Birds of Tokyo Interview

Just four years ago, four Perth musicians sat discussing whether or not there were any birds in Tokyo.

They all came to the conclusion that there were no birds in the city, only later to find out they were wrong.

Fast-forward to July 2008 and alternative rock band Birds of Tokyo are days away from releasing their sophomore album Universes.

“We’re all a bit curious and intrigued as to how people will take it because it’s different to what we’ve done before,” says guitarist Adam Sparks.

“Any time we put out new music there’s always a bit of scary water to tread but it’s as exciting as much as it is nerve-racking,” he continues.

Rounded out by Ian Kenny on vocals, Adam Weston on bass and Anthonny Jackson on drums, Birds of Tokyo have enjoyed enormous success, winning two WAMi (Western Australia Music Industry) Awards in 2007 for Favourite Newcomer and Best Male Vocalist and also being included on the Perth leg of the 2007 Big Day Out.

Universes was independently recorded in the Margaret River region of Western Australia and produced by Sparks.

“Being a producer is my job outside of the band so it was a natural thing to do,” says Sparks.

“There were a few people we had talked about using but there was really no one who grabbed our attention who we wanted to work with on this album,” he says.

“We just felt that doing it ourselves we could communicate with each other better than with someone who we weren’t really comfortable with.”

According to Sparks, recording the album was a lot smoother than anyone had predicted and they spread it out over a month which gave them time to create the best album possible.

“We’ve been together for a little while now so everyone is getting a little more comfortable,” he says.

“We usually just sit around for a week or two rehearsing our parts for the record so by the time we go in to record there’s not really much guess work and everyone works pretty fast.”

Universes has been described as being a lot heavier than any of Birds of Tokyo’s previous work but still full of razor sharp pop hooks.

Mixed in Los Angeles by Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, The Cure), Universes is set to be one of Australia’s best rock albums seen in recent years.

“Each song seems to belong in its own little universe and they’re not really related to each other in any way,” says Sparks.

“So the work Universes is a summation of all the little parts of the record.”

As for many bands, one of the highlights for all members of Birds of Tokyo is touring.

“It’s always great reaching out to all the people and heading to bigger and better places and smaller and more regional places as well,” he says.

When Birds of Tokyo began, it was more of a side project rather than a serious band and no one saw their recent success coming.

“It’s really hard to see from the ground up where it’s going,” says Sparks.

“I’d be lying if I said no one goes into a band thinking this kind of success would be cool but as you’re rolling along you can’t really see it until people remind you of how fortunate you are.”

According to Sparks, the thing that he loves the most about music is the undying idea that connects one person to another.

“Someone can write a song in their bedroom or with their friends in a jam and in some way, whether it’s a small band or a big band and regardless of style, it resonates with at least one other person in the world,” he says.

“People can get something out of that whether it be a feeling of good times or a sorrowful thing, it’s just that connection that music gives us.”

Universes is out now and Birds of Tokyo are on tour in August and September. Check out www.myspace.com/birdsoftokyo for dates.