, progressive philosophy.  Personally I think comparisons are needed to steer people to the right music.  But what keeps me miles away from them?  Well, they’re not me for a start!  I write about things only I have experienced and for that reason, it’s a million miles away.

1. How much are you involved with local music scenery? Can you advise us something interesting?

I’m not sure about this one – do you mean the UK music scene?  To be honest, I’ve been quite protected from the world down here in rural Somerset (not far from Stonehenge and Glastonbury).  It’s an inspirational place I have to say.  But because of the power of the internet, we’re all of a sudden in the same place.  That’s how Steve Wilson heard of us and basically, put me on to Kscope.  I’m now a little less isolated!

1. When will we see you touring Italy? Have you ever been here?

No, I’ve never been.  But we really want to come out to Italy and play, that’s for sure!  If the album does well on the new label, I’ll make sure we do…

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for your answers & best wishes for everything!