A chat with Husky Loops

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I sat down with 2/3 of Husky Loops in Peckham, London. We talked about their new album "I Can't Even Speak English", where they got the inspiration from for the (brilliant) title and artwork, and what it's like being an independent band in this day and age.

Danio & Tom

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You guys just released your first album! What was that whole process like?

Danio: It was crazy. Writing it took us like a month. Recording it took us another month. And then there were two months where we just got really paranoid. In which we also had a whole moment of: "Should we even release this or not?". After that, Jim Eno (from the band Spoon) mixed it in two weeks. 

Tom: Also, in the couple of months where we had a bit of doubt, I think the idea of the artwork is really what came in and brought a new perspective to the project. It really influenced everything we did afterwards and how it shaped the whole campaign and it brought a new level of excitement for us.

Some older songs have made it on the album, others didn’t. Was it tough to decide what was and what wasn’t going to be on there?

Danio: Actually at the beginning, the idea was to create our own streaming platform so people could just choose their own tracklist. But then our distribution was like: you're already selling a pen with the record, just give us a break.

“Good As Gold” was always going to be the intro. And it was the last song on SPOOL (the previous EP). So in a way, no one would notice this, but you know, it’s a circle. Picking the rest was difficult. We had about 25-30 demos and we had to cut it down to about 10. Which was tough, because we all have different tastes and ideas. However, we are planning of doing a radioshow called the “I Can’t Even Speak English Show”. And we are probably going to release a lot of the other tracks during that show.

You have already discussed some of the themes on this album in previous interviews and on social media. How do you think this is translated on the album?

Danio: Well the reviews are saying it’s a political album. I didn’t think it was. But then, weirdly, them saying that made me think that it kind of is. Obviously, and this may sound a bit naive, but being around what is happening in the UK, it sort of seeps into what you are making. But I wasn’t actively thinking: "Yeah, I’m going to make a political album."

Because of your Italian background and the fact that you are now living in London; does it sometimes feel like you’re an outsider?

Tom: For sure!

Danio: When the reviews came out and started talking about politics, I thought about Brexit straight away. Some were saying that this album sounds like the confusing times that we are living in. And I think that's great, and very flattering as well. If the music that I make, or the words that I write are confusing, it's definitely because of the world around me. We are living in London in 2019. Everything is crazy, a lot of people are acting crazy. So that's it.

You guys already had some pretty big highlights: you’ve been touring all over the place, BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac is “mad for that band”, and now your first album has come out. How do you guys feel?

Danio: I’m tired (laughs). I’m depressed. I hate the world more, but I’m also more positive. That’s what I feel now.

Tom: I’m just tired. Although I’m really excited about our upcoming tour.

Danio: Yeah, it’s kind of crazy. It’s really hard to play this new album live, but that also makes it exciting. Because I have been playing the guitar for about 16 years now. So sometimes it just gets boring.

So are you guys trying to challenge yourself a bit more as well?

Danio: Yeah definitely. I also like to see the other guys struggle, because I think it is more entertaining and fun to watch a band struggle on stage. The best thing about jazz shows for example is that, obviously they aren't struggling because they are amazing musicians, but you can see them playing their instrument as if they are talking in a different language. You can see them think and that’s amazing. Because you’re part of something you will never see again. But today, people are so obsessed with playing something exactly like it is on the record. And all of this backing track bullshit. That’s so boring, because you can tell they know exactly what they’re doing. And I don’t find that entertaining. 

What’s it like being a band nowadays, in a world of Spotify, playlists and shuffle?

Danio: I like the fact that people can listen to music everywhere if they want to. I don’t like the fact that people care about it. Because you can be excited that you’re featured in a playlist, but what does that even mean? I don’t know. Obviously, if you get like 100 million views or streams, it’s flattering.

Tom: Yeah, although it’s the same amount of revenue of selling 20 T-shirts or something..

Danio: But the money thing aside, obviously it’s flattering because it means that people are listening to you a lot. But I just wish there wasn’t any stress around it. This guy came to the studio one day and said that his boss, who works for a major label, doesn’t sign anyone that doesn’t have 10 million streams on Spotify. And I thought: what an absolute nut case. 

Tom: That means they clearly don’t care about the music. They just care about some sort of hype. 

Danio: And maybe this is because I’m old, but if you would sell 10 million copies, that means 10 million people moved their ass and bought that record. I just don’t understand streams. It’s just a number.

Ok I've got some final " fun" questions for you. If a fan would decide to get a lyric tattooed on their body from this album, what lyric would you recommend?

Danio: “You’re not alone, I’m alone too.”

Tom: "Baby fuck me naturally." (everyone laughs)

Danio: Fair enough.

I’m guessing there’s a group chat on WhatsApp with the three of you in it. Do you guys talk Italian or English in it?

Danio: I talk in English and Tom and Pietro reply in Italian. 

Tom: I wish we could talk in Italian all the time, but that rarely happens. 

Well there we go, that’s what I wanted to know. Thanks so much guys!

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"I Can't Even Speak English" is out now - buy it, stream it, get their merch, go see them live!